4 critical travel issues for those delayed and disrupted by FAA nationwide ground stop

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing U.S. flights on Friday afternoon at about 4 p.m. ET. The stop was lifted at 8:15 p.m. ET, but the disruption caused more than 15,000 flight cancellations and delays across the country.

The FAA cited telecommunication issues that affected multiple Air Route Traffic Control Centers as the reason for the order, which was the largest nationwide ground stop in 25 years.

The ripple effect from the ground stop is still being felt, with residual delays continuing to impact airport operations.

Continued delays and cancellations

Travelers should expect to see some delays and cancellations as airlines reschedule flights and reposition aircraft and crews where they are needed most.

Gary Leff, a travel industry expert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," explained that the scheduling issues are widespread.

Leff added that when planes and crews are not where they are supposed to be, there are downline effects for all the flights that are supposed to be operated by them.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy advised travelers to check their flight status directly with their airline for real-time updates.

Duffy noted that travelers should not be surprised if there are aftereffects, but they should get under control soon.

Airline policies and rebooking options

The five biggest domestic airlines have issued travel waivers to help passengers affected by the ground stop.

American Airlines issued a travel waiver covering passengers with trips booked on or before Thursday, Nov. 12, for flights on Friday, Nov. 13, or Saturday, Nov. 14.

Eligible flyers, including Basic Economy ticket holders, can rebook for no fee in the same cabin, provided their new ticket has the same departure point and destination.

They can also cancel their trip and request a refund, or book a new trip through Nov. 17, as long as they make the change by Saturday, Nov. 14.

Delta has issued a waiver covering all trips scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14. Passengers can change their flights and depart on or before Saturday, Nov. 21, at no extra charge.

United Airlines is waiving flight change fees and fare differences for passengers scheduled to fly on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14.

Eligible customers may rebook their flights departing through Friday, Nov. 20, free of charge, as long as they travel between the same origin and destination.

Southwest Airlines customers holding tickets from Friday, Nov. 13 through Monday, Nov. 16, can rebook their trips or fly standby within five days of their initial departure date for no extra fee, or they can request a full refund if their flight is significantly delayed or canceled.

JetBlue will waive fare differences, change fees and cancellation fees for passengers with flights scheduled on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14.

Customers can rebook their trip through Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Passenger rights and baggage

Transportation Department rules state that passengers with canceled flights are entitled to a full refund if they choose not to accept a voucher or other compensation from their airline.

For those who checked bags during their travels, there are guidelines in place to ensure passengers are reunited with lost or delayed luggage.

The U.S. Department of Transportation website states that if an airline unreasonably refuses to consider a bag lost after it has been missing for an unreasonable period of time, the airline could be subject to enforcement action by the DOT.

Customers are entitled to a refund if they paid a baggage fee and their bag has been lost or significantly delayed, according to the website.