One of the most annoying aspects of traveling is it.
You arrange your travel plans, pack your baggage, and get ready to go.
Then, just before takeoff, your flight is postponed or, worse yet, canceled.
You're stuck attempting to make plans work and deciding how to go forward while running the risk of missing plane connections, unique arrangements, hotel bookings, and more.
You must be compensated for all of this additional work and suffering, don't you think?
In an ideal world, delays would result in the application of the time-equals-money principle.
Of course, nothing about air travel regulations is ever nearly as simple as we imagine it should be.
What you need to know about qualifying for and obtaining compensation for flight delays is provided below.
What is flight delay compensation?
The main goal of flight delay compensation is to make up for a lost time.
It makes airlines accountable for getting you to your destination in a predetermined amount of time.
They would offer compensation, or financial return for your time if they are unable to meet the minimal conditions for carriage.
This form of financial compensation for airline delays and cancellations is covered under common legislation in Europe that is clear and uncomplicated.
Individual American airlines establish standards that are far less defined.
Compensation for international flight delays
Due to legislation passed in 2005 known as EU261, there are currently regulations within the European Union that offer financial assistance to passengers for flights affected by delays or cancellations.
Let's say your delay is three hours or more.
In that situation, unless the delay was brought on by "exceptional circumstances," you are entitled to reimbursement.
These conditions include inclement weather, political unrest, choices made by air traffic controllers over which the airline has no influence, and security hazards.
Mechanical and technical difficulties are not unusual occurrences.
Strikes on airlines, for instance, would be regarded as an exceptional case.
Airlines have therefore paid out hundreds of millions of euros to passengers whose flights were delayed and caused them discomfort.
Since its inception, Europe has expanded this rule to cover domestic connecting flights that originate in the EU. As a result, flights inside the EU, flights leaving the EU for the U.S. (and other countries), and even connecting flights you book inside the U.S. are all covered by this rule and are therefore eligible for compensation.
There are some definite refunds you are entitled to depending on how long your delay is:
Please be aware that if you accept an airline-provided reroute to your final destination, any reimbursement may be reduced by half.
Compensation for domestic flight delays
In contrast to Europe, the U.S. lacks a single guiding principle that specifies how airlines should pay passengers in the event of a delay.
"When flights are delayed, airlines are not required by federal law to give passengers money or other forms of compensation.
Each airline has its own procedures for dealing with customers who are delayed "is the U.S. Department of Transportation's official statement.
The DOT is working to increase industry transparency in relation to this matter, though.
They have aimed to make airlines responsible for paying passengers as part of this.
Flights that are "substantially" delayed or changed after booking as well as flights that are canceled by the airline are already covered by the right to a refund.
But up until recently, the DOT never specified what a "substantial" delay or alteration is, instead leaving it up to the airlines to voluntarily self-regulate.
In certain circumstances, rather than canceling a flight, this causes airlines to experience lengthy rolling delays.
The DOT has changed the terminology and timing so that a "substantial delay" is now defined as one that delays a domestic flight's departure or arrival by three hours or more (or by at least six hours for an international flight).
A "major alteration" would be one that alters the airport of departure or arrival or includes more connections than were initially planned.
It's interesting to note that this would also apply to modifications to the kind of aircraft "if it results in a significant degradation of the onboard facilities or the air travel experience."
Additionally, the agency recently introduced its airline customer service dashboard, a brand-new tool that illustrates how the top 10 U.S. carriers will accommodate passengers in the case of a delay or cancellation that is under their control.
When the delay is under the airlines' control, the dashboard simply offers details on the accommodations they offer.
Many of the delays were out of the airlines' control, either brought on by weather or problems with air traffic control.
If a flight is delayed or canceled due to those uncontrollable problems, airlines typically offer next to nothing.
The DOT anticipates that consumers will use the new dashboard as a resource when selecting an airline.
What happens if I get delayed and miss my connecting flight?
Unfortunately, there is no overarching guideline governing delays in the United States.
If you miss your connecting flight, get in touch with your airline right away using the app, the phone (which is typically a speedier alternative), or in person at the assistance desk.
Or, if you have access to the lounge, go there first to speak with an agent, who is typically available without a line.
The airline must cooperate with you to get you on the earliest aircraft that leaves.
This can entail switching your carrier.
Request accommodation and food coupons from the airline if you need to stay an extra day.
Make touch with the airline about delay reimbursement after you are home.
You are protected when flights go wrong thanks to the trip delay, interruption, and cancellation benefits offered by many travel credit cards.
When you are aware that your flight will be impacted, get in touch with the credit card company you used to purchase the ticket to learn about your choices.
Which credit cards compensate for flight delays?
Trip delay reimbursement is a perk that will pay for any costs that your transportation provider does not cover.
Cards refer to "common carriers" for this coverage, which generally refers to modes of public transportation with published schedules for which you purchased tickets; for this category, think air travel rather than vehicle travel.
For overnight delays that are within their control, such as maintenance problems, airlines may offer hotel rooms and food coupons, but they normally won't offer coverage for things like weather delays.
Additionally, the services offered by an airline could not completely cover your costs.
This is where travel delay compensation can be of use.
These credit cards rank among the best for providing reimbursement for travel delays.
It's crucial to remember that different cards may have different specific terms (or issuer to issuer).
It's also important to keep in mind that, depending on the card, you need a delay of six or twelve hours to qualify, as we mention here:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (6 hours); Chase Sapphire Reserve (6 hours); Chase Sapphire Preferred (12 hours or overnight); The Platinum Card® from American Express* (6 hours); Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card* (6 hours); Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express Card®* (6 hours); Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card (12 hours or overnight); and World of Hyatt Credit Card (12 hours or overnight).
How to request compensation for a flight delay
Do not wait to ask for compensation.
Each EU member state sets its own deadlines, which can be very different.
The location of the airline's head office, not your citizenship, where you reside, or where you're going, determines when you have to submit a claim.
On a carrier's website, you can typically find instructions on how to lodge a claim.
If you're having difficulties locating that information, you can also print the Air Passenger Rights EU Complaint Form, fill it out, and send it straight to the airline.
It's also best to get reimbursement as soon as possible in the US after a flight disruption.
Domestic carriers are not required by law to compensate customers for delays with money.
However, many do have regulations that offer some sort of monetary compensation for lengthy delays, which you can check on the DOT dashboard.
Keep a copy of the flight details, including the ticket number, for the reimbursement request.
In conclusion
There are several ways you might be able to seek financial compensation if your flight is considerably delayed, even if there isn't a uniform regulation that applies to all delays.
You may be entitled to compensation in Europe for delays more than three hours under EU261.
To find out if your carrier will reimburse you for your aircraft delay in the United States, check out the DOT's new service dashboard.
If you are unable to obtain compensation in this manner, ask your credit card company if they offer travel delay reimbursement.
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