Winter Weather Travel Recommendations
Flight disruptions can occur unexpectedly due to factors such as weather conditions, airline scheduling issues, or government-related operations. These situations can develop rapidly and may impact both domestic and international travel.
To help reduce inconvenience and minimize long wait times resulting from travel disruptions and delays, VCU’s Travel Services Team, through partnership with Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP), recommends the following:
- Travelers should only use the CTP 24/7 Emergency Service when travel is within 72 hours of departure – Dedicated VCU Team # 888-742-2896
- For travel outside of 72 hours, please call during normal business hours (8am-6pm EST); Doing this insures that travelers who are experiencing current flight disruptions and not inhibit travelers are able to reach a live agent
- Choose the “callback” option to reduce hold times and receive a return call when an agent becomes available
- Book, change, and cancel travel reservations through the online booking tool (Lightning), whenever possible
- Avoid booking the last flight of the day whenever possible
- Download airline apps, and sign up for airline messages
- Use the airline app, CTM Mobile, and/or relevant websites to check flight status before heading to the airport, including Flightaware.
- Utilize CTP Scout (chat) tool within the Portal to cancel or check flight statuses.
- If you are unable to contact CTP’s after hours service and are unable to use the mobile app, Scout (chat), or the online booking tool, please send your cancellation request to [email protected].
While delays and road conditions can be frustrating, we encourage you to stay patient and prioritize caution above all else. We appreciate your support and cooperation in following these recommendations. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected].
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