What Are You Entitled to If Your Flight Is Delayed
Last weekend, about 250 passengers on a United flight to Hong Kong from Newark, New Jersey experienced every traveler’s worst nightmare: After an unplanned stop at a Canadian airport due to a medical emergency, passengers were thrown onto a runway for nearly 14 hours. … …
“Please help us,” Sonjay Dutterson, professional wrestler and passenger on the flight, tweeted during the extreme delay. “This is an emergency @united. People are not okay. Food is running out.
The passengers were transferred to another plane and eventually returned to Newark airport. Shortly thereafter, they received compensation , food and hotel accommodation from the US missions. But in similar (or less extreme) versions of this situation, when are you ultimately eligible for a refund or compensation?
First of all, runway delays and delays while sitting at the airport are treated differently.
According to the US Department of Transportation website , most US airlines are prohibited from keeping you on the runway for three hours or longer, unless the pilot determines that there is a safety or security issue, or your flight will disrupt general airport operations.
This means that you are more likely to receive compensation from any airline if you are on the runway for an extended period of time. (If you find yourself on the tarmac, you are also entitled to much-needed food and water no later than two hours after the start of the delay.)
Regarding general flight delays, the rules differ from airline to airline. If you’re curious about your particular airline’s rules, you can search online for the airline’s “contract of carriage” listed on their website. These contracts spell out your rights, although they are notoriously vague – if they can avoid compensating you for anything, they will do their best to do so.
Fortunately, there are a few things that you are entitled to, with the exception of some issues beyond the control of airlines (such as bad weather conditions):
- Alaska : For a delay of three hours or more, you can get a discount on your upcoming Alaska Airlines flight.
- Southwest : In the event of any delay, Southwest will refund your unused portion of your ticket or provide credit for your future Southwest flight.
- United : For delays of two hours or more, you are eligible for a full refund for your flight. (Be sure to ask for a refund for checked baggage or upgrades). In the event of bad weather or other serious events, you can request a waiver of travel rights to change flights.
- JetBlue : JetBlue’s compensation breakdown is extensive. If your departure is delayed, you are entitled to $ 75 for delays ranging from three to four hours, $ 100 for delays ranging from four to five hours, $ 150 for delays between five and six hours, and $ 250 for delays for six hours or more. For delayed departure “on board”, such as on the runway, you are entitled to $ 100 for delays ranging from three to five hours, $ 175 for delays ranging from five to six hours, and $ 250 for delays lasting six hours. and more. In the event of a delay in arriving on board or sitting on the runway while you are at your destination, you are entitled to $ 50 for a one to two hour wait, $ 125 for a two to three hour wait, and $ 200 for a wait. from one to two hours. delays of three hours or more.
If you’re flying through the European Union, you might be in luck too. In the EU, there is an extensive bill of rights for passengers in cases such as delays. Want to know how much you owe? Use AirHelp to inquire about your rights and claim compensation on the EU website here .