Overview
- The FAA ordered a nationwide ground stop on Friday, Nov. 13, halting all departing flights and stating the order would remain in effect through 8:00 p.m. PST.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said a communications failure affecting all Air Route Traffic Control Centers caused the disruption, and some Bay Area flights began departing again about 3:30 p.m. PST as operations slowly resumed.
- Under U.S. Department of Transportation rules, passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed are eligible for full cash refunds, with a "significant delay" defined as three hours or more for domestic trips and six hours or more for international itineraries.
- Airlines are not federally required to pay for hotels, meals, or rebooking on rival carriers for disruptions outside their control, though some carriers have issued travel waivers and passengers should document expenses and keep receipts to support claims.
- Federal tarmac rules limit onboard holds to three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights and set refund deadlines of seven business days for card refunds and 20 calendar days for cash or check, giving travelers clear steps to seek relief and to file DOT complaints if needed.