MW Caught in the Newark airport chaos? Here's what airlines are offering passengers for delayed or canceled flights.

By Genna Contino

Airlines are waiving change fees and canceling flights to help ease the strain at Newark Liberty International Airport

Travelers flying through Newark are experiencing turbulence before they even make it into the air.

The Federal Aviation Administration has been slowing the pace of arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport for the past couple of weeks as it deals with staffing shortages and radar outages, resulting in an increased number of flight delays and cancellations.

Newark was the airport with the highest number of canceled flights as of Wednesday afternoon, and inbound flights were delayed by an average of three hours, according to the flight-tracking site Flight Aware, with low clouds exacerbating the issue. Of the flights headed toward Newark on Wednesday, 111, or 21% of all inbound flights, were delayed, and 42, or 8%, were canceled.

The problem is expected to grow beyond Newark. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on NBC's "Meet The Press" Sunday that the telecommunication issues plaguing Newark would also happen in other airports across the country due to outdated air-traffic-control systems. For now, airlines are waiving flight-change fees to ease travelers' pain, and at least one is cutting a few dozen roundtrip flights per day from the New Jersey hub.

Shares of major U.S. carriers American Airlines $(AAL)$, Delta Air Lines $(DAL)$ and United Airlines $(UAL)$ ticked slightly down in Wednesday afternoon trading, while Southwest Airlines shares $(LUV)$ were up 2%.

Which airlines are offering compensation for canceled flights?

A Transportation Department rule that went into effect last year requires airlines to provide a refund when an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight. But some individual airlines are offering additional concessions to passengers whose travel itineraries have been affected by the issues at Newark.

From the archives (October 2024): 5 things to know about the new airline-refund rules that just went into effect

United Airlines

United Airlines, which operates about 70% of flights to and from Newark, is waiving change fees and fare differences for travel through May 23, as long as the new flight is booked through United and departs within two days before or after the original travel date. The new flight must be scheduled either between the same cities as originally booked or through New York's LaGuardia Airport or Philadelphia International Airport.

United CEO Scott Kirby announced May 2 that the carrier would be canceling 35 flights per day from its Newark schedule.

"It's disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers," Kirby said in a message posted on the airline's website.

Air Canada

Air Canada (CA:AC) is allowing customers to change their itinerary up to two hours before departure, without paying a fee, to depart from or arrive at LaGuardia or John F. Kennedy International Airport for flights scheduled through May 23. For flights originally connecting through Newark, customers can connect via a different airport or choose a direct flight between the same departure and arrival airports.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines $(ALK)$ is waiving change fees for new travel through May 22, although tickets must be exchanged prior to the departure of the original flight. The airline is also letting customers cancel a flight before departure without paying a fee and receive credit for future travel.

American Airlines

American Airlines is waiving change fees for travel booked through May 14. Similar to the United policy, new tickets must be booked between the same cities as initially purchased or else through the Philadelphia airport, LaGuardia or JFK.

"The challenges in Newark demonstrate the urgent need to staff up and modernize our air-traffic-control system," spokesperson Andrea Koos said.

Delta Air Lines

There were no Delta cancellations at Newark as of Wednesday afternoon, but "if a flight is canceled for any reason and a customer chooses to not travel via a rebooking, they may have a refund," Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant said.

LOT Polish Airlines

Flights to and from the Polish cities of Krakow and Warsaw on LOT Polish Airlines have been unaffected, according to spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski. The carrier is not considering a reduction in the number of flights through Newark, he said.

Porter Airlines

Canada-based Porter Airlines is offering a complimentary change to a flight through LaGuardia or Toronto Pearson International Airport if customers call the airline, spokesperson Robyn van Teunenbroek said.

Spirit Airlines

Budget carrier Spirit Airlines is offering waivers for fare differences on travel through May 31 that is rebooked within four days of the original scheduled flight.

Sun Country

Sun Country $(SNCY)$, another budget airline, flies through Newark once a day four to seven days a week, so its standard refund, delay and cancellation policies apply for passengers affected by the Newark delays.

MarketWatch reached out to the other airlines that fly through Newark but had not received responses as of Wednesday afternoon.

Tips for flying during a bumpy travel summer

Stay on top of flight updates

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the Newark airport, recommends checking the airport's official website for updates on delays and cancellations. The agency also recommends fliers arrive two and a half hours before domestic flights and three and a half hours before international flights to allow time for check-in, Port Authority spokesperson Cheryl Albiez said.

See more: Got your Real ID? You should still get to the airport at least 3 hours early if you're flying anytime soon.

Travelers should download the app of the airline they're flying with so they can receive real-time notifications about changes to their flight, said Teresa Murray, director of the consumer watchdog office at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Track your luggage

Murray also recommends that travelers put tracking devices in their luggage. "Delays and cancellations increase the likelihood that you'll be separated from your bag," she said.

This includes carry-on luggage, because airlines are checking those pieces at the gate more frequently to account for limited overhead-bin space and the time it takes to board passengers onto the plane.

Consider travel insurance

Those who want an extra layer of protection can buy travel insurance - but they should read the fine print. A comprehensive policy includes coverage for trip interruption, trip delay, missed connection and baggage delay, according to Mike Shapiro, director of air and ancillary products at tour operator CIE Tours.

It pays to shop around for insurance, too, said Melanie Dickman, a lecturer at the Center for Aviation Studies at Ohio State University. Depending on a person's travel needs, they might need more or less coverage than what's offered by the standard travel policy that airlines prompt fliers to add when booking a trip.

"Travelers staying with family may not need the coverage that someone planning international travel for a honeymoon may need," Dickman said. "It really depends on how much is at stake."

Know your rights as a traveler

Travelers also have more rights than they did last year, with the implementation of the new FAA rules last fall. Fliers don't have to memorize the nitty-gritty details of when they're owed compensation, but Murray suggests people should know where to look in case their travel is affected.

From the archives (May 2024): Airline passengers are now entitled to automatic cash refunds for canceled flights. Here's how to get yours.

The Transportation Department's website lists "fly rights" in a consumer guide to air travel and also has a dashboard that lists information about cancellation and delay policies for major U.S. carriers.

Try to resolve flight problems in person - and be patient

In the event that a flight is canceled and travelers need to contact their airline, Murray recommends going to the airline's desk at the airport to fix the issue in person.

Fliers can still try to update travel plans through the app's live-chat function or via phone while waiting in line. However, "you can't really boohoo or try to play the sympathy card as much on an app," Murray said. "If you're nice and pleasant but stressed out, a person can read that."

The most important thing to remember, experts say, is to be flexible and patient with airport employees.

"Pack your patience, because you're going to need it," Shapiro said. "And be nice to the gate agent."

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-Genna Contino

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May 14, 2025 16:02 ET (20:02 GMT)

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