ExpertFlyer’s New Disruption Alerts Help You When Flights Are Canceled or Delayed

When a flight is canceled, the travelers who find a new option first usually get the best solutions. ExpertFlyer’s new Disruption Alerts feature aims to put you in that group. It emails you when your flight is canceled or badly delayed and suggests up to 3 alternative flights.

The feature is in beta for now. Each alert also includes the airline’s reason for the disruption, which comes in handy if you plan to file a compensation claim.

How do you use this new feature? Let us show you.

What Is ExpertFlyer?

ExpertFlyer is a subscription tool that shows frequent flyers the data airlines don’t make easy to find. You can search award and upgrade availability, check fare class inventory, view seat maps for more than 100 airlines and set alerts that tell you when a seat, award or upgrade opens up.

There are 4 plans. The Free plan includes basic seat maps and 1 alert at a time. Paid plans are billed annually:

• Basic: $5.99 per month ($71.88 per year)
• Premium: $10.99 per month ($131.88 per year)
• Elite: $19.99 per month ($239.88 per year)

Elite is new and aimed at American AAdvantage Concierge Key, Executive Platinum and Platinum Pro members hunting for systemwide upgrade space. Basic and Premium both come with a 5-day free trial. Using Disruption Alerts requires Premium or Elite, so the cheapest plan that includes them costs $131.88 per year.

How ExpertFlyer’s Disruption Alerts Work

After logging in, you’ll find Disruption Alerts in the left-hand menu under Alerts.

The setup form asks for the following information:

• Alert name
• Departing and arriving airports
• Depart date
• Disruption tolerance, from 2 to 8 hours
• Operating airline and flight number
• Number of passengers
• Rebooking preference: any airline, the same airline or the same alliance (oneworld, SkyTeam or Star Alliance)

Check the box at the bottom if you’d like a test email, then click Verify and Create.

If your flight is canceled or delayed past your tolerance, ExpertFlyer emails you up to 3 rebooking options, each with a short note on why it made the list. You’ll also see your original booking details and the reason for the cancellation or delay.

That reason is more useful than it sounds. Premium and Elite members can look up delay and cancellation reasons in ExpertFlyer, but only from 3 days before a flight until 7 days after. With the reason already in your inbox, you won’t miss that window.

Pros of this new feature include:

• Alternative flights land in your inbox, so you’re not searching from scratch.
• The disruption reason and booking details sit in 1 email, ready for a compensation claim.
• You can limit suggestions to your airline or alliance.

However, there are some cons:

• You need a Premium or Elite plan.
• Each alert covers 1 segment, so a trip with a connection needs 2 alerts, and suggestions don’t factor in your remaining legs.
• Rebooking options ignore your fare, cabin, and seats, so check Flight Availability and Seat Map before asking for a specific flight.
• It only tracks cancellations and major delays, so you’ll need a separate Schedule Alert for retimes and route changes.
• It’s still in beta, and you’ll have to confirm any new flight directly with the airline.

Final Thoughts

Disruption Alerts won’t rebook you, but the tool gives you a short list of options and a paper trail before you call the airline or approach the in-airport customer service desk. That’s a real edge during a meltdown.

If you already pay for Premium or Elite, set up an alert for your next trip and pair it with a Schedule Alert for full coverage.