Are you affected due to Corona Virus and its latest updated variant named Omicron? If yes, this article can help you with how you can manage to get a refund or reschedule your flight. It becomes a misery when your flight gets canceled for some odd reason. Imagine a situation where you pack your heavy bags, get a cab, reach the airport and find out that your flight has been canceled. It feels like a nightmare just by thinking of it. This situation had occurred to many passengers during the pandemic when their flight was canceled unexpectedly. Many Airlines in the United States, such as Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines, have earned a bad name due to continued delays and cancellations of their flights.
Why Is This Happening?
Since the pandemic started in 2020, the bad phase of the airlines and tourism industry started. As per a report, there was a 60% fall in passengers traveling through the air in the United States. It resulted in a huge loss in the airline industry that led to thousands of employees losing their jobs. Due to a series of lockdowns, people had to work from home and avoid traveling. Though the number of cases has declined, the airline and tourism industry is not yet fully functional due to a lack of passengers and tourists and staff shortage.
In August 2021, Spirit Airline was deeply hampered due to a series of cancellations. They canceled more than 2000 flights for over one month. The company released a statement that said this happened due to bad weather conditions and a shortage of staff members to manage the flights. The company also recommended its customer's to Contact Spirit Airline before leaving for the airport. Due to this, the carrier had to suffer an estimated loss of around $50 million.
Southwest Airlines also had a similar kind of tragedy in which they canceled more than 2000 flights in just one weekend, leaving the customers helpless and in tears. The travelers had to wait more than 5 hours in queues and sit at the airport for some rearrangement or a flight reschedule.
The situation is limited to the United States and has become a global issue. Many German, Chinese and Australian airlines faced the same problem.
What Should You Do If You Run Into a Similar Situation
While the cancellation of flights is not in your control, there are a few things you can do to minimize your stress and tackle the situation. Some of these are;
Be Prepared for the Situation
If the number of COVID cases is rising at your origin-destination, then there are higher chances of your flight getting canceled. It would help if you got in touch with your airlines before reaching the airport. For example, if you have made your booking with Spirit Airlines, you must call the Spirit Airline number before leaving your house. You can also check your Spiritairlines Flight Status on the Mobile app.
Take Help
If you run into a situation where your flight has been canceled, you must contact the airline's customer service. The waitlist for your call can be big, so you can also get in touch with the local airline office or talk with a gate agent at the airport for information on what to do next.
If you have an urgency to reach your destination and cannot delay your trip, you can explain the situation to the agent and request for flight change on the next flight.
If the airline canceled the flight, you are eligible for a complete refund. If you hurry and cancel your ticket from your side, you might not be able to get the full refund. Also, it would be best to wait for the official notification from the airline for cancelling.
Understand the Situation
The whole of the airline and tourism industry is in significant distress. Instead of just taking it out on the airline or social media, you must understand the situation. We all are having a tough time due to the pandemic, and together we can handle the situation. Just keep your calm and let nature recover itself. Also, check the policies before making your reservation or talk to a supervisor on Spirit Airline Phone Number. Soon this situation will go, and we'll have a mask-free time again.