Your Basic Airline Rights
Flight
Cancellations and delays: Remember
that flight schedules are not guaranteed and policies on cancellations
of flights differ between airlines. Generally, the airlines will
try to accommodate you on the next available flight. If you ask,
they may also try to schedule you on another airline. If you don’t
ask you’ll just have to wait.
Denied
Boarding: Airlines
routinely overbook their flights. Even if you have a reservation
for a seat there is no guarantee you will be aboard when the plane
takes off.
Voluntary:
the airline is required to find volunteers if a flight is overbooked.
The volunteer is usually rewarded with cash or a free trip. The
exact amount usually can be negotiated.
Involuntarily:
Volunteers cannot always be found. If you are involuntarily bumped
the airlines usually will arrange another flight for you. If you
reach your destination within one hour of your original time of
arrival you are not entitled to any compensations. 1-2 hours and
the airlines is obligated to pay you an amount equal to the one
way cost of your ticket ($200 maximum). 2 hours plus will result
in compensation twice that of your one way ticket price ($400
max.). Many times your original ticket is yours to keep for refund
or to be used on another trip.
There
is no compensation for involuntary bumping if:
…You
do not have a confirmed reservation
…You
did not meet the airline’s deadline for check-in (usually
15-30 minutes prior to departure).
…The
plane has fewer than 60 seats.
ADDITIONAL AIRLINE SAFETY ARTICLES |
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