Boeing 737 Max 9 grounded: What to do if your United or Alaska flight is cancelled
The FAA has grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes causing major flight schedule disruptions for Alaska and United. Here’s what to do if you’re affected…
The passengers aboard Alaska Airlines flight 1282 had a harrowing experience when a panel of the plane blew off the aircraft not long after takeoff. The incident prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes affecting domestic and foreign carriers.
Two of the most affected airlines are Alaska and United, which have 65 and 79, respectively, of the aircraft in question in their fleets. The temporary removal from service of those airplanes has caused major disruptions in the service of the two carriers as they scramble to fix scheduling issues.
Boeing 737 Max 9 grounded: What to do if your United or Alaska flight is cancelled
In light of the FAA grounding of the Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes in their fleets, both Alaska and United Airlines are providing flexible travel policies to travelers scheduled on flights impacted. Airlines are currently awaiting final instructions from the FAA in order to carry out formal inspections to assure the airworthiness of the aircraft to put them back into service.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has a “Systemwide flexible travel policy” for flights impacted by the Boeing 737 Max 9 groundings that allows customers to change or cancel any original flight booked between 6 and 9 January 2024 and new travel dates between 6 and 20 January. No additional costs will be applied.
However, “tickets must be changed or canceled prior to the departure of your original flight,” according to the company. Alaska Airlines also says that travelers who purchased their tickets through a third party must contact them directly for assistance.
United Airlines
United is allowing passengers that were scheduled to fly on a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane operated by the airline between 6 and 18 January 2024 to reschedule without paying a change fee. “Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked,” according to the company.
Passengers with tickets for flights on a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane scheduled after 18 January will still have change fees waived but depending on the flight may have to pay a fare difference. United is offering a full refund to travelers that cancel or don’t take their trip. You can get more details on “Boeing 737 Max 9 Operated Flights” at the company’s travel alerts webpage.