Travel expert offers guidance on handling airline delays, canceled flights

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - If a canceled or grounded flight spoils your holiday traveling plans, what options do you have? 12 News spoke with a travel agent who emphasized that it’s important to know what you’re entitled to when faced with a cancellation.

“I definitely say it takes patience to travel anyway because delays are inevitable. But with the staffing shortages, just to be flexible and a little bit understanding,” travel agent Chelsi Mannebach advised. “If they do cancel your flight, you are eligible for a full refund.”

Mannebach said it’s also best to be prepared for a possible cancellation before reaching that point.

“I mean, honestly, one of the best things that you can do for yourself, even without the problem right now is trip insurance,” she said.

The “problem right now” is the federal government shutdown, approaching its 40th day. The Associated Press reported that “more than 1,000 airline flights were canceled Friday and others are expected in the coming days as part of government-ordered air service reductions due to the federal shutdown.”

While Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport is not among the nation’s 40 busiest airports directly affected by cuts and flight cancellations stemming from the shutdown, Mannebach indicated that many other airports, like Wichita’s, won’t be spared from issues surrounding the nationwide reductions, especially as the holiday season approaches.

“It’s obviously busy, so just pack your patience along with your luggage and try to be flexible,” Mannebach said. “[Airline workers are] human too.”

On Friday, there were about three inbound and outbound flights affected at Eisenhower National Airport:

Departures

• American Airlines > 3479 to Dallas-Fort Worth at 9:08 a.m.
• Delta Airlines > 4689 to Minneapolis at 3:44 p.m.

Arrivals

• American Airlines < 3479 to Dallas-Fort Worth at 8:38 a.m.
• United Airlines < 4225 from Houston at 1:00 p.m.
• Delta Airlines < 4689 from Minneapolis at 3:04 p.m.

Check the status of your flight with your airline, or if you’re flying out of Eisenhower Airport, visit www.flywichita.com/arrivals-departures/