BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Nobody wants to have their air travel plans interrupted, and that’s especially true during the holidays when we’re anxious to be with family and friends. But it’s also the time of year when things are more likely to go awry for a couple of reasons. Weather is a big one. It’s considered an Act of God, and there’s not much you can do about that. But there’s another big one that can derail your trip— and it’s one you can do something about.
It may not seem fair, but it’s a fact of travel that airlines are allowed by law to oversell. When that happens, they attempt to get travelers to voluntarily give up their seats by offering cash in the form of credit or gift cards. But if there are no takers, somebody is going to lose their seat.
Roxi Miller with Miller Travel Agency said that uncertainty adds to the stress of travel, “because they don’t understand really, what are my rights, what is the process, what’s going to happen should we encounter any unexpected event.”
So, what are your rights if it happens to you? When it comes to irregular operations such as delays or cancellations, there are government-mandated guarantees if you’re involuntarily removed from the flight you purchased.
The U.S. Department of Transportation says if the airline gets you to your destination within an hour of your originally scheduled time, you are not owed any compensation if they bump you to a different flight. But, if your arrival is delayed by one to two hours, the airline must pay you a minimum of 200% of your one-way fare or $775, whichever amount is lower. Two hours later (or four internationally), that number goes up to 400%, or $1,550.
Miller said if you’re traveling on a free ticket, you’re particularly vulnerable, so when you get to the airport really matters.
“They’ve had to go to very high amounts to get people to give up a seat on a flight in order to carry everyone that’s been checked in and ticketed for that flight. So, if they’re not able to do that, they have to involuntarily deny someone boarding, which is basically the last person to check in for that flight— so don’t ever be that person,” said Miller.
If you are bumped involuntarily, the airline is required to offer you monetary compensation calculated on the spot and report it to the Department of Transportation.
Miller added when it comes to delays or cancelations, if you feel you are owed compensation that you have not received, your first approach should be to contact the airline’s customer care number where representatives are able to do more for you than agents at the airport.
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