周五，美国联邦航空管理局（FAA）因空管中心通信问题宣布停飞，导致全美数千航班延误、取消或滞留跑道。这一突如其来的通知让疲惫的旅客手忙脚乱，不知何时能抵达目的地，也不知可能获得何种赔偿。据航班追踪网站 FlightAware 统计，截至周五下午 4 点 30 分，美国境内有超过 1 万个航班延误，超过 5000 个航班取消。
Thousands of flights across America were delayed, canceled or stuck on the tarmac Friday after the FAA announced a ground stop due to a communications issue with its air traffic control centers. The sudden announcement left weary travelers scrambling and unsure about when they could make it to their destinations — and what sort of compensation they may be entitled to. More than 10,000 flights within the United States were delayed and more than 5,000 were canceled as of 4:30 p.m. Friday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
停飞令生效时已在空中的航班获准继续飞往目的地，所有其他国内航班均被扣留在地面。联邦航空管理局称，国际航班将按个案处理。技术故障原因不明，周五国内航班恢复时间无法预估。国土安全部长马克韦恩·马林表示，没有理由认为此次电信中断是由外国或恶意行为者造成的。如果您是受影响旅客之一，以下是您应了解的事项。
Flights that already were in the air when the ground stop began were allowed to continue to their destinations, while all other domestic flights were held on the ground. International flights were being handled on a case-by-case basis, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The cause of the technical issue was unknown and there was no estimated time for resuming domestic flights Friday. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said there was no reason to believe that the telecommunications outage was caused by a foreign or nefarious actor. Here is what you should know if you are among the travelers affected.
根据美国运输部规定，所有在美机场运营的航空公司必须允许乘客在国内航班跑道延误 3 小时内、国际航班跑道延误 4 小时内下机。跑道延误适用于等待起飞的飞机，或刚着陆但乘客无法下机的飞机。航空公司通常须在跑道延误 2 小时内为乘客提供水和小吃。机上厕所必须保持可用，客舱温度必须维持舒适，如有需要必须提供医疗救助。航班延误并不自动赋予乘客获得经济赔偿的权利。
Under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, all airlines at U.S. airports are required to allow passengers to deplane within three hours of a tarmac delay on domestic flights and within four hours on international flights. A tarmac delay applies to planes awaiting takeoff or planes that have just landed where passengers are unable to get off. Airlines are generally required to provide water and snacks to passengers within two hours of a tarmac delay. Working toilets and comfortable air cabin temperatures must also be maintained and medical care must be provided if needed. Passengers are not automatically entitled to financial compensation if their flight is delayed.
如果旅行计划发生重大变更，且乘客选择不继续出行，通常有权获得退款。交通部将此定义为：国内航班起飞或到达时间比计划晚至少三小时，国际航班晚至少六小时。多家航空公司已宣布灵活出行政策，以便乘客在空中停飞期间更容易改签或退票。联合航空周五发布声明称，将为选择在11月20日或之前起飞的新航班改期的乘客免除改签费和票价差额。
Passengers do generally have rights to a refund if there is a significant change to their travel plans and they choose not to continue traveling. The Department of Transportation defines this as departing or arriving at least three hours later than scheduled for domestic flights and at least six hours later than scheduled for international flights. Several airlines have announced flexible travel policies to make it easier for passengers to change flights or receive refunds during the ground stop. United Airlines released a statement Friday saying it would waive change fees and fare differences for passengers who opt to reschedule their trip for a new flight departing on or before Nov. 20.
该航空公司表示，受空管系统故障影响而取消行程或不出行的乘客有权获得全额退款。达美航空也宣布推出旅行豁免政策，允许受停飞影响的客户免费改签航班。阿拉斯加航空已实施灵活出行政策，允许取消航班退款，并免除特定改签的费用。根据交通部规定，如果航班被取消且乘客选择不接受替代航班，有权获得全额退款。
Passengers affected by the air traffic control outage who cancel or don't take their trip are entitled to a full refund, the airline said. Delta Airlines also announced a travel waiver allowing customers affected by the ground stop to change their flight at no extra cost. Alaska Airlines has a flexible travel policy in place allowing refunds for canceled flights and waived fees for certain flight changes. Passengers are entitled to a full refund if their flights are canceled and they choose not to accept alternative flights, per DOT regulations.
联邦法律不要求航空公司在取消航班由航空公司无法控制的因素导致时，向乘客提供餐券或酒店券。
Federal law does not require airlines to provide meal or hotel vouchers to passengers when a cancellation is caused by factors outside of an airline's control.