Room Guarantees Can Get Lost in a Hurricane

As Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Mississippi yesterday, airline travelers braced for major disruptions in schedules not just along the East Coast but in large swaths of the country.

And stranded travelers bearing room confirmations could discover that in the hurricane's chaos, their rooms have gone to someone else.

Several major carriers -- Continental, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, US Airways and AirTran -- reported that many of their flights in the region were canceled or delayed yesterday and that their operations will probably continue to be affected at least through today.

"All of our flights in and out of New Orleans are canceled through noon (today),"American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said yesterday afternoon. "And that could easily get pushed into later in the week."

Atlanta-based travel editor Chris McGinnis warned in his newsletter, the Ticket, that travelers should expect trouble this week.

"Bad weather is expected all week up and down the East Coast, with concomitant flight delays and hassles, so if you don't have to be out there in the slop, stay home," McGinnis wrote.

Several airlines, including US Airways, Delta and American, waived their $100 fee to change flights. The deadlines for making the changes vary: American's passengers have until today to switch flights without penalty, while Delta's customers have until Thursday. Airline officials said the deadlines could be extended if the effects of Katrina are prolonged.

With so many flights affected, airports outside of the Southeast could feel the ripple effect. Travelers in the Midwest and Northeast stranded by the wave of cancellations could find airline service severely disrupted and hotels near airports quickly booked up.

Travel expert Tom Parsons, publisher of Bestfares.com, reminds travelers that if their flights are delayed or canceled due to weather, they are entitled to receive a 100 percent refund of the unused portion of their ticket, if they opt not to fly. Airlines are not required to pay for hotel rooms when travelers are stuck because of weather.

Getting on the next available flight may prove difficult for stranded travelers because planes are mostly full during the high-load summer season. And getting an inexpensive hotel room at the last minute may also prove to be a challenge.

My friend Tonya Brewington, a District-based Web designer, discovered just how difficult it is to find a hotel room in a city just hit by a major storm, even when you have already paid for the room and have a confirmation number. Guaranteeing a room with a credit card on an online travel site does not necessarily guarantee you'll get the room, especially during chaotic events, hotel experts say.

On Sunday, Brewington's flight from Barbados arrived late in Miami and she missed her connection to Washington. So, stuck in Miami, she contacted me for help in finding a room for the night.