ATLANTA — Passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are asking why airlines are not paying for hotels and food during the IT outage that led to hundreds of flight cancellations and delays.
“There were people laying in every nook and cranny. It was crazy. I travel a fair amount, and I have never dealt with this before,” said Daniel Delgado.
Delgado and his family, including three children, had to sleep on the airport floor over the weekend. He said hotels were booked, and rental cars were sold out.
As of Sunday morning, there were 346 flights canceled and 616 flights delayed at the world’s busiest airport. More than 297 of those cancellations are Delta flights.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
They have a friend making a 13-hour trip to pick them up and bring them closer to home.
Another passenger, Eiryn Mortellao, called a family member.
“I decided to just have my husband drive here to pick me up and drive home,” said Mortellao.
Georgia Institute of Technology Professor Laurie Garrow is an aviation expert.
She said it will take days more for airlines to catch up.
RELATED STORIES:
- LIST: What places are impacted by IT outages in metro Atlanta?
- Delta Air Lines says cancellations, delays could last through weekend due to IT outage
- Some flights resume as ongoing Microsoft IT outages continue to impact CrowdStrike clients
“Based on what I’ve seen today, we’re probably looking at recovery into Sunday, Monday for Delta and some of the other airlines,” said Garrow.
She does not think passengers will be eligible for refunds on lost expenses.
“I do not. Not in this case,” said Garrow.
She said some airlines may argue the technology error is not their fault. However, she said airlines are offering vouchers to some people voluntarily, and some are providing waivers.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
That means a passenger can cancel their flight and use the money they spent on that ticket for a future flight.
The Department of Transportation proposed a new rule in April that requires reimbursements for significant delays and cancellations. However, that is not in effect here yet.
If your flight is canceled, and you choose not to travel, you do not have to accept a travel voucher. You can request a cash refund, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
To file a complaint, click here.
©2024 Cox Media Group
