This Tool Will Tell You Exactly How Much An Airline Owes You When Your Flight Is Canceled Or Delayed

An interactive website from the Department of Transportation helps empower travelers who face flight disruptions, so they don’t miss out on refunds they’re owed.

What you receive as compensation for a canceled flight depends on the airline. A handy tool makes the details easy to find. Photo by Shutterstock

If you’ve ever been stranded at the gate with a canceled flight and an apologetic agent, wondering if you’re entitled to more than vague promises that the airline will “make it right,” there’s a tool that can help—and fast.

In September 2022, following a summer of sweeping travel-related chaos, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched a website to better arm travelers with information about what they’re owed for flight cancellations and delays. Though there have been many changes across the government since the newest administration has taken office, this interactive dashboard, known as the Aviation Consumer Protection website, remains. It offers travelers a little transparency—and frankly, accountability—around how airlines handle delays and cancellations.

Here’s how to figure out what airlines owe you for delayed or canceled flights, in 20 seconds or less.

How the Aviation Consumer Protection website works

The Airline Customer Service Dashboard is available on the Department of Transportation website—though you can reach it fastest by going to FlightRights.gov, where you’ll automatically be redirected. Once there, scroll down until you see Flight Delays & Cancellations and click the icon.

The tool is meant to help travelers find easy-to-read, comparative information on what kind of refunds or compensation their airline owes them when there is a cancellation or delay, per a letter former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent to the 10 largest U.S. airlines in mid-August 2022, before the rollout of the dashboard.

The dashboard compares all the major domestic airlines’ policies on various issues, including which airlines offer meals for delays of more than three hours and which offer to rebook flights on the same or different airlines at no additional charge. As of the time of reporting, all 10 airlines offer meal vouchers when a cancellation results in passengers waiting for three or more hours, and all airlines will rebook passengers on the same airline at no additional cost. Only Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, and United will rebook on a partner airline; Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, and Spirit will not.

Of all the airlines, Alaska and Hawaiian offer the most generous commitments. Each grants complimentary hotel accommodations for passengers affected by an overnight cancellation, transportation to and from that hotel, and a travel voucher and/or frequent flyer miles when a cancellation results in a passenger waiting three or more hours from the scheduled departure time. For its part, Frontier offers the least—just a meal voucher and a rebooking on the same airline.

It’s worth noting that the dashboard only focuses on what it calls “controllable” cancellations or delays—meaning those caused by mechanical issues, staffing shortages, or delays in cleaning, fueling, or baggage handling. Delays or cancellations caused by weather or security concerns do not count. Still, with this information, you can be fully armed with the facts as you converse with an airline agent. No more settling for $10 to use on overpriced granola bars at an airport Hudson Book when you’re entitled to a hotel room.Why was the Aviation Consumer Protection website created? The dashboard was only recently introduced in the U.S., while in Europe, air passenger protections have been in place for years. Under EU regulations, travelers are often entitled to standardized compensation for delays, cancellations, or denied boarding—benefits that go well beyond what most U.S. airlines are currently required to offer. While the DOT’s dashboard didn’t create new legal obligations, it is a significant shift toward transparency in a country where passenger rights have long been less defined.

Why was the Aviation Consumer Protection website created?

The dashboard was only recently introduced in the U.S., while in Europe, air passenger protections have been in place for years. Under EU regulations, travelers are often entitled to standardized compensation for delays, cancellations, or denied boarding—benefits that go well beyond what most U.S. airlines are currently required to offer. While the DOT’s dashboard didn’t create new legal obligations, it is a significant shift toward transparency in a country where passenger rights have long been less defined.

The dashboard was part of an extended pressure campaign from Buttigieg, who, during his tenure in the Biden administration, publicly challenged the major carriers to improve service and transparency—particularly after a summer marred by cancellations and flight delays.

Buttigieg called the level of disruption Americans experienced that summer of 2022 “unacceptable.” He cited data for the first half of the year, noting that 24 percent of flights originating in the United States had been delayed and another 3.2 percent had been canceled. For context, during the entirety of 2022, 20.46 percent of flights were delayed by at least 15 minutes, a number that increased to 20.48 percent in 2024, according to the most recent Bureau of Transportation statistics. Canceled flights, however, dropped from 2.69 percent in 2022 to 1.36 percent in 2024, almost the lowest number in a decade, which, at the time, the DOT attributed to increased attention from regulatory bodies and a stronger emphasis on airline accountability.

The new tool, Buttigieg said in a statement in 2022, would help travelers “easily understand their rights, compare airline practices, and make informed decisions.”

Current DOT rules require domestic airlines to offer customers refunds for canceled flights. However, what customers are owed for delayed flights hasn’t always been easy to discern, even though the information is federally required to be a part of airlines’ Customer Service Plans.

“When passengers do experience cancellations and delays, they deserve clear and transparent information on the services that your airline will provide, to address the expenses and inconveniences resulting from these disruptions,” Buttigieg said.

At a minimum, the DOT asks that airlines provide meal vouchers for delays of more than three hours and lodging for passengers who have to wait overnight at an airport because of disruptions within a carrier’s control.

“Regardless of the cause of the delays or cancellations, the Department expects airlines to provide timely and responsive customer service during and after periods of flight disruptions,” Buttigieg said.

https://www.afar.com/authors/bailey-berg

Biden To Propose New Rules For Airline Cancellations And Delays

President Joe Biden said Monday his administration will write new regulations that will require airlines to compensate air travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control.

The compensation would be in addition to ticket refunds when the airline is at fault for a flight being canceled or significantly delayed. It would give consumers in the United States protections similar to those in the European Union.

“I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you get from your U.S. airlines,” Biden said. “That’s why our top priority has been to get American air travelers a better deal.”

Biden added, “You deserve more than just getting the price of your ticket (refunded) — you deserve to be fully compensated. Your time matters, the impact on your life matters.”

Biden’s pledge comes just weeks before the start of the peak summer travel season, when air travel could exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic records.

Officials at the Transportation Department, which will write the new rules, said they didn’t have a precise date for when they expect to finish, but indicated they are working to quickly publish a notice that is required to get the process started.

As outlined at the White House by Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the rules would focus on cancellations and long delays caused by things such as mechanical issues with the plane or lack of a crew.

Airlines for America, which represents the biggest carriers, said in a statement that airlines have no incentive to delay or cancel flights. The trade group said more than half of cancellations in 2022 and 2023 have been caused by “extreme weather” or air traffic control outages.

“Carriers have taken responsibility for challenges within their control and continue working diligently to improve operational reliability,” including hiring more workers and reducing their schedules, the group said.

After the pandemic hit, airlines received $54 billion in federal aid that included a prohibition on layoffs, but that didn’t prevent them from paying tens of thousands of workers to quit or retire early.

Airlines have added about 118,000 workers since November 2020 and now have 5% more employees than before the pandemic, according to Transportation Department figures.

The rate of canceled flights has declined to 1.6% so far this year, compared with 2.1% in the same period last year. However, delays are slightly more common and a few minutes longer on average, according to data from tracking service FlightAware.

Currently, when an airline cancels a flight for any reason, consumers can demand a refund of the unused part of their ticket and certain extras that they might have paid to the airline, such as fees for checking a bag or getting a seat assignment. Airlines often try to persuade consumers to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund.

After widespread flight disruptions last summer, the Transportation Department posted an online dashboard to let consumers compare airline policies on refunds and compensation.

The Transportation Department is expanding the site to indicate when airlines offer cash, travel vouchers or frequent-flyer miles as compensation for flight disruptions under their control.

None of the major U.S. airlines offer cash for controllable cancellations or long delays, only Alaska Airlines offers frequent-flyer miles, and only Alaska and JetBlue provide travel credits, according to the dashboard.

Biden and Buttigieg credited the dashboard with pushing the 10 largest U.S. airlines to promise to provide cash or vouchers for meals when a carrier-caused cancellation forces passengers to wait at least three hours for another flight. Nine of the 10 — all but Frontier Airlines — also promise under those circumstances to pay for accommodations for passengers stranded overnight. Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. The Transportation and Justice departments are investigating whether Southwest scheduled more flights than it realistically could handle.

A report last month from the congressional Government Accountability Office blamed airlines for a surge in cancellations as air travel began to recover in 2021 and early 2022. The Federal Aviation Administration has also created disruptions due to technology outages and staffing shortages. The FAA recently encouraged airlines to reduce flights to and from major New York airports this summer because it doesn’t have enough air traffic controllers at a key facility.

By DAVID KOENIG

Flight Canceled? Experts Share Some Advice About What To Do

Thousands of travelers were stranded at airports or stuck on hold trying to rebook flights this week as a massive storm snarled travel in the U.S. and Canada ahead of the holidays.

As of Friday afternoon, more than 4,800 flights into or out of U.S. airports had been canceled, according to the flight tracking service FlightAware.

Wendell Davis, who plays basketball with a team in France, was scheduled to fly from Paris to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday. After multiple cancellations, Davis was still at O’Hare airport in Chicago on Friday. He debated driving to Columbus but decided not to. Instead, he booked a hotel room while he waits for a scheduled flight to Cincinnati on Christmas Day.

“Everyone’s going through the same problems right now,” he said with a laugh. “We’ve just got to stay positive. Anger is not going to help us at all.”

Staying calm __ and knowing your rights __ can go a long way if your flight is canceled, experts say. Here’s some of their advice for dealing with a flight cancellation:

MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED. WHAT NEXT?

If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will rebook you for free on the next available flight as long as it has seats, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If you want to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you bought non-refundable tickets. You’re also entitled to a refund of any bag fees, seat upgrades or other extras.

Kurt Ebenhoch, a consumer travel advocate and former airline executive, stressed that travelers are eligible for a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you do take a voucher, make sure you inquire about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use.

WILL I HAVE TO PAY A CHANGE FEE IF I REBOOK MY FLIGHTS?

Major airlines __ including Delta, American, Southwest, Air Canada, Alaska, Frontier and Spirit __ are waiving change fees during the storm, which gives travelers more flexibility as they shift their plans. But Ebenhoch said travelers should read the fine print carefully. If you book a return flight outside the window that the airline sets, you may have to pay for the difference in fares, for example.

CAN I ASK TO BE BOOKED ON ANOTHER AIRLINE’S FLIGHT?

Yes. Airlines aren’t required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can, and sometimes do, according to the DOT. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends researching alternate flights while you’re waiting to talk to an agent. Agents are typically under a lot of pressure when a flight is canceled, so giving them some options helps.

Ebenhoch also suggests looking for alternative airports that are close to your original destination.

IS THE AIRLINE REQUIRED TO GIVE ME A HOTEL ROOM, OR OTHER COMPENSATION?

No. Each airline has its own policies about providing for customers whose flights are canceled, according to the DOT. But many airlines do offer accommodations, so you should check with their staff.

I’M FACING A LONG WAIT TO REBOOK. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

If someone in your traveling party is at a higher level in a frequent flier program, use the number reserved for that level to call the airline, Ebenhoch said. You can also try calling an international help desk for the airline, since those agents have the ability to make changes.

HOW CAN I AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE?

Ebenhoch said nonstop flights and morning flights are generally the most reliable if you can book them. If you’re worried about making it to the airport in time for a morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. And consider flying outside of busy dates; this year, the U.S. Transportation Safety Administration is expecting big crowds on Dec. 30, for example.

Klee recommends comparing airlines’ policies on the DOT’s service dashboard: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard. He also suggests reserving multiple flights and then canceling the ones you don’t use, as long as the airline will refund your money or convert it into a credit for a future flight.

By DEE-ANN DURBIN

New Online Dashboard Helps Flyers With Delays, Cancellations

Amid months of mass flight cancellations and delays, the Department of Transportation has launched a customer service dashboard to help vacationers ahead of the travel-heavy Labor Day weekend.

Starting Thursday, travelers will be able to check the dashboard and see what kinds of guarantees, refunds or compensation the major domestic airlines offer in case of flight delays or cancellations. It’s designed to allow travelers to shop around and favor those airlines that offer the best compensation.

The dashboard is part of an extended pressure campaign from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has publicly challenged the major carriers to improve service and transparency after a summer marred by cancellations and flight delays. As summer travel returned to nearly pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, airlines struggled to keep pace, with mass cancellations being blamed on staffing shortages, particularly among pilots.

“Passengers deserve transparency and clarity on what to expect from an airline when there is a cancelation or disruption,” Buttigieg said in a statement Wednesday. The new tool, he said, will help travelers to “easily understand their rights, compare airline practices, and make informed decisions.”

The dashboard compares all the major domestic airlines’ policies on issues such as which offer meals for delays of more than three hours and which offer to rebook flights on the same or different airlines at no additional charge. It focuses on what it calls “controllable” cancellations or delays — meaning those caused by mechanical issues, staffing shortages or delays in cleaning, fueling or baggage handling. Delays or cancellations caused by weather or security concerns do not count.

The Department of Transportation is hoping that the dashboard will encourage competition among airlines to offer the most transparency and the best protections for customers.

So far this year, airlines have canceled about 146,000 flights, or 2.6% of all flights, and nearly 1.3 million flights have been delayed, according to tracking service FlightAware. The rate of cancellations is up about one-third from the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, and the rate of delays is up nearly one-fourth.

Federal officials have blamed many of the disruptions on understaffing at airlines, which encouraged employees to quit after the pandemic started. The airlines have countered by blaming staffing problems at the Federal Aviation Administration, which employs air traffic controllers.

https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard

By ASHRAF KHALIL

These U.S. Airlines Leave The Most Passengers Stranded

• AirHelp analyzed the number of flight cancellations for the biggest airlines in America
• In the U.S., airline cancellations affected more than 13.5 million passengers this year   
• More than four million passengers were affected by American Airlines cancellations in 2019

 Which airlines leave the most passengers stranded on the ground? The world’s leading advocate for air passengers, AirHelp, investigated this topic and analyzed all flight cancellations of the largest airlines in the United States between January 1, 2019 and November 30, 2019.

According to AirHelp’s analysis, a stunning number of passengers experienced a flight cancellation during this period. At American Airlines alone, more than 4,500,000 people were affected by flight cancellations this year. Southwest Airlines also kept many passengers on the ground in 2019: more than 3,630,000 in total. United Airlines lands in third place with approximately 2,200,000 passengers affected.

These are passenger rights

Christian Nielsen, Chief Legal Officer at AirHelp, explains what passengers need to know when faced with a cancellation:

“Already, more than 13.5 million passengers in the United States were affected by a flight cancellation in 2019, and there will definitely be more cancellations throughout the U.S. this winter.

A canceled flight can quickly ruin a whole trip - especially if affected passengers are informed about a flight problem too late and are left without options to re-book their trip. Passengers on flights that took off in Europe on any airline, or that landed in the EU on an airline that is headquartered in the EU, are protected by the EU law EC 261 that covers passengers in the event of cancellations. Passengers who are not on a European flight may still consider checking their compensation eligibility under a separate law, the Montreal Convention.

Under the Montreal Convention, a regulation ratified by more than 120 nations, airline passengers have certain rights to compensation on international flights between participating countries for flight disruptions. If travelers miss a prepaid reservation, have to pay for an extra night at a hotel, or rack up any other unforeseen expenses due to air travel problems, they can get reimbursed as long as the disruption was not caused by extraordinary circumstances and they can prove their expenses. In order to receive compensation, travelers must prove that they suffered damages, as being late is not enough to warrant compensation.

AirHelp advises travelers to claim all possible compensation from the airlines and have successfully assisted passengers with understanding their rights and claiming the money they are owed for more than six years. If necessary, we also go to court on behalf of consumers.”

Flight cancellations and delays may entitle passengers to compensation of up to $700 per passenger under EC261:  the amount of compensation is calculated based on the distance traveled. Eligibility for compensation depends on the actual length of a traveler’s delay and the reason for the canceled or delayed flight. Affected passengers can enforce their compensation claim retroactively for on average up to three years after their flight date.

For cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or medical emergencies, the operating airline may be exempt from owing compensation.

About AirHelp

AirHelp is the world’s largest organization specializing in air passenger rights. The organization helps travelers get compensation for delayed or canceled flights and in instances of denied boarding. The company also takes legal and political action to support the growth and enforcement of air passenger rights worldwide. AirHelp has aided more than 16 million people, is available in 35 countries and has more than 750 employees. To find out more, visit: https://www.airhelp.com/en/.

When Flying With Kids, They Are Also Entitled To Flight Compensation In The Event Of A Flight Disruption

When traveling with kids they are also entitled to compensation in the event of flight disruptions.  AirHelp, the world’s leading air passenger rights company, has provided the below tips so you can make sure your trip goes smoothly, and that you get the money you deserve if that isn’t’ the case.

• Your family is entitled to receive food and drinks. When you are stuck at the airport waiting for your flight, the airline must provide you – and your children! - with food and refreshments. Make sure to keep all receipts, as some airlines reimburse you for any meals purchased during the disruption.
• Your family is entitled to free accommodation and airport transport. During lengthy delays or cancellations where overnight accommodation is necessary, the airline must provide you and your family free accommodation as well as free transport to and from the airport.
• Your child is entitled to the same amount of compensation as an adult. Even if your child’s plane ticket is only a fraction of the cost of that of an adult, he or she is still entitled to the full compensation amount. The amount of compensation that you receive is dependent on the distance of your flight, and the length of the delay — NOT the amount you paid for the ticket. This means if you are flying to the EU on an EU airline and experience a disruption eligible under EC 261, everyone in your family may be able to claim up to $700 in compensation.
• When flying with kids, they are entitled to flight compensation too. One of the most important things to remember when you are flying with a small child is that your child is entitled to flight compensation in the event of a flight disruption. 
• • But what about flying with a lap infant? Babies often travel on their parents' laps at a reduced infant fee. When flying with an infant aged 2 years and below, most airlines will charge a fee between 10% to 15% of the adult airfare, plus taxes and an extra fee for an infant seat belt.
• • For years, airlines have been refusing to compensate infants, arguing that because they don't occupy a seat, there is no compensation to pay. This changed in 2017, however, when AirHelp won a lawsuit against Thomas Cook Airlines, creating a legal breakthrough in the EU. 

AirHelp Finds United States Airlines Wrongfully Reject More Than 25% Of Their Passengers' Compensation Claims

AirHelp, the world's leading air passenger rights company, released the results of a new study¹ showing that United States airlines wrongfully reject more than 25% of compensation claims, indicating that more than one in five travelers are being denied up to $700 they are owed by Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines following flight disruptions.

Each year, more and more travelers flying out of the U.S. are eligible to claim compensation under European law EC 261 which covers travelers on European flights. AirHelp found more than 25% of valid claims filed against U.S. airlines for disrupted flights in 2016, 2017 and 2018 were turned away on wrongful grounds by airlines trying to avoid their obligation to travelers.

The travel experience is continuously getting worse due to overtourism. In the U.S., 407,000 travelers are eligible to claim compensation under EC 261 following flight delays and cancellations experienced last year, up from 370,000 the previous year. During the first three months of 2019, more than 75,000 passengers experienced disruptions due to the fault of the airlines that have made them eligible for compensation.

This trend is a small part of the larger issue of airlines mistreating passengers. In a survey of travelers, AirHelp found 75% of U.S. travelers feel uninformed about their air passenger rights, and less than 25% of travelers who were on a disrupted flight actually file a claim, despite airlines being required by law to inform passengers of their rights.

How the U.S. Airlines Stack Up

Of the U.S. airlines, Delta Air Lines wrongfully rejects the most claims at a rate of one in three. United Airlines wrongfully rejects nearly one in four claims, and American Airlines rejects one in every five. According to AirHelp Score, an annual ranking of global airlines and airports, U.S. airlines' unsurprisingly perform poorly, with each major carrier earning less than seven out of 10 for quality of service.

The most popular U.S. airlines ranked on wrongfully rejected claims rate

United States ranking	Global ranking for wrongfully rejected claims rate	Airline	Wrongfully rejected claim rate
1	32	Delta Air Lines	32%
2	42	United Airlines	23%
3	44	American Airlines	22%

Data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018

"The bleak picture in the U.S. is just the tip of the iceberg. The volume of legitimate passenger claims being wrongfully rejected by airlines is appalling. Flight delays and cancellations are increasingly heaping chaos on passengers, and travelers are forced to fight airlines for compensation they're rightfully owed," says Henrik Zillmer, CEO of AirHelp. "It's all very well for airlines to say they will compensate passengers who make their claim directly. The reality is that thousands of passengers are continuing to face an impossible struggle to claim the money they're entitled to. If they are embroiled in a legal battle with an airline, passengers may face costs to hire a lawyer to push through their claim, which can make fighting for compensation virtually impossible."

U.S. Passenger Rights

U.S. passengers are protected under EC 261 for flights to the EU on an EU airline, and any flight departing from the EU. Cancelled flights, delays of more than three hours, and incidents of denied boarding are covered under EC 261, as long as the disruption was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as weather, sabotage or political unrest. Eligible passengers may be entitled to financial compensation of up to $700 per person, and can file claims up to three years after the incident occurs.

Travelers have fewer protections on domestic U.S. flights, but can claim up to $1,350 in compensation for denied boarding due to overbooking, depending on the value of the ticket fare and ultimate delay in arrival to their final destination

Passengers can check their eligibility at the airport or on-the-go, and make a claim in a matter of minutes on www.airhelp.com/en.

About AirHelp

AirHelp is the world's largest organization specializing in air passenger rights, helping travellers get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights and in instances of denied boarding. The company also takes legal and political action to support the growth and enforcement of air passenger rights worldwide. AirHelp has aided more than 10 million people, is available in 30 countries and has more than 600 employees.

¹AirHelp analysed hundreds of thousands of its own claims submitted to the 46 biggest airlines globally from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018.

*Unless otherwise stated, all data is provided by SurveyMonkey. 2,062 respondents participated in this survey, which took place in February 2018. The results are representative of air travelers (ages 18 and older) in the United States.

Airline Strike: Passengers Get Ready For Compensation. #PassengerRights

 By Juergen T Steinmetz

 -

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that airlines must compensate passengers for delays and cancellations caused by airline staff strikes. Similar to EC 261, a European regulation that requires airlines to compensate passengers who have experienced flight disruptions, this new ruling protects all airline passengers flying to the EU, on an EU airline, or from any country within the EU, including US passengers.

Previously, airline strikes were considered an extraordinary circumstance, so until now, passengers were not eligible to claim compensation from airlines if disruptions resulted from strikes. This new decision significantly strengthens existing regulations, reopening cases of this kind as more travelers become eligible to claim up to $700 in compensation for this type of disruption.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today ruled that airlines must compensate their passengers for flight delays and cancellations, even though the reason for this was a strike by airline staff. The airlines are now facing a wave claims, because this ruling applies to all previous airline strikes and new ones. Why this is such an important judgement, is explained by Christian Nielsen, head of the legal department of the world’s leading passenger helper portal, AirHelp.

“Until now, airlines strikes of all kind have been considered extraordinary circumstances that exempt airlines from their duty to pay compensation. Today the European Court of Justice ruled that even an illegal strike does not constitute an extraordinary event. So from now on, airlines must compensate their passengers with up to $700 per person if they were affected by flight delays or cancellations due to strikes by airline staff. This decision significantly strengthens European passenger law. The airlines are now going to face a wave of claims, as this ruling also applies to all previous strikes, the statute of limitation being the only barrier.

Therefore, we at AirHelp will reopen thousands of closed cases of this kind and enforce the claim for compensation of our customers with the responsible airlines. We will inform all affected customers in the next days. However, we also advise all other passengers affected by flight problems due to airline strikes to enforce their right to financial compensation. At AirHelp it is our mission to fight for passenger rights and help everybody to get the compensation they deserve. We even go to court for you.”

Flight problems: These are the passengers’ rights

In case of a delayed or canceled flight, and in instances of denied boarding, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation of up to $700 per person in certain circumstances. The condition for this stipulates that the departure airport is within the EU or that the airline carrying it is based in the EU. Furthermore, the reason for the delay in flight operations must be caused by the airline. The right to financial compensation must be claimed within three years of the delayed date of the flight.

On the other hand, extraordinary circumstances such as storms, or medical emergencies mean that the operating airline is exempt from the obligation to compensate air passengers.

US Passengers Owed $4.85 Million From Easter Flight Disruptions, How To Get Compensated.

AirHelp, the world's leading flight compensation company, reports that more than 15,800 flights were disrupted at U.S. airports during Easter weekend, and passengers who traveled to the EU between Good Friday and Easter Monday may be entitled to claim approximately $4.85 million due to flight disruptions.

During Easter weekend this year, Good Friday, March 30, 2018, saw the largest airport crowds as many people traveled directly before the holiday weekend.

Below were the flight routes that experienced the highest number of flight disruptions:

1. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

2. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

3. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

4. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

5. Boston Edward L. Logan International Airport (BOS) to New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)

6. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Orlando International Airport (MCO)

7. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Boston Edward L. Logan International Airport (BOS)

8. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

9. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)

10. New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)

Travelore Tips: Most Common Excuses Used By Airlines To Avoid Compensation Payouts

 

• Airlines often reject valid claims for compensation by citing vague or hard-to-prove circumstances
• International passenger rights specialist refund.me can help passengers claim their right to compensation for delays, cancellations, missed connections and diverted flights

 Air passengers have experienced time and again the difficulties of claiming for compensation after suffering a long delay or missed connection. EU law states that passengers reaching their destination at least 3 hours after schedule can be eligible for up to €600, barring extraordinary circumstances. The burden of proof rests with the airlines, but they are often allowed to reject legitimate claims by citing “extraordinary circumstances” and by the lack of insistence by the customer.

Backed by a Europe-wide network of experts in passenger rights, however, refund.me offers a bureaucracy-free solution to claiming. Based on claims from 98 countries and 201 airlines, here are the top reasons refund.me has received from airlines for rejecting claims.  

1. Severe Weather Conditions – This is the most common reason for rejection and, although it can be a legitimate excuse in some cases, the interpretation of “severe” is often too loosely applied. refund.me uses historical weather reports to contest this when necessary.

2. Technical Issues – Although often cited by airlines as “extraordinary”, technical problems are generally not accepted by European Courts as a valid reason not to compensate passengers. The good upkeep of the aircraft is considered a part of the carrier’s contractual obligations.

3. Bird Strikes – Bird strikes can be a legitimate extraordinary circumstance, but it remains the airline’s responsibility to prove it. Many passengers, however, are unaware of this and accept this excuse even when presented without proof.

4. Staff strikes – Unlike bird strikes, crew or air traffic controller strikes are easily demonstrable and often out of the airline’s control. This remains a grey area but is generally accepted as an “extraordinary circumstance” which exonerates the airline from compensating passengers. 

5. No Crew Available – The crew’s availability is a central part of the contract of carriage and is in most cases not considered an “extraordinary circumstance”. It is the airline’s responsibility to ensure the crew is well rested or to provide a replacement crew in timely fashion.

Added Eve Buechner, Founder and CEO of refund.me: “Passenger rights exist to ensure passengers get treated fairly and airlines hold up their end of the contract. Extraordinary circumstances do occur sometimes, but we have to be vigilant to make sure this is not abused as an excuse to avoid paying passengers what they are rightly due”. 

In just over a year of operation, refund.me has registered a 93.71% success rate of claims processed. Between claims rejected for these reasons and passengers not knowing their right, refund.me estimates that in 2012, over 400 million euros were left unclaimed by approximately 1.7 million passengers.

About refund.me
refund.me is an international service provider that helps passengers enforce their claims to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and missed connections quickly and easily. Thanks to its specially developed, high-precision Advanced Business Logic (ABL) system, claims can be submitted through the website or the free mobile app. refund.me can quickly enforce claims of up to €600 according to EU Regulation 261/2004.

This start-up created in July 2012 has made it its mission to make passenger rights worldwide transparent and attainable. Under its current services, refund.me also helps bus, ship and rail passengers file and enforce their claims under the relevant EU regulations (EU 181/11, EU 1177/10, EC 1371/07). With regard to air travel, passenger rights have been enforced for hundreds of customers in 98 countries from 5 continents and 201 airlines.

refund.me has recently reduced its commission from 25% to 15% (plus VAT). This commission is only applied to successful claims under the basis of a ‘no win, no fee’ policy. 

Refund.me Expands To India, France And Poland Lowering It's Fees To Better Defend Air Passenger Rights Worldwide

The ‘no win, no fee’ online platform and mobile app announces it is reducing its commission to only 15% of successful claims as it celebrates its first anniversary

In just 1 year since its launch, the worldwide service provider has already processed claims from 73 countries and 153 airlines

refund.me, recently recognized for its innovative design by the Sabre Travel Network, takes another important step in its mission to defend passenger rights worldwide

 refund.me, the international service provider which helps passengers claim their right to compensation for flight delays, cancellations, missed connections and diversions, has announced its newest international expansion to India, France and Poland. With an estimated combined annual traffic of 300 million passengers[1], these three markets represent a significant milestone in refund.me’s mission to defend passenger rights worldwide.

refund.me’s website, widget and mobile app are now offered in five languages: English, German, Spanish, French and Polish. The cloud-based, largely automated and specially developed system provides passengers a real-time assessment of their claim based on refund.me’s worldwide flight monitoring. The system also relies on an algorithm which takes into account the complex EU regulation which defines compensations of up to € 600 ($800) for flight delays, cancellations, missed connections and diversions.

In light of its success in its first year of operation, refund.me has lowered its commission to only 15% (plus VAT) of successful claims. This comes as refund.me continues to strive to become the traveller’s best friend and to make passenger rights more accessible worldwide. The company will continue to operate on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis which includes going to court at no extra cost to enforce valid claims.

Eve Buechner, founder and CEO of refund.me, underlined: “We are pleased to announce our expansion to India, France and Poland and the reduction of our commission to 15% as these are important steps forward in our mission to defend passenger rights worldwide. Our presence in these markets means hundreds of millions of passengers will have convenient access to their rightful compensation. Clearly a worldwide platform and mobile app like ours is a hassle-free solution that passengers accept to effectively claim their right.”

In April of this year, refund.me also launched in the UK, US, Spain, Argentina and Mexico in its push to become the international traveler's best friend.

This international expansion to three rapidly growing travel markets comes as refund.me is celebrating its one-year anniversary today, July 24th. After its launch last year, refund.me received its very first claim the following day and has gone on to process claims from 73 countries, 153 airlines and over 260 airports, winning passengers’ trust across the planet. Likewise, it has been recognized by the Sabre Travel Network for its innovative business model and its utility for travel agents and travelers alike.  

Moreover, refund.me has rolled out its brand new 2.0 widget, offering affected passengers a more user-friendly and accurate service. Indeed, since its birth a year ago, refund.me has consistently worked to improve its product and is proud to unveil this new widget which will help passengers effectively claim their right.

Despite a recently proposed revision to EU Regulation EC 261/2004 which could increase the threshold for compensation to 5, 9 or even 12 hours, passengers can continue to conveniently claim their right thanks to refund.me.

The process is simple: To file a complaint, the affected passenger quickly fills out an online form, and refund.me handles the process from there. The customer is only required to pay a now reduced 15% commission (plus statutory VAT) only if the claim is settled successfully. This allows passengers to avoid the complicated and time-consuming bureaucratic process and claim up to € 600 ($800) simply by entering their flight and other data in the Advanced Business Logic (ABL) of the cloud-based refund.me system. 

About refund.me

refund.me is an international service provider that helps passengers enforce their claims to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and missed connections quickly and easily. Thanks to its specially developed, high-precision Advanced Business Logic (ABL) system, claims can be submitted through the website or the free mobile app. refund.me can quickly enforce claims of up to €600 according to EU Regulation 261/2004.

This start-up created in July 2012 has made it its mission to make passenger rights worldwide transparent and attainable. Under its current services, refund.me also helps bus, ship and rail passengers file and enforce their claims under the relevant EU regulations (EU 181/11, EU 1177/10, EC 1371/07). With regard to air travel, passenger rights have been enforced for hundreds of customers in 73 countries from 5 continents and 153 airlines.

The corporate headquarters of refund.me are located in Potsdam.

Www.Refund.me Predicts Summer Travels To Europe Could Lead To Refund Compensations Of $32 Million

Passengers reaching Europe 4 hours late can each be eligible for compensations of $400 to $800

The months of June, July and August account for nearly 1/3 of yearly incidents claimable under EU regulation EC 261/2004

Passengers can claim compensations up to 6 years retroactively[1]

 Refund.me, the international service provider which helps passengers claim their right to monetary compensation for flight delays, cancellations, diversions and missed connections, estimates that passengers from the US suffering these types of occurrences while flying to, from and within Europe this summer could claim as much as $32 million in compensation. Affected passengers can be eligible for up to $800 each and are offered a hassle-free solution to claim their right through refund.me.

Regulation EC 261/2004 states that all flights out of the EU as well as those into the EU and operated by a European carrier are eligible for monetary compensation of up to $800 if the final destination is reached with a delay of more than 4 hours. The sting of long delays, cancellations, diversions or missed connections can at least be eased by substantial compensations ranging from $400 to $800.[2] All flights within the EU also fall under the scope of this regulation.

Additionally, passengers who have suffered during their travels in past years can claim their right to compensation up to 6 years retroactively, depending on the country in which the incident took place.  

To file a complaint, the affected passenger quickly fills out an online form, and refund.me handles the process from there. The customer is only required to pay a 25% commission (plus statutory VAT) only if the claim is settled successfully. This allows passengers to avoid the complicated and time-consuming bureaucratic process and claim up to $800 simply by entering their flight and other data in the Advanced Business Logic (ABL) of the cloud-based refund.me system. 

The breakthrough online system was recently awarded the Top Sabre Red Appy Award which recognizes the innovative business idea and its design for the Sabre Red Workspace, used by travel agents to shop for and book travel, and the efforts of refund.me in making passenger rights more transparent and accessible.

50 million passenger trips between the US and Europe

With the summer holidays around the corner, a number of travelers will surely be heading to the Old Continent. Each year, nearly 50 million passenger trips take place between the US and Europe, with the summer months representing an important peak in travels.

The UK is the most popular destination abroad for the American traveler, with more than 8 million trips operated yearly from the US to the UK by EU carriers[3]. Germany ranks second with just under 5 million trips, followed by France with 3 million. Each trip, if delayed by more than 4 hours, could be eligible for up to $800. This extends to cancellations, missed connections and diverted flights.

Last year, 17.1% of all flights operated by US carriers experienced late departures.[4]

About refund.me

refund.me is an international service provider that helps passengers enforce their claims to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and missed connections quickly and easily. Thanks to its specially developed, high-precision Advanced Business Logic System (ABL) system, claims can be submitted through the website or the free mobile app. refund.me can quickly enforce claims of up to $800 according to EU Regulation 261/2004.

This start-up created in August 2012 has made it its mission to make passenger rights worldwide transparent and attainable. Under its current services, refund.me also helps bus, ship and rail passengers file and enforce their claims under the relevant EU regulations (EU 181/11, EU 1177/10, EU 1371/07), and in the future will provide service for mishandled luggage according to the principles of the Montreal Convention. With regard to air travel, passenger rights have been enforced for hundreds of customers in over 50 countries from 5 continents and 131 airlines and 252 airports. The corporate headquarters of refund.me are located in Potsdam.