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A flight delay can dampen excitement for your trip in an instant.
There you are, stuck in an airport, looking at a departure board with delays, cancellations, and missed connections, and an airline that doesn’t seem to care. Even though we all know this happens—it’s becoming more common—it comes as a surprise to many people that they have flight rights. In other words, you have rights when situations like these take place, and if you know what you are entitled to, it could mean you are being compensated for your time.
Delays, cancellations, and overbooked flights are covered by law for airline travelers in many parts of the world. Services like airhelp.com help you understand how to get what’s due to you when your itinerary goes sideways, but understanding your rights is the first step to taking charge of a disruption.
Airlines Don’t Always Tell You Everything
Airlines are businesses that have to operate as efficiently as possible, and while they must follow the rules and regulations, they’re not going to go out of their way to explain things to them or to make sure you are given what you are due. A delay of a couple of hours could mean compensation, meals, and even a hotel room, depending on the situation, but all too often, passengers think they have to take what the airline has to give, that is, if the airline wants to give anything at all.
We like to think that the airlines will take good care of us when we are on one of their flights, during a delay, a weather event, or a cancellation. Not necessarily so. Airlines are not guaranteed to give you a refund or a rebook, and companies post very different guidelines on their websites. Some will rebook you, others will refund you, and still others will simply leave you high and dry. Some won’t tell you one way or the other because if you don’t demand what you are entitled to, they don’t have to give it to you. In these cases, the lack of transparency is costing many people their well-being and good health as they suffer needlessly.
If a flight is delayed by a number of hours, some airlines will offer meal vouchers if that’s the policy. If the delay continues into the night, a hotel and transportation may be in the cards. But, again, not every airline will square things away for you until you let them know what you think, and in many cases, not until you demand it. It could be the difference between sleeping in the airport and sleeping in a hotel at the airline’s expense.
What Happens When Your Flight is Delayed or Canceled?
Flight deferrals occur for any number of reasons, from mechanical problems and the weather to crews running out of time and air traffic controller impropriety. Flights are usually rebooked for the next aircraft, but sometimes, this isn’t the most desirable course of action for you. Some people take the first rebooking option they are given, while others may not even know they can have another choice in the matter.
Whether compensation is available depends on the cause of the disruption. If a delayed flight is the airline’s fault — such as a mechanical delay or a crew substitution — travelers might be eligible for monetary compensation. If the problem is out of the carrier’s control (such as weather or security issues), the passenger may not get anything other than a refund or a ticket on a cleanup flight.
Overbooking is one of the most common problems. Airlines tend to sell more seats than the aircraft can hold because they know some passengers won’t show up. But when everyone does, somebody has to give up a spot. Passengers in these situations are typically offered vouchers or credits on future flights to voluntarily deplane and catch the next one. But they may be entitled to cash compensation, too.
Compensation Claims: What You Need to Know
Filing a successful claim isn’t easy. Different airlines have different policies, and some have processes in place that are deliberately difficult to navigate in order to discourage passengers from asking for all the money they’re entitled to. Many people who get a little lost in the process give up — simply because they’re overwhelmed or aren’t sure if they have a case at all. But knowledge is power. When you know how to claim compensation for a delayed flight (or any other type of disruption), you’re less likely to be taken advantage of and more likely to have a successful claim.
Most importantly, hold onto everything. Everyone should keep a boarding pass, an itinerary showing the delayed flight, and all receipts for any expenses, such as food, due to the disruption. Passengers should also write the names of airline employees they talk to — including those who offer them the airline’s view of their so-called rights. Passengers who are either fed misinformation or who are being stonewalled can use that information at a later date.
Ask questions. If your flight is delayed by a mechanical issue or a replacement crew member, you’re entitled to certain protections. The airline’s answer can make or break a claim for compensation. If the airline says a delay happened because of reasons outside of their control, such as weather, a passenger may not know they can challenge this claim (they can, if it’s obvious something other than the weather impacted a flight; a storm two days earlier, for example, is not a valid reason for a flight departing today to be delayed).
How to Minimize the Impact of Flight Disruptions
Travelers who want help avoiding flight delays should always fly in the mornings when their plane has the least opportunity to be delayed (flights early in the day can’t be held up by problems caused by missed connections or delays earlier in the day). Opt for direct flights and reputable airlines with strong customer service rankings.
Travel insurance with trip delay coverage is available for people with more restrictive schedules. There are also credit cards that will reimburse you for meals during a trip that is delayed several hours or for a hotel room if the trip is canceled. These are really options for people who want help avoiding flight delays.
Standing Up for Your Travel Rights
Flight delays and cancellations are upsetting, but you don’t have to be stranded or out of pocket. Understand your rights as a passenger and take action—either by yourself or using a service like Airhelp—to hold the airline accountable. You’ll be glad you make the effort to educate yourself the next time a travel disaster strikes.