Long TSA wait times at airports due to a partial government shutdown are throwing a wrench in travel plans across the country.
“We were in that [security] line for four hours and one minute,” one traveler told NBCLA Tuesday as she described her wait at Houston’s George Bush International Airport. “It was horrendous.”
In general, airlines, hotels and rental car agencies don’t provide refunds to travelers who miss a booking or reservation due to longer-than-expected security lines.
“Most airlines do still treat long TSA lines as a missed flight, and this would not be a delay they consider themselves on the hook for,” said Jarad Stolz, vice president of insurance sales at Diversified Insurance Brokers, Inc. “Depending on the airline, they will do their best to rebook you on the next available flight with no change in fare cost, but that is not guaranteed.”
Those with travel planned during the ongoing shutdown can protect their finances by knowing travel cancellation rules and the limitations of travel insurance, from both insurers and credit cards.
Airlines: Changes might be possible
The recent TSA wait times at major airports have led some airlines to offer rebooking at no cost:
- Delta provided passengers flying out of Atlanta with free rebooking for flights missed from March 23 to March 24, provided they then traveled on or before March 30.
- United Airlines is offering waived change fees and fare differences for passengers flying out of Austin, Dallas and San Antonio from March 23 to March 25, as long as tickets were purchased before March 22. Rebooked travel must take place on or before March 27, be in the same cabin, and have the same route as the original ticket.
- American Airlines passengers can rebook for free on the “next flight with seats available,” according to a statement provided to Newsweek.
- Southwest Airlines offers free rebooking and cancellation as part of its normal policy, and is continuing that policy amid long security wait times, Newsweek reported. To qualify for a no-free change or cancellation, flights must be cancelled at least 10 minutes before the original scheduled departure time, according to Southwest.
Passengers with smaller airlines have fewer options:
- Spirit: No travel advisories listed for airports with long TSA delays.
- JetBlue: A March 22 travel advisory acknowledges TSA wait times are longer, but mentions no special rebooking or cancellation waivers.
- SkyWest: No travel advisories listed for airports with long TSA delays.
- Alaska: No travel advisories listed for airports with long TSA delays.
Passengers should contact their airline to clarify rebooking and cancellation policies.
A ticket purchased with award miles is an exception. Airlines typically refund miles used to book flights if a trip is canceled before departure, according to travel site The Points Guy.
Hotels: Rolling the dice
None of the country’s major hotel chains - Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG - have issued special advisories for canceled reservations due to missed flights from long security wait times.
Travelers should review their booking confirmation notice or contact their hotel to confirm rebooking and cancellation policies. Free cancellation periods may vary by hotel, and policies can differ for rooms booked with rewards points versus cash. A hotel may charge a cash cancellation fee for rooms booked with points, according to travel rewards site One Mile at a Time.
“If the booking was clearly labeled as non-refundable, then it is highly likely the hotel will not refund the reservation,” Stolz told The Independent in an email. “There is always the possibility of a goodwill exception, but that is case by case. It is highly recommended to contact the hotel as soon as it appears there may be an event that could cause an issue with the booking.”
Rental cars: You’ve got flexibility
Major car rental agencies Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and National haven’t listed any travel alerts related to TSA security wait times.
“Rental car companies are much more flexible, as their inventory is more flexible,” Stolz said. “It again goes back to the fact that contacting them as soon as possible is always recommended. Not contacting them and ‘no shows’ can and likely will result in cancellation and prevent a refund.”
Avis, National and Enterprise will hold reserved vehicles for up to 24 hours after pick-up time for flight delays. Hertz will hold your vehicle for up to two hours after the pickup location closes.
Car rental booking sites such as Priceline may offer options to reserve a car without paying up front, which can be a safer choice for those who are worried about a rental cancellation due to missed flights.
Travel insurance: Limited options
Travel insurance policies often provide trip delay coverage, according to travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, which gives reimbursements of $100 to $5,000 for delays due to:
- Bad weather
- Airplane mechanical failure
- Natural disasters
- Employment strikes
- Lost travel documents
- Traffic delays on your way to the airport
Delays from long security lines typically aren’t covered, Squaremouth notes.
Faye Travel Insurance provides a $200 payment to travelers who purchase a Faye policy and can prove they arrived at the airport at least two hours before departure, Faye Travel Insurance Vice President of Communication & Brand Lauren Gumport told The Independent in an email.
Cancel-for-any-reason is a travel insurance add-on that allows travelers to cancel their nonrefundable prepaid travel for any reason not covered by a policy’s trip cancellation insurance, Squaremouth notes.
In general, the coverage has to be purchased within 14 to 21 days of your first trip payment. Cancellations must take place at least two to three days before the trip, rendering the coverage ineffective for those who have to cancel on the day of travel due to long TSA wait times.
Credit cards: Not much help
Certain credit cards offer trip insurance that usually covers cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances such as traveler injuries or certain weather conditions, according to Chase Bank. Security line delays aren’t typically included as covered events.
For example, American Express premium credit cards - which include the Platinum line and top-tier Hilton and Delta cards - offer trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. But the coverage has similar limitations to travel insurance policies: pre-trip injuries, bad weather, and scenarios such as terrorist actions or a change in military orders are covered - a missed flight due to long security lines isn’t included.
While limited, the coverage is complimentary when travel is booked with participating cards, according to American Express.
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