Consultant shares time-saving tips amid cancellation surge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation says it is investigating Delta Air Lines’ practices, days after a major technical issue grounded flights nationwide.

On Friday, a widespread technical outage occurred, linked to a faulty CrowdStrike software update.

The outage has disrupted airlines, including Delta. The airline has canceled more than 5,500 flights since Friday.

The DOT says the investigation is aimed at ensuring Delta complies with passenger protection laws.

Some companies are continuing to respond to people’s concerns about the flight chaos.

Shanell Varner is the founder of Moonglade Travel, a luxury travel consulting company.

Varner said the recent flight events are reminiscent of what’s been called the “holiday crisis of 2022,” after thousands of Southwest Airlines flights were canceled.

The DOT subsequently penalized Southwest Airlines for violating numerous consumer protection laws.

“(This weekend) was like a flashback to what happened to Southwest Airlines,” Varner said. “We were on edge wondering if our customers were going to be impacted. We had customers who traveled to Greece this weekend. We were really waiting to see what the impact would be. I’m glad that the DOT took the step to be as proactive as possible in this situation. I think it’s really going to help hold Delta and other airlines accountable for the policies they have in place to protect their customers.”

Varner says his company is dedicated to educating people about the importance of consumer protection and their rights, especially when it comes to cancellations.

“Our work goes beyond planning an extraordinary trip,” Varner said. “We advocate on behalf of customers and make sure they are aware of their rights to advocate for themselves. We connect them immediately with the right point of contact, help them get rebooked on alternative flights, and help them file claims with travel insurance companies to get reimbursed.” for expenses that are incurred in such situations.”

Varner says cancellations happen, but she adds there are things you can do to protect yourself.

“Keep track of your communications, writing down names, times and dates of conversations with different representatives,” Varner said. “Track your receipts and all your communications and expenses related to delays or cancellations you experience.”

“I always tell customers to monitor and track their flights before they leave for the airport because we’ve seen delays and cancellations before (arrival). It saves you time and avoids waiting at the airport. Continue to hold the airlines accountable. (But) also be patient. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people affected by this (latest) scenario,” Varner said.