Every Traveler Needs To Know!
The ability to travel by air is amazing, but it can also be a nightmare. I’ve had my share of airline mishaps. I’ve been bumped, delayed and re-routed… my luggage has been lost on several occasions. The most notable, my honeymoon and my son’s wedding. Thankfully I was ‘paranoid’ and brought our clothes for the wedding in a carry-on garment bag. If you really need an item when you arrive, carry it with you. This is something every traveler needs to know! Missing baggage occurs more often than you think.
After enough slip ups, I wanted to verify exactly what the airlines have to provide by law. I read the Department of Transportation customer service rules for airline carriers. It’s a bit of a snoozer but it was worth it. There’s some things you should know. The airlines aren’t required to tell you the guidelines, but they are required to provide some things if you ask. So here’s what to ask for..
Getting Bumped When They’ve Overbooked
Just because you paid for a ticket, doesn’t mean you’re getting on your flight. It’s common practice for airlines to overbook to make up for no shows, it’s not illegal. To limit the chance of you becoming a bumpee, here are a few tips. Book your seat in advance, check in 24 hours ahead of the flight and attach your ticket to a frequent flyer number, even if you sign up as a frequent flyer at the time you buy the ticket. Oh, and don’t be late getting to the gate!
If you get involuntarily bumped regardless, here’s what the DOT has to say about it… The airline owes you 200% of the one-way ticket price up to $650 if you get to your destination between 1 and 2 hours of your intended flight arrival time on domestic flights or you get there between 1 and 4 hours of your intended flight arrival time on International flights. If you’re over four hours late, they owe you 400% of your ticket price, up to $1350! You are also entitled to keep your original ticket and use it for future travel or request an ‘involuntary refund’. This is your compensation for the inconvenience. (I need to see if there’s a statute of limitations on this. I never knew, I never asked, I never got!) Up to 400% and keep my current ticket? Bump me please and take your time…
Most airlines will usually ask for ‘volunteers’ that agree to be bumped. If you’re not in a rush and decide to volunteer for the perks, ask what your compensation will be ahead of time to determine if it’s worth it. The airline is not bound by the above compensation if you volunteer. Their employees are given guidelines to ‘bargain’ with you. Keep in mind, whether voluntary or involuntary, your luggage is getting to your destination without you.
If They Owe You Money, You Might Want To Get the Cash
You do not have to accept flight vouchers with blackouts dates, expirations and other hassles. You are entitled to cash in the form of a check. Do not sign any paperwork until you’ve worked this out. You can unknowingly sign the cash away. Of course, if you want the vouchers, go for it.
Severe Delays, Cancellations and Schedule Changes
There are several sites that will tell you that the airlines MUST compensate you for delays, cancellations and schedule changes. That’s pretty much a falsehood. The DOT site clearly states that airline schedules are not guaranteed. Any compensation is determined by the airline and not required by the DOT. The following was taken right from the DOT’s Air Consumer Fly Rights: “Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled”.
With a delay or cancellation, airlines will normally book you on their next flight to your destination at no extra charge. If they have no outgoing flights for some time and you need to take another airline to be there in time for a specific event, there is no rule that says they have to pay your fare on the other airline although you might be able to negotiate that. Many of the larger airlines will allow this and may even help you find a flight on a partner airline.
You Are Supposed to Get Cash For Lost Luggage!!
For delayed and damaged luggage, the airlines are allowed to negotiate any compensation for provable consequential damages. I fought with American Airlines on and on over my delayed luggage, which when it arrived a few days later, was missing several expensive items. It got me nowhere. Honestly, I got lost in the myriad of forms and the need for receipts. They made it hard enough that I gave up. One of the things that was stolen was an enormous cosmetic bag which included expensive lotions and perfumes. They don’t cover that.
I also had no idea that I should have been asking for expense money for emergency items that I needed to purchase in the interim. Most airlines have a dollar limit per day the luggage is lost, but they won’t give it up willingly. Again, it’s not mandated, but you should negotiate for it.
The DOT does get involved again when your bag just never shows up and is officially declared lost. You are able to get ‘up to’ $3500 per passenger in liability payment for a domestic trip and up to $1675 for international. In order to receive payment, be prepared to come up with receipts for the socks you bought 3 years ago, etc… Also, they base your claim on the depreciated value of your items, even though it will cost you more than that to replace them. You want to have a negotiator on hand, this is a long process with a lot of claim forms. If you don’t want to accept their offer, you will have to take them to small claims court and let the judge decide.
And…
In addition to the above guidelines required by law, each airline has their own specific rules which include check-in deadlines, refund procedures, responsibility for delayed flights, etc… Check the individual providers website for Contracts of Carriage. They are required to post this. For additional information, go to; https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights.
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