Hundreds of flights cancelled in US as airlines scramble to cut traffic during shutdown – live updates
Passenger experience will depend on airline, travel expert sayspublished at 11:00 GMT
Jack Grey
Live reporter
The experience for passengers whose flights have been cancelled will significantly depend on which airline they’re flying with, travel expert Simon Calder tells the BBC.
“If transatlantic flights start being cancelled, then the difference
in passenger rights between UK and EU flights and US flights will become clear,”
he says.
The FAA has said the cuts won’t apply to international flights, but that specific airlines may choose to also axe some of those flights too.
Calder says that at this stage it is highly unlikely that any transatlantic flights will be impacted, with internal “commuter routes” likely to be the first to see cancellations.
But in the event they are, he says those travelling with a UK or EU carrier to the US would be entitled to be put up in a hotel and flown on any
airline that has seats available.
Those flying with a US airline, even if that ticket
was booked via a UK carrier such as British Airways, will not have these protections, he adds.
“If you’re on a US airline then they can say ‘we’re not
covered by these rights, find yourself your own hotel and we’ll fly you out when we can’.”
