What to do if your flight gets delayed or canceled

"Airlines for America, the main lobbying group for major US carriers, is predicting a record-breaking year for holiday travel as an estimated 31 million people fly between November 21 and December 1. That's about 2.8 million passengers a day queuing at check-in and security and vying for lounge space. The demand requires about 45,000 more daily seats, with the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving being the busiest days to fly."

"American Airlines said it plans to operate nearly 81,000 flights over the Thanksgiving holiday and has added late-night flights to Phoenix and Chicago to meet demand. More seats booked mean a greater chance for your flight to be delayed or canceled. Air traffic control facilities are staffed again after the weekslong government shutdown, but the workforce remains about 3,000 controllers short and still utilizes outdated technology."

"Because Thanksgiving is notoriously busy compared to a normal day, it's not uncommon for bottlenecks to develop and spread throughout the system. Winter weather is the main threat this year. The weather forecasting company AccuWeather warned that strong thunder, snow, and wind storms could impact flights across the country. The Dallas/Fort Worth area experienced hundreds of delays on Monday after thunderstorms hit the city."

An estimated 31 million people are expected to fly between November 21 and December 1, creating about 2.8 million passengers per day. Airlines have added seats and late-night flights, with United expecting 6.6 million customers and American planning nearly 81,000 flights to meet demand. Increased bookings raise the risk of delays and cancellations. Air traffic control facilities resumed staffing after a shutdown but remain about 3,000 controllers short and rely on outdated technology, which previously caused mass disruptions at airports such as Newark and Washington, DC. Winter storms, including thunder, snow, and wind, pose additional threats to travel.

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