What happens if a passenger wants to get off the plane during a runway delay because it ruins their travel plans completely
I am taking a 3hr flight from A to B to attend a funeral in B. Take-off scheduled for 1200, landing scheduled for 1500. Funeral scheduled for 1700h. According to flightstats this flight has an on-time rate of 93%. Assume it takes 1h to travel to the funeral.
Now say there is a runway delay of 1.5hrs (so far). If we take off right now I can get to the funeral at 1730 which is no longer worth it. If the delay goes on any longer I will miss it completely. There is no longer any reason for me to travel and even though I can’t get my money back (sunk cost). At this point, getting off the plane is a no-brainer for me.
I am sure flight attendants have a plan for panicking travelers but I think this is different. The airline sold me a service and then did not deliver it. In other businesses this is where I just walk away, even without any hope of a refund.
Does anyone here know about anything like this happening? Are there any FAA regulations about this? Airline regulations? Precedent?
Obviously, I would never cut it this tight in real life given how unreliable flying has become. But I am currently on a long runway delay (no funeral) so am curious.
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asked Aug 13, 2021 at 17:44
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- 16What if the delay occurs during the flight? Will you want the plane to turn around and carry you back to A? – TooTea CommentedAug 13, 2021 at 17:51
- 36You open the emergency door, activate the slide (optional), jump out and eventually get arrested. Sadly this has been done multiple times in just the last year. Bonus is that you’ll be banned from the airline and never have to worry about delays with them again. – Peter M CommentedAug 13, 2021 at 18:20
- 1Have you already read the Department of Transportation’s page on tarmac delays? First hit for the phrase on Google. – Nate Eldredge CommentedAug 13, 2021 at 18:29
- 6On the financial side of things with some airlines, you can declare a “trip in vain” and the airline will put you on the next flight back to your origin once you reach your next destination, and depending on the length of the delay, may issue some kind of compensation, either a partial (or sometimes even full) refund on the ticket or credit towards a future flight, or they may allow you to use the ticket again on a future date. Obviously more expensive tickets and high status passengers are more likely to get more generous compensation for a trip in vain. – Crazymoomin CommentedAug 15, 2021 at 22:10
- 3@gerrit That’s not really relevant to the topic at hand. – Crazymoomin CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 18:07
4 Answers
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51
(From your mention of FAA I assume you are interested in the United States. Rules in other parts of the world may be different.)
Yes, the US Transportation Department has specific regulations for “tarmac delays” at 14 CFR 259.4, as well as an informal summary for travelers.
The general rule is:
[14 CFR 259.4 (c)(1)] For all domestic flights, each covered U.S. air carrier shall provide a passenger on a flight experiencing a tarmac delay at a U.S. airport the opportunity to deplane before the tarmac delay exceeds three hours in duration, subject to the exceptions in paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
For international flights, the limit is four hours instead. There are exceptions in case deplaning would be unsafe, or would significantly disrupt airport operations. There is also a technicality that they only have to begin the process of returning to the gate before the three-hour mark, and it’s okay if it takes longer before they actually get to the gate and can start deplaning.
Airlines could of course make their own policies promising to return to the gate sooner, but as far as I know, none of them have.
So in your example, you are out of luck. If the delay has only been 1.5 hours, the airline is not yet under any obligation to take the plane back to the gate so you can get off.
(It should go without saying that you should not attempt to get off of your own accord, e.g. via emergency exits, nor to force a return to the gate by causing a disturbance, threatening violence, or anything like that. Those are federal crimes.)
If the flight should manage to take off within a further 1.5 hours, you will just have to go along with it, even though it ends you up somewhere that you no longer want to go.
In future, plan your itinerary accordingly.
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answered Aug 13, 2021 at 18:39
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- 21I think that quote uses an extremely weird way of saying the airlines can wait up to 3 or 4 hours before having to let you get off. – Yanick Salzmann CommentedAug 14, 2021 at 9:03
- 2Also note there is a question around about such a situation where passengers were allowed to get off, but the airline refused to return checked luggage… – jcaron CommentedAug 14, 2021 at 9:41
- 7″Plan your itinerary accordingly.” In other words, “Leave the day before your engagement and book an hotel room for the night”, right? – nick012000 CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 7:38
- 8@nick012000 If it is important to you that you make the appointment, yes. I would do this for a job interview, court appearance, business meeting, wedding, funeral, etc. Wouldn’t you? – Oscar Bravo CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 10:33
- 5@nick012000: For instance. Or, in OP’s case, it seems like their main goal was to be able to stay home if it turned out they could not make it to the funeral. So they could have booked a flight with a departure time of about 1000h. If the delay is under 3 hours, they probably make it to the funeral on time; if the delay exceeds that, the FAA rule means they can get off the plane and stay home. – Nate Eldredge CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 13:49
31
It’s not going to happen.
You cannot exit the plane without it going back to the gate. It’s unsafe. The crew will refuse to let you. If you continue to try they will probably restrain you and you will be in other trouble.
The plane will not return to the gate for you to disembark just because you have decided you want to. Doing so will delay the plane further, possibly much further, and inconvenience all the other hundreds of passengers on the plane.
If you attempt to exit the plane after being told not to, or otherwise disrupt the flight, you will compromising the safety of the plane. The probability is that the plane will return to the gate, where you will be arrested, as well as delaying the plane more and causing you to be very unpopular with other passengers. The punishment you receive will be significant, and part of it will probably be that you will not fly again for a long time.
For a long enough delay the plane will return to the gate to let you disembark, but I believe the norm is 3 or 4 hours.
You should be able to obtain some compensation for the delay, depending on circumstances and jurisdiction. Assuming you haven’t tried to force your way off the plane.
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answered Aug 13, 2021 at 18:38
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- 3″…Doing so will delay the plane further…” not to mention all the other planes using the airport. At a busy location, the costs associated with any delay would be very high. – David CommentedAug 14, 2021 at 8:17
- 1@David An aircraft returning to the gate to have an unruly passenger arrested wouldn’t normally delay the other aircraft at that airport, at least not by a significant amount. Possibly by a couple of minutes if they’re in a position where they’ll need to take the runway in order to taxi back, but otherwise generally not by much. It will, however, cause a considerable delay for your flight and your fellow passengers (and crew) will not be happy. It could also end up causing your flight to get cancelled if, for example, the crew times out as a result. – reirab CommentedAug 14, 2021 at 21:14
- What does it mean “the crew times out”? – Vladimir Reshetnikov CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 0:50
- 7@VladimirReshetnikov If the crew times out, it means that they wouldn’t be able to complete the flight before their maximum number of working hours is reached. – Isvara CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 4:48
- the OP very obviously meant going back to the gate .. not climbing out (with a rope?) and walking back over the tarmac – Fattie CommentedAug 16, 2021 at 15:33
8
I once flew London to New York; flight diverted to Boston because of bad weather and stayed on the tarmac for 3 hours; a family who asked to leave the plane at Boston were firmly told this was not allowed. Eventually the crew ran out of flying hours and all the passengers were disembarked; the family were still told they had to continue their flight for immigration reasons, but they absconded.
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answered Aug 14, 2021 at 18:51
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- 7AIUI, any passengers should have been able to leave, once the plane was at a gate, except if the airport was not an international airport (i.e., no customs/immigration on-site). Which should only happen in a rare emergency situation, but every so often something like that happens and it gets tricky because the passengers have to, essentially, be quarantined in one section of the airport until they can get a replacement flight out. – manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact CommentedAug 15, 2021 at 2:45
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There is no longer any reason for me to travel and even though I can’t get my money back (sunk cost). At this point, getting off the plane is a no-brainer for me.
Think of air travel as a group project in school. Just because you no longer have an interest in biology (being on the plane) does not mean you get to ruin it for others.
When a plane is delayed it has to wait diligently (up to 3 hours) for the ATC to clear them for take-off. This window of opportunity is small so the plane must be ready to go at all times.
Short of a medical emergency, if you were to miraculously convince the crew to go back to the gate and the plane gets cleared for takeoff while you’re deboarding then you will make a lot of silent (sometimes loud) enemies because now they have to wait for clearance again.
If the flight crew times out then they have to wait for another crew; sometimes from an incoming flight.
If people are making international connections it is imperative to at least get them one step closer to their destination. If you’re in a small city and destined for a big city then think about how much more likely the other people can connect to their final destination.
As for compensation, read your airlines’ ToS. It’s usually SOL for weather delay but you could request a full refund for mechanical issues.
Better yet, get travel insurance next time.
CNN —
Air travelers have become all too accustomed to flight delays and cancellations lately.
Air traffic controller shortages caused major issues during the US government shutdown, triggering the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate flight cuts. While those cuts have been lifted, the busy holiday season could spell more disruptions, particularly if bad weather complicates operations.
Keep in mind that in the United States, when an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel.
“If a flight does get canceled, travelers are owed a full refund for the ticket, full stop. If they are presented with a credit, they have the right to refuse and ask for monetary refund,” said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson for travel site Going.com, who was underlining Department of Transportation rules.
If a big storm or another complication seems poised to disrupt your flights, “look to make alternative travel plans immediately,” said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, an air passenger rights company. Competition for seats becomes fierce during the holiday season when flights are more full.
“Travelers should consider looking at flights that are very early in the morning — as these are typically less delayed, too,” Napoli said.
Here’s more on what experts say you should do if your flight is delayed or canceled.
It starts long before you go to the airport
Check the status of your flight early and often before you head to the airport. Pattarisara Suvichanarakul/iStockphoto/Getty Images
As bad as it is to find out your flight has been delayed for a long time, or worse, canceled, it’s better to find out from the comfort of home or a hotel room.
“Check your flight status before you go the airport. Most of these notifications are not happening at the last minute,” said Scott Keyes, the founder of Going.com. “Save yourself the drive to the airport.”
It’s important that passengers closely monitor the routes they’re planning to travel, Napoli said.
“We recommend booking refundable tickets or purchasing travel insurance in case of any issues that come up,” he said.
Other tips from Keyes and Going.com:
- Sign up for airlines’ text alerts on the status of flights. Also, download your carrier’s app.
- Going.com suggests checking the National Airspace System status provided by the DOT, where ground stops, ground delays and air traffic control system announcements are listed.
- Put your airline and flight number directly into a Google search bar to retrieve the flight status that way.
- Check the website FlightAware for larger flight trends across the country.
- Hop on waiver offers ahead of bad weather or other disruptions quickly. Early birds have the best choices of the remaining seats and flights.
If you’re at the airport already
Quick! Make a beeline to the airline agents’ desk — and hop on the phone, too. Julien De Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
If you’re at the airport, act with urgency. Quickly head to the airline agents’ desk. “It’s going to make a difference who arrives first. It’s first-come, first-serve. Positioning yourself close to the desk can pay off,” Keyes said.
You should also call up your carrier while you’re waiting, Keyes suggested. It might be faster to get through to a call center.
Other tactics you can try:
- Go to a self-serve kiosk, American Airlines and United Airlines advise.
- Use social media to your advantage, the travel advice website Travel Lens suggests. Try politely contacting the airline via X or other platforms when calls aren’t going through.
- Try an international call center for your carrier, Keyes suggests. Calls to US domestic numbers might have longer waits.
Attitude and research matter
Attitude matters — be polite to the people who are trying to assist you. Brandon Bell/Getty Images
How you approach things can make a big difference, whether on the phone or in person.
“Honey attracts more flies than vinegar,” Keyes said. “Look at this from the airline agents’ perspective. … The agent is the one who has the most ability to help you. Asking nicely and sympathetically is far more likely to get what you want than being a jerk about it.”
And when it’s your turn to talk to an agent about new arrangements: “Come prepared to offer your own options already. Doing your own research is absolutely helpful.”
Other considerations:
- Book directly with an airline for easier solutions should trouble arise. If you’ve booked through a third-party site, you’ll have to deal through them when there’s a cancellation.
- Avoid layovers when booking if possible, the consumer advocacy group US PIRG suggests. The more times you stop, the more chances for something to go wrong.
Help from other airlines
Cooperation between airlines could work in your favor.
“When flights are canceled, many airlines have the option of putting you on another carrier’s flight because they have interline agreements,” Lousson Smith, product operations specialist at Going.com, told CNN Travel.
“This means, for example, if Delta is having service interruptions but American is running a flight to your destination, you may be able to get on that flight.”
Frequent flyer miles
Don’t forget to leave time for security. Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
Thanks to changes in frequent flyer programs over the past several years, airlines often still have flights available with miles even when demand is high during a weather event, Julian Kheel, founder and CEO of Points Path, told CNN Travel.
“You’ll need to be prepared to spend a lot of miles, and you may not get the best value for them,” Kheel said, but the cash savings could be significant.
“Most US airlines now allow you to cancel flights booked with frequent flyer miles without any fee or penalty right up until departure time. That means you can book multiple alternate flights on different airlines using your miles in case one of them ends up delayed or canceled.
“But don’t try to book alternate flights on the same airline, as duplicates can be automatically canceled. And don’t forget to cancel the remaining flights you don’t end up using so you can get your miles back.”
Trapped for the night
Sometimes, if might be easier to hunker down at the airport rather than scramble for a hotel room during a flight delay. Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images
What do you do if you’re not going to be able to fly out until the next day and you’re not in your home city?
This depends on the specifics of your situation — in the US, for example, airlines aren’t legally required to put you up in a hotel. US-based airlines have their own individual policies for situations “within the airline’s control” that are tracked by the Department of Transportation, here.
According to the DOT, “a controllable flight cancellation or delay is essentially a delay or cancellation caused by the airline. Examples include: maintenance or crew problems; cabin cleaning; baggage loading; and fueling.” So weather events — or government shutdowns — typically would not fall into this category.
But requirements in other countries are different. In the United Kingdom, for example, you’ll likely be automatically entitled to food and drink vouchers and accommodation. You can read all the details at the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)’s website.
Your canceled flight will be covered by UK law if it was supposed to be departing from the UK, no matter who you were flying with.
And if your flight was supposed to be arriving in the UK, you’ll be covered by UK law as long as you were traveling on an EU or UK airline. This document from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority explains all the ins and outs of these rules.
Despite this, sometimes airlines can’t help everyone, and as the CAA says, “this can happen when staff are stretched during major disruptions.” The CAA advice is to organize “reasonable care and assistance yourself, then claim the cost back later. If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable.”
Other things to consider:
- Book your flight with a credit card, Smith said. “Many credit cards offer travel protections such as reimbursement if a flight cancellation forces you to get a hotel, meals, etc.”
- Consider hunkering down at the airport if your flight is delayed but not canceled. A lot depends on your personal comfort level and the estimated wait time, Keyes said.
- Check whether there is a hotel room available within the airport.
- Try getting into an airport lounge if you can, where you can recharge your phone and rest more easily, the Points Guy advises.
Refunds in the US
Airlines in the United States are now required to give passengers cash refunds if the airline cancels or significantly delays or changes a flight and the passenger chooses not to travel. See more from the Department of Transportation here.
Travel insurance and receipts
Travel insurance can be helpful to ensure reimbursement in a wide variety of circumstances. However, it doesn’t help in every situation.
Many travel insurance policies apply to “unforeseen events,” according to Chrissy Valdez, senior director of operations at travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth. But once an event like the shutdown is known, it’s often not covered. Check with your insurer on your policy’s fine print.
Cancel For Any Reason and Interruption For Any Reason coverage offer the highest level of protection for travelers shopping for insurance, she said.
Nastro suggests checking on any protections offered by your credit card before purchasing additional coverage.
Be sure to save all of your receipts in case you need to file a claim with your insurer or your airline.
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CNN’s Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
