Budget Travel magazine

What to do if Your Flight was Canceled Due to the Blizzard of 2010

Travelers' rights for compensation due to canceled flights during the blizzard of December 2010

Tens of thousands of travelers were stranded due to the blizzard that hit the East Coast in December 2010. The impact was enormous across the country after 8,200 flights were canceled during the week following Christmas Day, wreaking havoc for air travelers from coast to coast---even those oversees, in some cases.

According to Budget Travel magazine, if you were booked on a flight that was delayed or canceled due to the blizzard, and you incurred additional expenses as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.

Most airlines waived their customary fees for changing a ticket during the storm. If you were billed for a ticket change fee, submit a claim for reimbursement via your credit card company. As a general rule, you will need to file a complaint within 45 days of your flight, Budget Travel advises.
If you opted to cancel your ticket, you should get a full refund and not be subjected to a cancellation fee. "Just because the snow has melted doesn't mean that all flight issues have been resolved," says Laura Michonski, Deputy Editor Online for Budget Travel. "If you haven't already been reimbursed for your ticket change, you should definitely follow-up with the airline to sort out your refund. Start by calling the customer service hotline and then follow up by email as well-that way you have a record of your request in case anything goes wrong."

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