INSIGHT

FCM Emergency Travel Best Practices

Has the weather affected your travel plans? Please follow our guide for best practices in case of inclement weather.

With advanced technology in this day and age, airlines and FCM make sure you have all of the information you need:

Signing up for FCM SAM (available for both Apple & Android operating systems) is a great way to receive push notifications on flight status and gate updates on your mobile device. FCM SAM stores all of your upcoming itineraries in one location, provides you instant access to your flight details and also allows you to check in for flights. The app also includes airport guides and weather forecasts. This can address many questions about schedules and any impacted flights rather than actual flight changes required. A high percentage of incoming ECC (Emergency Customer Care) calls are schedule information only questions and FCM wants to make sure you and your travelers have as much information as possible readily available.
Airlines also offer additional ways to receive alerts including via email, voice and text messaging. We also recommend you sign up for alerts from your respective airline. You can do this in your frequent flyer profile, or when you check in online, 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.
We recommend utilizing the airline’s website or app to check the status of your flight. All storm information and waivers are periodically updated on the airline website and pushed to the app.

If you want to cancel or make a change before the airline publishes a waiver, the airline will assess the normal change/cancellation fees.
- What is a waiver? Where severe weather events are impacting airline operations, the airlines may issue a waiver which allows customers to change their travel plans with no fee, subject to certain limitations.
If your flight is cancelled, and you still wish to travel, contact your FCM team or FCM Emergency Customer Care (if afterhours) to rebook your flights. Please be mindful that hold times will be longer than usual during winter storms. This is due to an increase in call volume into our offices, as well as an increase in hold times with the airlines. We are committed to assisting you and providing the best level of service and thank you for your patience during these peak periods.
If your flight is cancelled, and you are unable to revise your travel plans, contact FCM Emergency Customer Care. We will request a refund from the airline if applicable or record your ticket for future use.

As always, we have our wholly owned and operated emergency travel line open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including all holidays. To reach ECC, simply call your FCM office and your call will be forwarded to ECC after hours.
FCM is pleased to share our ECC email box to Travel24@us.fcm.travel to handle non-emergency changes or questions (travel greater than 24 hours away). This inbox has team members dedicated to processing email inquiries to ensure your requests are handled in a timely manner. Please do not use this email in urgent situations.
Please be specific, including your name, travel dates, executive code and record locator. Indicate your flexibility and as much information as you can. Also, please note where you can best be reached, by phone and email.
We also suggest, when travel plans allow, that you accept a call-back or email with your updated travel plans. This will eliminate your hold time while we liaise with the airlines/hotels.