Flight canceled? Experts share advice about what you can do.

With a significant storm snarling vacation throughout the U.S. and Canada this weekend, thousands of travelers have been trapped at airports — or waiting around in long lines or on hold on the cellular phone striving to rebook their flights.

Far more than 2,800 flights experienced already been canceled in the U.S. Tuesday as of 9 a.m. Eastern time, according to flight tracking support FlightAware. The pile-on of delays, which some travelers have termed “hell,” is very likely to proceed at minimum into Wednesday.

If you discover your self with a canceled flight, keeping quiet — and understanding your legal rights — can go a long way, experts say. Here is some of their suggestions for working with a flight cancellation.

My flight was canceled. What next?

If you however want to get to your location, most airlines will rebook you for free on the upcoming offered flight as prolonged as it has seats, in accordance to the U.S. Office of Transportation.

If you want to terminate the vacation, you are entitled to a complete refund, even if you purchased non-refundable tickets. You are also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras.

Kurt Ebenhoch, a consumer travel advocate and former airline government, pressured that travelers are qualified for a refund, not just vouchers for long run journey. If you do take a voucher, make confident you inquire about blackout dates and other constraints on its use.

Will I have to spend a alter charge if I rebook my flights?

Important airways — including Delta, American, Southwest, Air Canada, Alaska, Frontier and Spirit — are waiving change fees all through the storm, which provides travelers extra adaptability as they shift their plans. But Ebenhoch claimed travelers should really go through the great print diligently. If you e book a return flight outside the window that the airline sets, you could have to pay out for the change in fares, for instance.

Even if you usually are not being offered a storm waiver, professionals take note that airlines are expected to refund your flight if it truly is canceled or considerably delayed.

Can I question to be rebooked on yet another airline’s flight?

Indeed. Airways aren’t essential to put you on yet another airline’s flight, but they can, and occasionally do, according to the DOT. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends exploring alternate flights even though you’re ready to talk to an agent. Brokers are generally beneath a large amount of stress when a flight is canceled, so supplying them some solutions aids.

Ebenhoch also suggests hunting for choice airports that are shut to your authentic location.

Is the airline essential to give me a hotel area or other compensation?

No. Every single airline has its personal insurance policies about offering for customers whose flights are canceled, in accordance to the DOT. But many airways do give accommodations, so you really should look at with their workers.

I’m facing a prolonged wait around to rebook. What should I do?

If an individual in your touring social gathering is at a larger amount in a frequent-flier method, use the variety reserved for that level to call the airline, Ebenhoch stated. You can also consider calling an worldwide enable desk for the airline, considering that all those agents have the ability to make changes.

“American, Delta, United, they’ve all obtained offices all-around the world,” Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Affordable Flights, advised CBS News a short while ago. “You can phone any 1 of individuals international offices and get by means of to an agent who can help get you rebooked, just the identical as a U.S.-primarily based agent can but with a portion of the hold out time that you’d be experiencing if you identified as the major U.S. hotline.”

How can I steer clear of this in the foreseeable future?

Ebenhoch reported nonstop flights and morning flights are frequently the most reputable if you can book them. If you might be concerned about generating it to the airport in time for a morning flight, he mentioned, contemplate being at a lodge linked to the airport the evening before. And look at flying outside the house of busy dates this yr, the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration is anticipating huge crowds on Dec. 30, for case in point.

Klee suggests comparing airlines’ insurance policies on the DOT’s support dashboard. He also suggests reserving numerous flights and then canceling the types you don’t use, as lengthy as the airline will refund your revenue or transform it into a credit rating for a future flight.