American Airlines Holiday Flight Cancelled? Megabus Will Get You Where You Need to Go (For Free)

Thousands of travelers’ holiday plans are up in the air following a glitch in American Airlines’s scheduling system. According to CNBC, a computer error allowed pilots to take vacation days around Christmas, one of the busiest times of year for flying. As the airline clambers to fill the empty pilot seats on scheduled flights, Megabus is stepping in with its own solution. The bus company is promising free tickets to would-be flyers whose plans were affected by the oversight.

The bus tickets come with no conditions and at no cost to riders. The only requirement to redeem them is email proof that your flight, scheduled between December 14 and December 31, 2017, was cancelled because of the airline glitch. After forwarding the cancellation email to inquiries@megabus.com, along with your request for tickets, the company will help you get where you need to be. "The holidays can be a stressful time of year, especially traveling," Sean Hughes, director of corporate affairs at Megabus's parent company Coach USA told Mental Floss. "For those who found themselves with a cancelled flight, Megabus will provide a free trip to get you to your destination within our extensive national network."

Megabus makes stops in major cities across the U.S., including Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, and Dallas. Passengers traveling in the northeast can even go as far north as Toronto. Megabus routes are limited by region, so anyone going a good deal out of their way for the holidays will have trouble getting there by bus alone. If you have no choice but to book a replacement flight this season, you better act fast: The price of average round-trip holiday airfare only gets more expensive between now and December 25.