Some entrepreneurs and business travelers might loathe leaving town for work, while others might enjoy the opportunity. With that being said, regardless of the side of the spectrum you fall on, all business travelers tend to share something in common, and that’s hatred for airline and flight-related problems.
Delays, cancellations, overbookings, and problems with luggage can all completely change the outcome of a business trip. With that being said, it can be worthwhile to know the basics of your airline passenger rights, because they can come in handy, particularly if you frequently travel for work.
The following are some of the most relevant airline passenger rights to ensure you know.
Flight Delays and Cancellations
When traveling for work, a delay or cancellation can completely wreak havoc on a trip and cause you to lose valuable time and opportunities.
According to the Department of Transportation, you don’t necessarily have a right to compensation for domestic delays or cancellations, particularly if they’re not the fault of the airline and is due to something like the weather.
With that being said, it doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Most airlines will offer some compensation to travelers, frequently in the form of vouchers, but you have to file a claim. Most passengers don’t do this because they don’t know they can, or they don’t know how to, but there are apps that will automatically file the claims for you if your flight is delayed or canceled. This can easily help you recoup losses and get compensation in many cases. You can also review Wizz Air flight delay compensation information as well to get a better idea.
If your work trip is taking you to the European Union, you do have more rights to claim compensation for flights and delays, but this doesn’t work in every case.
ReservationsÂ
If you show up for your flight and an agent tells you your reservation isn’t in the system, you have rights. If you have a ticket or print-out showing you have confirmed your reservation, then you can board the plane.
However, even if you’ve checked into your flight and you’re not at the gate on time, your seat can be given away.
Overbooking
The concept of overbooking on flights has gotten a lot of attention lately, and passengers can feel helpless in these situations, but there are some rights in this case.
An airline must ask for volunteers on overbooked flights, and if none come forward and you’re bumped off involuntarily, you will receive your rights in a written document. You can use your ticket on another flight, you can submit a claim for an involuntary refund, and you can often also get compensation.
To have a right to compensation, some guidelines pertain to how long you have to wait before you get to your scheduled destination. For example, if you get there within an hour of your original time, you may not be entitled to compensation.
Luggage
Finally, if you’re a business traveler, you know how disruptive baggage problems can be. If you arrive and your luggage doesn’t, you need to file a claim immediately. Most airlines will provide you with what they deem a reasonable amount of compensation until your luggage is located and arrives where you are.
You can negotiate this amount with the airline, but if you don’t arrive by the airline’s check-in deadline, the carrier doesn’t assume responsibility for lost or delayed baggage.
