Copyright Men's Journal
United Airlines is posting a running tally of cancelled flights for Saturday, November 9, Sunday, November 10, and Monday, November 11. The airline, like other U.S. carriers, must comply with a federal directive to reduce the number of flights in response to the government shutdown. As a result, United has posted daily lists of flight cancellations. You can find today’s list here. The good news is that travelers are entitled to a refund. How Can You Get a Refund If Your United Airlines Flight Is Cancelled? What happens if your United flight is cancelled because of the government shutdown? Are you entitled to a refund? “If you’re traveling during this period and do not wish to fly, you’re eligible for a refund — even if your flight isn’t impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and Basic Economy tickets. For more information, see Travel Waivers,” United wrote. United has a web page where travelers can request refunds. In addition, the Federal Aviation Administration announced in its press release mandating the cutbacks, “Airlines will be required to issue full refunds. They will not be required to cover secondary costs. This is the normal procedure when a delay or cancellation is not at the fault of the carrier.” According to NBC News, “Passengers will be eligible for refunds if their flight is cancelled due to the government shutdown and they choose not to accept a rebooked flight.” In addition, major airlines must “automatically rebook passengers whose flights are canceled at no charge — or refund the airfare if the passenger decides not to accept the new flight,” NBC News reported. NBC Washington confirmed, “If your flight is canceled and you no longer want to take the trip, or have found another way of getting to your destination, the airline is legally required to refund your money, even if you bought a non-refundable ticket.” The FAA Is Mandating a 10 Percent Reduction in U.S. Flights According to the FAA, “A 4 percent reduction in operations will take effect Friday, November 7, ramping up to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and 10 percent by November 14.” That’s for all carriers, not just United, though. “Since the beginning of the shutdown, controllers have been working without pay, and staffing triggers at air traffic facilities across the country have been increasing. This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers,” the FAA noted. “The FAA’s goal is to relieve pressure on the aviation system so that every airline can continue to operate safely. That is the FAA’s highest priority, and ours as well. No matter what environment we’re operating in, we won’t compromise on safety,” United wrote on its website. “We’ll make rolling updates to our schedule if the government shutdown continues. United’s long-haul international flying will not be affected, nor will flights that connect our hub airports: Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark Liberty International, San Francisco and Washington Dulles,” added United.
