Up To $1,750 For Lost Bags

Saudi Arabia has introduced new compensation rules for airline passengers, some of which entitle travelers to up to 200% of their ticket price. The new guidelines cover several circumstances affecting the journey of air passengers, such as flight cancelation or delay, lost baggage, flight overbooking, and even a change of cabin class.

Up to 200% of ticket price in compensation

On November 20, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia brought in new compensation rules for air travelers that entitle them to massive monetary reimbursements in case of flight disruptions or other travel-related issues where an airline is at fault.

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The new rules have been implemented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to protect air travelers’ rights and hold airlines accountable for negligence. There are 30 articles covering a range of issues and scenarios that passengers can potentially face on their journey.

Of course, the issue of lost or damaged luggage is on top of the list, with airlines now required to pay up to SR6,568 ($1,750) as compensation. Delayed or canceled flights can also attract heavy penalties and require airlines to pay up to 150-200% of the original ticket price under some circumstances.

Not just for delays and lost luggage

The new set of rules goes beyond lost luggage or flight delays. They also cover seasonal travelers such as those going for Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. In case passengers with special needs are denied boarding, they are also entitled to an amount of SR500 ($133), or 200% of the paid fare.

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Airlines often overbook flights, and, in some cases, passengers are also asked to go for a lower cabin class than what they had paid for. In such circumstances, where a passenger is downgraded in the ticket class, carriers will have to shell out 200% of their ticket price.

Ground delays have also been covered. Once the passengers have boarded, and if, for any reason, the plane experiences a delay on the ground for more than three hours, passengers are now entitled to disembark without inviting penalties.

Global issue

As necessary as commercial flying has become these days, it can also sometimes be stressful, particularly at peak times or during flight disruptions. Many factors are simply outside the airlines’ control, such as inclement weather, political instability, and in-flight medical emergencies.

However, it is also true that carriers can avoid a lot of hassles for passengers by managing issues such as overbooking, proper crew rostering, carrying out scheduled maintenance, etc.

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Read more: How often does luggage get lost?

The issue of lost baggage, in particular, has lately been in focus, and many airlines are now offering baggage tracking tools to passengers to ensure that they are aware of the location of their luggage for most stages of the journey. Hopefully, with the increasing use of technology and stricter laws and rules, many such issues will be tackled more efficiently.

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