Flight cancellations increased rapidly this weekend after the Trump administration announced military action against Venezuela early Saturday.
Government-ordered airspace closures across the Caribbean have caused widespread flight disruptions at several popular resorts and cruise ship landing ports. This has stranded travelers across the region, including those traveling to and from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of the busiest airports in the region.
These flight disruptions could become a major headache for passengers flying home during what is expected to be the final busy weekend of peak holiday travel.
Flight cancellations increase in Caribbean
Airlines scrambled to cancel flights at the last minute after the U.S. government ordered an overnight airspace closure in the Caribbean.
As of 1 p.m. Saturday, hundreds of flights out of San Juan had been canceled, according to FlightAware.
The airport said in a social media post that it expected most flights to be closed.
Elsewhere, flight cancellations began to increase from Aruba to major Caribbean destinations such as Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
American Airlines said in a statement to TPG on Saturday that it is “closely monitoring” the situation along with the Federal Aviation Administration.
“We are adjusting our flight schedule as needed and putting the safety of our customers and team members first,” 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 a notification on the airline’s mobile app.
The airline confirmed it has canceled most of its flights to and from Caribbean airports on Saturday.
Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the largest U.S. hubs for flights to the Caribbean and South America, warned of flight disruptions on Saturday and urged travelers to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
Flight disruptions also threaten the navigation of travelers planning to cruise in the region. Virgin Voyages said on Saturday that passengers who were unable to board due to flight glitches will receive full flight credit on future bookings.
Likewise, cruise ship passengers disembarking at Caribbean ports today where flights have been canceled may need to scramble to find hotel rooms or other accommodations to wait out the situation.
How long will the disruption last?
As of late Saturday morning, it was unclear how long the Caribbean airspace closures (and flight cancellations) would last.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) safety alert for the region is expected to last until at least 5 a.m. Sunday, so travelers who have booked flights to the Caribbean for the weekend should certainly be prepared for the possibility of flight cancellations.
The FAA declined to comment on the airspace closures, deferring to the Pentagon.
Delta told TPG it plans to take things one day at a time on flights Sunday and beyond.
Caribbean Flight Travel Waiver
Meanwhile, several airlines operating Caribbean routes have issued travel warnings covering major airports in the region.
Passengers whose itineraries are subject to these exemptions should have the right to proactively reschedule or change their itinerary.
Here’s a rundown of the exemptions issued by the largest U.S. carriers:
What to do if you’ve booked a Caribbean flight?
If you’re flying in the next few days, check to see if your trip is covered by one of the exemptions listed above. You can cancel, reschedule or otherwise change your flight even if you booked a regular restricted ticket (such as Basic Economy).
Keep an eye on your airline apps
Please keep an eye on the airline app for any notifications from the airline. If your flight is disrupted, you can rebook yourself through the app to avoid waiting at the airline.
Learn more: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to 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 choose not to travel.
This may be a way to get a refund if your trip is affected by flight disruptions and you decide to stay home, or if you are booked on a different airline.
However, keep in mind: If you accept a later flight from an airline, you’re technically not eligible for a refund — even if it is a lot of after.
Things to know: Get a refund for a canceled or delayed flight
Will the airline provide compensation?
Unfortunately for passengers, if you do get stranded, your airline may not pay for your hotel stay, meals, or other expenses, as this is a situation beyond the airline’s control.
Airlines already have passenger protection measures in place for delays and cancellations on FlightRights.gov, but these commitments typically only apply if disruptions are the fault of the airline, such as maintenance delays
Keep your receipts!
If you’re stuck, keep your receipts, even if there’s no guarantee the expense will be reimbursed.
Travelers who purchase a travel insurance plan Before U.S. military action on Saturday possible Ability to make a claim for any unexpected expenses, depending on the details of the plan purchased.
same possible The same goes for passengers who book their trip using a credit card protected by travel insurance. Please note that specific coverage and policies can vary widely between plans and cards, depending, of course, on the provider’s interpretation of those policies.
For example, some Chase cards’ benefit guides exclude some built-in travel protection coverage, including “war, undeclared war, civil war, insurrection, insurrection, revolution, act of war by military forces or personnel, any action taken to prevent or defend against the foregoing, destruction or seizure of property for military purposes, or any consequences of any of these acts…”
TPG will continue to update this development.
