RDU flight delays cost travelers hundreds. How do they get that money back?

Many travelers are still trying to figure out how to recover hundreds of dollars in expenses after a series of ground stops and flight delays at RDU upended their plans earlier this week.

Hundreds of flights were delayed and dozens canceled Monday after a contractor cut a fiber-optic line during a plumbing repair, disrupting communications.

So, what rights do travelers have in situations like this?

RDU was swamped with frustrated, exhausted travelers Monday as departure boards showed flight after flight delayed or canceled.

Many told WRAL they were left with few options: book a hotel, rent a car or spend the night sleeping in an airport chair.

And those extra expenses came out of their own pockets.

At least 50 flights into or out of RDU were canceled Monday.

“The hotel was $153,” said traveler Paula Eckard. “The parking was an extra $23, so that's about $176. Pizza was 35 bucks. So, you figure you're out a couple hundred dollars there.”

And she wasn't alone.

Joy Barberio was waiting for her connecting flight out of Baltimore when she received a message from Southwest Airlines. She was rebooked on a flight about 24 hours later.

“I just didn't want to be in the airport the whole night, so we went and got a car and drove home,” Barberio said.

Video from Monday shows the beginning of the ground stops and delays, which continued for about 11 hours.

The disruptions stemmed from a contractor cutting a fiber-optic line during a plumbing repair. Now, some passengers are out hundreds of dollars for hotels and transportation, in addition to lost vacation time.

“For me, I like my vacations,” Eckard said. “I work hard and I want to go play hard. So, you know, it's hard to just like lose a day.”

Federal regulations require airlines to refund passengers for canceled or significantly delayed flights, regardless of the reason, if travelers choose not to accept alternative transportation or other compensation offered by the airline.

But when a cancellation or delay is outside an airline's control, federal regulations generally don't require the airline to cover additional expenses such as hotels, meals or transportation.

“In a case like this, I don't think that we have really strong guidelines to help us advocate about who's going to cover the cost of these expenses,” said Raleigh-based travel advisor Angie Brandt.

We checked the policies of the nine largest U.S. airlines. None guarantee reimbursement for hotels, meals or other expenses when delays or cancellations are caused by circumstances outside their control, such as weather or air traffic control disruptions.

So, what can travelers do to protect themselves?

Brandt said one of the best precautions is to build extra time into travel plans.

“I always recommend coming in a day early at least, especially when it's for something important,” Brandt said.

She also recommends booking a main cabin ticket instead of basic economy, purchasing comprehensive travel insurance, working with a travel agent and taking advantage of airline loyalty programs or credit card benefits.

And if something does go wrong, keep all your receipts and documentation.

“Look at the airline's website,” Brandt said. “You maybe go to the Department of Transportation and take a look and see what they have to say and look through how you can submit those receipts.”

Travelers can also file complaints with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection.

The DOT investigates consumer complaints, but compensation for additional expenses is not guaranteed.