• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish
Cancelled Flights

What to do if you’re stranded at the airport because of canceled flights

Megan Leonhardt
By
Megan Leonhardt
Megan Leonhardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
Megan Leonhardt
By
Megan Leonhardt
Megan Leonhardt
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 27, 2021, 1:26 PM ET

Many airline travelers are still experiencing major delays and even canceled flights well after the Christmas weekend, as the surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 hit airline crews and a massive weekend snowstorm snarled travel in the Western U.S. 

FlightAware is reporting that more than 950 flights in and out of the U.S. have been canceled as of midday Monday, while another 2,400 have been delayed. 

United Airlines has canceled 115 of its more than 4,000 scheduled flights on Monday due to Omicron impacting staffing, a spokesperson told Fortune. Southwest Airlines says that while it hasn’t experienced COVID-related scheduling issues, it has canceled about 50 flights on Monday because of winter weather conditions.  

Still, the FlightAware stats suggest that tens of thousands of would-be fliers are dealing with travel headaches today. With most airlines now offering travelers a variety of ways to get in touch, what’s your best bet to get your flight dilemma solved fast? 

If you’re already at the airport, it may be helpful to reach out through multiple channels, says Charlie Leocha, president of Travelers United, a nonprofit that focuses on consumer issues with travel. 

Leocha, a frequent traveler himself, says that once an airline cancels a flight, he typically shoots off a tweet or a message on social media to the airline’s official account. “I don’t really tweet very much, but I know that Twitter does work and Facebook works” in getting a carrier’s attention, he says. So check it off your list of things to do right away. “They’re going to get back to you at some point.”

Leocha also points out that air carriers are sometimes “just overwhelmed, just like everybody else.” So don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Once you’ve fired off your messages, make your way to customer service and get in line. “It’s always going to take you about an hour to get through” if the airline is facing multiple delays and cancellations, Leocha says.  

Once in line, it’s time to call customer service. “The last phase I do is I sit on the telephone, and I wait on the phone while I’m in line,” Leocha says. Don’t just get in line and wait, in other words. To make sure you’re being productive, get on the phone. And if you have status on an airline, make sure you’re utilizing the best customer service number. Many airlines have dedicated support teams for travelers with elite status. 

Many times, a customer service team member can solve a problem before you make it to the front of the line. “A lot of times it works out just fine,” Leocha says. 

Keep in mind that depending on your flight and reason behind the cancellation or delay, you may be entitled to compensation. Companies like AirHelp may be able to guide you through the process of getting paid. (AirHelp, however, does charge a service fee that’s generally about 35% of the compensation passengers receive.) 

For flights in the U.S., airlines are required to compensate passengers only if they’re bumped from a flight that is oversold. That said, you can always ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room if a flight is severely delayed, rescheduled, or canceled. Some airlines do offer these services to passengers, but others don’t—and most forgo these amenities if weather is behind the issues.

Leocha also recommends filing a complaint with the Department of Transportation (DOT) once you’re back home. The agency sometimes responds to persistent complaints either by urging airlines to make changes or by enacting changes in policy. “It’s really good to pass on to DOT the problems that you have. If you don’t do that, then DOT never knows,” Leocha says—and then these problems can’t get solved in the long term.

Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.

About the Author
Megan Leonhardt
By Megan Leonhardt
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

Meet the Black women on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list shaping business leadership
MPWMost Powerful Women
Meet the Black women on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list shaping business leadership
By Cheyann HarrisMay 29, 2026
2 hours ago
whitmer
MPWElections
Gretchen Whitmer said she wasn’t running for president. That lasted until lunch
By Joey Cappelletti and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
3 hours ago
dewine
North AmericaData centers
Ohio calls time on data-center tax break after cost balloons to $1.5 billion, 11x the initial estimate
By Marc Levy and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
3 hours ago
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier indicted on new bribery charges alleging he left games early to help gamblers cash in on more than $250,00
LawLawsuit
Former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier indicted on new bribery charges alleging he left games early to help gamblers cash in on more than $250,00
By Rebecca Boone and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
3 hours ago
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass seeks reelection following term mired with wildfire and homelessness: ‘I haven’t always got it right’
North AmericaLos Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass seeks reelection following term mired with wildfire and homelessness: ‘I haven’t always got it right’
By The Associated Press and MIchael R. BloodMay 29, 2026
3 hours ago
National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parikh spells 32 words correctly in 90 seconds to win in lightning round tie-breaker
Successteenagers
National Spelling Bee champion Shrey Parikh spells 32 words correctly in 90 seconds to win in lightning round tie-breaker
By The Associated Press and Ben NuckolsMay 29, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
Magazine
As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
By Emma HinchliffeMay 27, 2026
2 days ago
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
8 days ago
The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish
Environment
The river that supplies 40 million Americans is down to 23% — and about to make a $25 million bet on one fish
By Dorany Pineda, Brittany Peterson and The Associated PressMay 27, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 28, 2026
1 day ago
Jamie Dimon said the American Dream was slipping away. JPMorgan just put $40 million on the table to fix it
Banking
Jamie Dimon said the American Dream was slipping away. JPMorgan just put $40 million on the table to fix it
By Nick LichtenbergMay 27, 2026
2 days ago
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
Success
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
By Emma BurleighMay 28, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.