It’s happened to most of us at one time or another, your flight gets delayed and you want some flight delay compensation for it.
What are you really due?
What type of flight delay compensation do you have rights to?
If your delay becomes excessive it can mess up more than just your day. You get handed a ten dollar voucher to grab a cheap meal and well, that’s just not going to cut it.
If you find yourself flying multiple times per year, the following information can help you when your delayed. Understanding the process and your rights as a passenger will give you leverage.
In a time where flight travel is more popular than ever due to lower costs and airlines making sure every single flight goes out filled, delays are more common than ever.
What to Know
Here’s what you should know, despite the fact that airlines don’t necessarily want you to…
When it comes to an airline voucher that will not assuage the inconvenience of a bumped flight. This comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation, who also states that new travel arrangements must be made for you within two hours of you getting bumped from a flight.
If for any reason the airlines do not make new travel arrangements for you within two hours of your flight they are required to compensate you up to $1,350 in cash.
If it happens that your flight delay is going to cost more than what the airline is going to give you, for example, a lost and nonrefundable hotel reservation or helicopter rides lol, you have 30 days to do what ever you can to get as much money out of them as possible.
If you are flying domestic and you get bumped from your flight, the airline still gets you there but it’s more than 2 hours from your original arrival time, then you are entitled to flight delay compensation. This is also true for international flights but the time window changes to 4 hours instead of 2.
If the latter requirements have been met the airline owes you compensation of 200% the one-way fare to your destination or up to $675. If your domestic flight arrives more than 2 hours late, you are entitled to compensation of 400% of the one-way fare.
Refunds, Cancellations and Changes
Most airlines, with the exception of American Airlines, who offers it’s passengers a 24 hour refundable cancellation window, you can expect to change or cancel you flight for up to a week of your departure date to get a full refund.
In order for this to be the case you must have booked your airlines tickets directly through the airline. If you booked through any kind of third party then the policy will be different. So make sure you book your air travel directly through an airline whenever possible.
Some of the larger 3rd party booking sites like Expedia or Travelocity will offer similar policies to the airlines but they may not be the exact same.
This quick read was designed to teach you about flight delay compensation and your rights. Use this information if you find yourself delayed to better your situation and make for better travel.
Happy Travels =)
