Q&A: How the LAX shooting will affect you

A gunman fired a high-powered rifle in Terminal 3 at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday morning, wounding several people and killing a TSA agent. Here’s a guide for travelers trying to navigate the situation.

How will the shooting affect your travel plans?

Airport officials say some flights to LAX have been diverted and others have been halted before takeoff. Meanwhile, flights from other terminals at LAX continue to depart with minimal delays. Airport officials encourage travelers to call their airline to check the status of their flight.

Will my airline refund my ticket for my delayed flight?

Airlines that operate delayed flights will work to put you on the next available flight, which could be in a few hours or a day later. If you want to cancel your flight, most airlines will accommodate you by refunding your money, even on nonrefundable tickets, said George Hobica, founder of the travel website Airfarewatchdog.

If my flight out of LAX is delayed, can I book a similar one out of another Southern California airport, such as Bob Hope Airport or Ontario International Airport?

Yes, but seating will be limited, so call your airline quickly to make the arrangements.

Will Friday’s delays affect flights throughout the weekend?If all LAX terminals reopen by Saturday morning, the airlines should be able to restore normal operations by the afternoon, according to David White, a spokeswoman for FlightStats, a travel monitoring site. Still, he said, there may be some residual delays due to the disruptions on Friday. Security lines will be long, and flights will be crowded with passengers who were unable to get out Friday and are competing for available seats Saturday and Sunday, White said.

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