Operations are back to normal at Delta Air Lines. After a five-day crisis that saw more than 5,000 flights canceled from Friday to Tuesday, the airline announced on Wednesday It is “fully staffed” and ready to fly its full flight schedule.
According to FlightAware, the Atlanta-based airline was back to normal operations on Thursday, with just four flights canceled across its entire network (and none through Friday).
Compare that cancellation rate — effectively 0% — to 30% or more just days ago, as airline operations failed to recover quickly after a worldwide IT outageIts problems have prompted investigation by the US Department of Transportation.
Hundreds of thousands of customers were affected by the incident, according to DOT estimates. And many of those customers may still be seeking compensation for the operational issues.
Here’s what you need to know whether you’re looking for a refund or reimbursement or are planning to fly with Delta in the coming days.
Is Delta back to normal?
Yes. After at least 1,100 daily cancellations from Friday through Tuesday, Delta’s operations improved significantly on Wednesday; the airline is back common perch has been one of the country’s most reliable carriers (in terms of cancellation rates) ever since.
Read more: Flight Delayed or Canceled? Here’s What to Do
Get a refund from Delta
According to DOT policy, You are entitled to a refund. for the unused portion of your ticket — back to your original form of payment — if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed. This only applies if you ultimately choose not to fly and do not accept a rebooking.
How to get a refund for your flight
If your trip is affected by Delta’s outage, you can submit a refund request on Delta Refund Page.
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What if you don’t want to fly Delta in the coming days?
Delta has extended its travel advisory due to unusual activity. The advisory is in effect through Sunday, July 28.
The airline is offering extra flexibility to customers who don’t want to fly between now and Sunday; those travelers can cancel in advance and request a refund.
This is Are not Normally this is required by DOT policy, so Delta is going one step further in this case.
However, it should be noted that the airline’s operations have largely returned to normal.
Get a refund if you get stuck
If you experience significant flight delays or cancellations during a Delta outage, you may be reimbursed for some of the costs incurred.
As shown above DOT Airline Customer Service DashboardDelta — along with other airlines — has made numerous commitments to customers regarding major flight cancellations or delays that are “controllable” or the airline’s responsibility.
The Transportation Department said the disruption falls into that category, as opposed to snowstorms or air traffic control issues.
You can apply for a refund at Delta refund page.
What is not mentioned?
Delta notes that it does not cover prepaid expenses at your destination, such as resort activities, concert tickets, sporting events, etc.
In some cases, you may be able to get those costs reimbursed by your travel insurance policy or travel insurance you have through your credit cardHowever, assuming the insurance policy was in effect prior to the incident, the extent of coverage will depend entirely on your specific insurance policy.
What if you book a flight on another airline?
On Wednesday, Delta acknowledged a large number of passengers took other travel options during the outage — by flying another airline, renting a car or booking a train.
The airline has relaxed its refund policy for the travel waiver period (July 19-28) and is allowing customers to apply for a refund for those expenses. This includes flights booked on another airline, in some cases.
Here are the criteria:
- Travel from July 19 to 28.
- Passengers whose flights are canceled or delayed by at least three hours are eligible.
- You can submit the paid fare to purchase another airline ticket in the same class of service minus the value of the unused portion of the Delta ticket.
- You can also submit the cost of alternative transportation such as a rental car, carpool, train, or bus used to reach your destination — minus the value of the unused portion of the ticket.
Again, you can apply for a refund at Delta Refund Page.
In case of dispute
DOT generally recommends that customers first attempt to resolve these charges and seek reimbursement with the airline itself.
If you do not receive a response from the airline in a timely manner or believe your request has been unfairly denied, you can read more This on filing a complaint with the agency.
It is also important to know
This week, Delta also noted that it would be giving SkyMiles and travel vouchers to customers as a gesture, though the actual mileage we heard TPG readers report varied significantly in some cases.
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