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SALT LAKE CITY — As we head into the summer travel season, airlines are warning that the rising cost of jet fuel could translate into higher airfares and flight cancellations. “We're calling it sticker shock summer,” said Katy Nastro of the flight deal website, Going.com. I asked Nastro how worried travelers who’ve already booked tickets should be about flight cancellations. “While it's something to be aware of, it's not necessarily something to be expecting if you've booked a flight for summer,” she answered. “This is a big time period for them (the airlines) to make money and so they want to be as least disruptive as possible across those summer schedules.” She said airlines are more likely to make small adjustments in their networks – cutting flights on less popular routes, midweek flights and to destinations where there are multiple flights that give them flexible options. Nothing that would cause mass chaos at the gate. “We're not expecting to see travelers see the day of that their flights supposed to take off to see a cancellation,” Nastro said. Whether your notice is long or short, you have rights if the airline cancels your flight. U.S. Department of Transportation rules say you’re entitled to a refund in cash or whatever payment method you used to book your ticket. You can, but you don’t have to accept an airline’s travel credits, vouchers or any other sort of compensation they might offer. Federal rules also say they must refund you the full ticket cost along with all the taxes and fees you paid including for checked luggage and seat selection. That refund must come within seven business days if you paid by credit card. 20 business days for cash, check and other forms of payment.
Rebook or refund
However, if you accept the airline’s offer of an alternative flight, you will not get a refund. “You can't get a new flight and also a refund,” said Nastro. “And so, if you choose to take that refund, you are running the risk of encountering higher last-minute fares.” If prices keep spiking as they're expected to, the airline might cross its fingers that you’ll take a refund so they can sell your seat on that next flight for more money. Because if you accept that replacement flight and the ticket costs more than the original flight, the airline has to eat the cost difference – not you. “It's up to the airline to put you on that next flight, regardless of that flight price was much more expensive than what you initially paid,” Nastro explained.
Additional compensation?
One often-held belief is that federal rules require an airline to provide you with compensation such as meals and lodging if your flight gets delayed or cancelled while you’re at the airport. They don’t. Such compensation is only required for domestic flights when you get bumped from an oversold flight. Outside of that, additional compensation is up to the airlines. The Department of Transportation has provided information on what U.S. airlines say they’ll provide for passenger inconveniences on their dashboard. One more thing: If you get word that the airline is going to cancel your flight, do not cancel it yourself in the app. Make sure the cancellation is coming directly from the airline, because that can make a big difference in whether you are owed a refund.
Related: Here’s what you should do if your flight is canceled or delayed
