Another stop at Newark Liberty International left travelers facing a new wave of cancellations and hours of hours at New Jersey airport on Sunday. This interruption follows weeks of chaos marked by air traffic communication problems and staff scarcity.
While the waiting areas, chairs and makeshift seats were more empty this weekend compared to the stranded passenger multitude last week, the interruptions on Friday and Sunday left travelers fighting with persistent effects.
Akash Gupta had his travel plans completely high on Saturday, when his flight to Indianapolis delayed six hours. He spent his time talking to his wife for a videochamada and scribbling in some role.
“I’m comfortable flying, but I’m trying this kind of delay for the first time,” Gupta told NBC News.
Your flight is late – what now?
The first action that delayed passengers should take is to look for alternative flights, advises Sean Cudahy, a senior aviation reporter for the travel site The Points Guy. When checking alternatives, he recommends not waiting for the perfect solution.
“If you come to a decent option halfway, take it, set aside a long time when the airline will allow you to continue making changes,” said Cudahy.
To contact an airline to reschedule or explore more options, airline applications, or live chat functions are usually more efficient than expecting long customer service lines. NBC News Aviation analyst John Cox recommends the flight tracking app for real -time updates.
Cox recommends taking advantage of frequent advantages of the leaflet. Many airlines have agents dedicated to reschedule frequent leaflets, facilitating range.
“From a passenger point of view, it is understanding what you want,” Cox said. “Be polite, be cool, but understand that you need to take care of your business and let the agent pass to someone to help someone else.”
The Department of Transportation decided last year that airlines are required to quickly reimburse passengers with canceled or severely late flights. Refunds, however, apply only to passengers who reserve with a different airline or opt for another travel mode, not for those who accept a resarcal with the original airline.
Travelers should also review the airline’s reschedule and reimbursement policies in advance, a port -port port of New York and New Jersey said, which operates Newark Airport.
“Originally, we should come here at United today, but it was canceled about five or six days ago, and they reimbursed our money,” said Judy Davenport, who was traveling to Newark this weekend. She and her husband ended up reserving a separate delta flight to make her connection with Paris.
While waiting for a delay in Newark, travelers have several options to pass time or eat something before the security lines. Each terminal at the airport offers passenger seats before and after TSA screening.
“Go early and get your seat, take food, but then move on,” Cox tells back to late travelers, encouraging them to allow others to have access to amenities as well. He also advises being cautious with alcohol consumption in a high stress environment.
Being proactive for the next flights
Travelers scheduled to fly in or out of Newark in the coming weeks can take proactive measures to manage their flight plans.
United Airlines, one of Newark’s most affected carriers, with hundreds of canceled flights, is offering exemptions for change rates or rate differences until May 23, with the option to fly through Laguardia airport in New York or Philadelphia. Cudahy warns that other airports will offer fewer flight options than United’s Newark Hub.
Alaska Airlines has flexible travel policies, covering original travel dates until Sunday, and JetBlue is offering exemptions by the end of May.
To prepare for a delay, Cox advises packaging of the necessary medications, a night of clothing and personal toiletries in a handbag if the luggage is interrupted and the verified bags end up elsewhere.
Cudahy also suggests bringing extra batteries and porters, a bottle of reusable empty water to minimize the costs and games of the food court or entertainment if you travel with young children.
Experts also remind travelers to follow Rule 3-1 to facilitate the passage through safety: 3.4 ounce liquid containers in a clean size bag with a passenger bag.
Having proper documentation ready to present, especially with new real identification requirements, will help optimize the process, said Cox.
What’s next to Newark?
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said at NBC News “Meet The Press on Sunday that while Newark is facing telecommunications problems and experiencing software failures, he will be” in operation in a short time “.
Duffy said Newark will experience “reduced capacity” in the coming weeks, a movement that United CEO Scott Kirby has openly asked.
For those who plan Newark travel soon, Cudahy advises to look for direct flights.
“If you are uninterrupted, you will get there eventually as long as your flight is not canceled,” said Cudahy.
Cudahy recommends using a credit card that includes travel insurance to buy plane tickets. If travelers face delays or cancellations, they can be reimbursed for expenses such as meals or hotel rooms caused by travel interruptions.
Although many airlines offer their own insurance, it usually does not cover circumstances outside the airline control, such as weather problems or related to air traffic control. Cudahy suggests looking at the airline’s insurance policy to see what is covered and then buys with third party travel insurers to compare costs.
Duffy has reassured travelers who fly from Newark – and in the American airspace in general – remains safe. There are policies and procedures to deal with these incidents. But it has concerns about the technology and the old -fashioned systems used.
Recent aviation problems led the federal administration of aviation to publicize a three -year plan to modernize the system.
“We are seeing stress on an old network and it’s time to fix it,” said Duffy.