Flight cancellations are increasing rapidly this weekend in the wake of the military operation in venezuela announced early Saturday morning by the Trump administration.
Government-mandated airspace closures in the Caribbean have led to massive flight disruptions at several popular vacation destinations and cruise ship landing ports. This has stranded travelers across the region, including those flying to and from one of the region’s busiest airports: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
These flight disruptions are likely to prove a major headache for passengers returning home during what was expected to be the last busy weekend of the peak Christmas travel season.
Flight cancellations increase in the Caribbean
Airlines rushed to cancel flights at the last minute after the US government ordered the closure of airspace in the Caribbean overnight.
As of 1 p.m. Saturday, hundreds of flights had already been canceled from San Juan, according to data from FlightAware.
In a social media post, the airport said it expected most departures to be closed.
Elsewhere, cancellations began to pile up in major Caribbean destinations, from Aruba to Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In a statement to TPG on Saturday, American Airlines said it was “closely monitoring” the situation along with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“We are making necessary schedule adjustments with the safety of our customers and team members in mind,” the Fort Worth-based airline said.
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Delta Air Lines said Saturday it would alert customers affected by the flight cuts through notifications on the airline’s mobile app.
The airline confirmed that it had canceled most of its flights to and from Caribbean airports for Saturday.
Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the largest US hubs for flights to the Caribbean and South America, warned of disruptions on Saturday and urged travelers to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
Flight disruptions also threatened the travel of travelers planning cruises in the region. Virgin Voyages on Saturday saying customers who were unable to board due to flight issues would obtain full travel credit toward a future reservation.
Likewise, cruise passengers disembarking today at Caribbean ports where flights have been canceled may have to scramble to find a hotel room or other accommodation to wait out this situation.
How long will the interruptions last?
Late Saturday morning, it was unclear how long the airspace closures (and flight cancellations) in the Caribbean would last.
FAA safety alerts issued for the region were scheduled to go into effect at least 5 a.m. Sunday, so travelers with flights to the Caribbean booked over the weekend should prepare for the possibility of a flight cancellation.
The FAA declined to comment on the airspace closures and referred the matter to the Pentagon.
Delta told TPG it planned to take things day by day for Sunday flights and beyond.
Travel exemptions for flights to the Caribbean
Meanwhile, several airlines operating services in the Caribbean issued travel advisories covering major airports in the region.
Passengers whose trips are covered by these waivers should be free to proactively reschedule or make changes to their itinerary.
Here’s a summary of the waivers issued by the largest US airlines:
What should you do if you have flights booked to the Caribbean?
If you’re flying in the next few days, check to see if your trip is covered by one of the exemptions mentioned above. You may be able to cancel, reschedule or change your flights, even if you booked a normally restrictive ticket, such as basic economy.
Keep a close eye on your airline’s app
Stay glued to your airline app to stay tuned for notifications from your airline. If there are disruptions to your flight, you may be able to rebook yourself through the app to avoid waiting on hold with the airline.
Read more: Flight canceled or delayed? This is what you should do
Federal Refund Rules Still Apply
Under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, you are entitled to a refund from the airline if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you decide not to travel.
This could be a way to get your money back if your trip is affected by disruptions and you decide to just stay home, or if you book on a different airline.
However, please note: if you accept a later flight from your airline, you would not technically be eligible for a refund, even if it is a lot later.
What to know: Get a refund for a canceled or delayed flight
Will the airline offer compensation?
Unfortunately for customers, your airline will likely not pay for your hotel night, meals, or other costs incurred if you are stuck away from home, as this is a situation outside of the airline’s control.
Carriers have established protections for passengers for delays and cancellations in FlightRights.gov — but those promises generally only apply when the disruption is the airline’s fault, such as a maintenance delay.
Save your receipts!
If you get stranded, save your receipts, although there is no guarantee that expenses will be reimbursable.
Travelers who purchased a travel insurance plan Before Saturday’s military action by the US can You may be able to file a claim for any unexpected costs, depending on the details of the plan purchased.
The same can be true for passengers who booked their trip with a credit card that has travel insurance protections. Just keep in mind that the exact coverage and policies can differ significantly from plan and card to plan and will of course depend on the provider’s interpretation of those policies.
For example, the benefits guide for some Chase cards excludes some built-in travel protection coverage for “War, undeclared war, civil war, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, acts of war by a military force or personnel, any action taken to hinder or defend against any of these, the destruction or seizure of property for military purposes, or any consequence of any of these acts…”
TPG will continue to update this developing situation.
