7 tips: if your flight is cancelled, delayed or overbooked

Many of us have faced at least one of these very unpleasant situations when you are getting ready for a vacation or a business trip, but the flight is cancelled or delayed turning travellers into hostages stuck at the airport. Statistics show that every tenth European has faced delays, cancellations or a no-show of the flight, experienced baggage delay or loss. But do you know what compensation for the inconvenience you deserve and where you should apply to get it?

First off, you should investigate a bit further – how to recognize a situation when you are entitled to compensation, and when you are not.

Military acts, poor weather conditions, aircraft manufacturer’s defects, worker’s strikes – if you had to deal with one of these situations beyond the control of the airlines, you will not be compensated for either financial nor moral damage.

However, if your flight is late to your destination for more than 3 hours (arrival time is opening of the aircraft door, not the landing), if the flight is cancelled in less than 14 days prior to the departure, or if you have been asked to disembark because of overbooking, you may enjoy a solid morsel in accordance with the Regulation of the European Parliament.

Marius Stonkus, the CEO of SKYCOP, a company, standing up for passengers and their rights in a fight against airline misbehavior towards flight refunds through the international platform www.skycop.com, says that if you have caught yourself in a situation within the EU regulatory framework, you can claim up to €600 from the airline. Nevertheless, companies have hundreds of ways to delay the process, and to avoid it whatsoever by taking advantage of a bureaucratic mistake. SKYCOP specialists suggest what you should do to recover the money rightfully belonging to you:

  1. Even if you know that the flight may be delayed, arrive at the airport and check-in for your flight on time. Failing to do so, you may not claim compensation.
  2. If a flight has been cancelled, insist on being properly taken care of: a call to relatives, access to the internet, food, and water must be provided.
  3. Never accept compensations reminiscent of a parody (food vouchers, next trip voucher, free tour coupons, etc.) and do not sign documents to waive further claims if you accept this ridiculous compensation.
  4. File a complaint as soon as possible – depending on the country where the incident took place, the law may provide a very short period.
  5. If your luggage is delayed, immediately contact the personnel in the arrival hall and fill out the complaint. If you leave the airport, your complaint of a missing or delayed baggage submitted later is likely to be rejected.
  6. If you are flying with a group, remember that the compensation must be paid for each passengerindividually – do not yield to companies trying to mislead you.
  7. If it has been a business flight and your ticket was paid by the company, never give up – the compensation must be paid to a person whose name appears on the ticket, rather than the payer for the flight.
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