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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2025 Page 23 BBB Tip: Flight canceled? Tips for handling travel delays T he Better Business Bureau® (BBB) provides guidance to travelers who might be seeking compensation and refunds for airline cancellations. When a consumer is fl ying domestically in the United States, rules regarding flight delays and cancellations are overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In general, no U.S. federal laws require airlines to compensate passengers for a delayed fl ight. Airlines might have policies and provide better benefi ts if a fl ight is canceled or significantly delayed within the airline’s scope of control. Consumers might have additional benefi ts if they purchase the fl ight with a credit card that off ers additional travel protections. Check the cardholder agreement with the airline. Consumers should keep receipts for extra purchases, like a hotel room, to submit them to their airline or credit card company for reimbursement later. Typically, nearly all domestic airlines will try to accommodate passengers on the next available fl ight and sometimes on a different carrier. When fl ights are canceled by the airline, consumers are always entitled to a full refund. This includes refunding bag fees or extras for a seat, such as additional legroom. Ask about expiration and blackout dates if the airline off ers a voucher instead of a refund. Airlines might also have additional restrictions on the use of vouchers. Consumers are not obligated to accept vouchers and may insist on a full refund. However, if the consumer cancels the trip, they might not be entitled to a full refund. BBB is asking consumers to keep the following tips in mind when handling travel disruptions. • Check delays: Travelers can check their latest fl ight information on their carrier’s website or via the airline’s telephone reservation system. Delays often don’t occur until the day of the fl ight, and the airline must update its fl ight information within 30 minutes of receiving a status change notice. • Check carrier and credit card terms: While federal regulations don’t require airlines to reimburse expenses, such as rooms or food, in the event a flight is canceled or severely delayed, the carrier and credit card companies might have different policies. Purchase tickets with a credit card that off ers trip protection or traveler insurance and check individual airline policies. • Keep documentation: Keep receipts and records for expenses incurred due to a significantly delayed or canceled fl ight. These might be needed later to recover expenses. • Check the carrier’s website: Most airlines allow consumers to initiate refunds directly on the carrier’s website. Using a website might help a consumer obtain a refund or rebook a trip much faster than waiting for a consumer service agent in person or on the phone. • Consider travel insurance: Most travel insurance policies cover trip cancellations or interruptions; emergency medical situations; lost, stolen or damaged baggage; and cancellations for any reason. It’s important to check with the provider to verify what is covered and what is not. • Rules are different for foreign fl ights: Flights canceled in another country will be aff ected by the laws of that nation. Check with the local country’s department of transportation while traveling internationally. Visit https://www.bbb.org/ all/travel for more tips and resources for future travel plans. Read https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23352-bbbtip-travel-safely-on-your-vacation. State Fire Marshal Highlights Summer Fire Safety Grilling, Gasoline, and Smoking Among Outdoor Fire Hazards S TOW—As Massachusetts approaches Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is asking residents to practice outdoor fi re safety in the weeks and months ahead. “As the weather gets warmer and we start spending more time outside, outdoor fires also start to increase,” State Fire Marshal Davine said. “Unfortunately, many of these fi res cause serious injuries and property damage — but almost all of them can be prevented.” Grilling Safety About two-thirds of grilling fi res in Massachusetts occur between May and August. About 75% take place on residential properties — most often one- and two-family homes. Memorial Day is a leading day for cookouts with family and friends, so stay safe when using your gas or charcoal grill: • Always grill outdoors, never inside. • A burning grill should always be attended by an adult. • Never use a gas or charcoal grill on a porch, balcony, or fi re escape. • Place grills at least 10 feet away from buildings and deck railings. Make sure grills are not under eaves or overhanging branches. • Gas grills may be used on first floor decks or patios only if there is an outdoor stairway to the ground, or it is at ground level. • Always keep matches, lighters, and lighter fl uid away from children. • Create a three-foot “circle of safety” around grills. Keep children and pets at least three feet away on all sides. When using a gas grill, open the lid before you light it to avoid the ignition of builtup propane. If you smell gas while cooking, turn off the grill, move away, and call 9-11 from a safe location. Do not move the grill. Always turn off the burners and close the propane cylinder when you’re done cooking. If using a charcoal grill, only use charcoal starter fl uid. Do not use gasoline or kerosene to start a fi re in a grill, and never add any fl ammable liquid to burning briquettes or hot coals. Allow the coals to burn out completely and then cool for 48 hours before disposal. If you must dispose of ashes before they are completely cooled, thoroughly soak them in water before putting them in a metal container. Fire Pits and Chimineas Outdoor burning is prohibited in Massachusetts from May 1 to January 15. While regulations allow exceptions for fi res that are used for cooking, local fi re chiefs and municipalities may prohibit or impose additional restrictions on these fi res, including the use of fi re pits and chimineas. Even where allowed, an adult must always be present with the tools necessary to extinguish such a fi re immediately because of the inherent risk. Brush and structure fi res in Agawam, Florida, Goshen, and Haverhill in recent weeks all started with fi re pits that were unattended or improperly used. Any burning that creates a nuisance, a condition of air pollution, or hazard to others is always prohibited. Gasoline Safety Serious gasoline-related burns peak in the summer months, with about 40% reported from June through August. Always be cautious when using gasoline, especially in the area of any heat source: • Gasoline should only be used as fuel for an engine, not as a solvent. • Never use gasoline to start a fi re or add it to any fi re. • Store gasoline only outside the home, such as in a locked shed, and always in an approved container. Never store gasoline in the home or basement. • Refuel lawnmowers, leaf blowers, mopeds, and other devices only when the engine is cool. Never refi ll while it is hot. • Keep gasoline away from all heat sources, such as smoking materials, campfi res, and grills. Smoking Safety Smoking materials have been the leading cause of fi re deaths in Massachusetts for decades, and carelessly discarded cigarette butts are a common factor in structure fi res that start on porches and nearby dry vegetation. Mulch is especially prone to combustion caused by careless smoking. Smoking fi res are particularly dangerous because they may smolder undetected and then erupt into flames that grow rapidly. A fi re that starts on a porch, balcony, or exterior stairway can extend to the home before smoke alarms inside detect them and alert you to the danger. “If you still smoke, or if you have guests who do, please do it responsibly,” said State Fire Marshal Davine. “Always use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a can with sand or water. Don’t toss smoking materials into the mulch, leaves, grass, or planters, and don’t stub them out on the porch railing or stairs. Remember to put it out, all the way, every time.” Brush and Wildland Fire Safety Almost all outdoor fi res are caused by human behavior. In the warm, dry weather expected Sunday and Monday, these fi res may spread to dangerous sizes quickly and require numerous firefighting resources to contain and extinguish. And because about 50% of Massachusetts homes are in Wildland-Urban Interface or Intermix zones, outdoor fi res Fire | SEE Page 31

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