Posted on 04/13/2017 8:38:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The odds of getting involuntarily bumped from an airline flight are slim, but it pays to know your rights.
In 2015, just 0.09 percent of passengers in the U.S. were denied boarding, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. More than 9 in 10 of those passengers voluntarily gave up their seats in exchange for compensation.
"It's fairly rare to be involuntarily bumped," said George Hobica, publisher of travel site AirfareWatchdog.com. "But if it happens to you, it's a big deal."
The renewed attention on the rules comes in the wake of an incident on a United Express flight earlier this week when a seated passenger was forcibly removed from the plane and sparked a national outcry.
What you're owed
Under Department of Transportation rules, the compensation you're entitled to for being involuntarily bumped from a flight varies by the extent of the delay:
* If the airline can make alternate arrangements that get you to your final destination within one hour of your original arrival time, no compensation is required.
* Between one to two hours of your original arrival time on domestic flights, or one to four hours on international flights: 200 percent of your one-way fare, up to a maximum $675.
* More than two hours later than your original arrival time on domestic flights, or more than four hours late on international flights: 400 percent of your one-way fare, up to a maximum $1,350.
"If your ticket does not show a fare (for example, a frequent flyer award ticket or a ticket issued by a consolidator), your denied boarding compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service (e.g., coach, first class) on that flight," according to the rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Why is the maximum regulated?
Not sure any value should be regulated by the govt, but if it does, why not just regulate the minimum?
Article does not clearly state the difference between being denied boarding and being ejected from your seat.
If airlines keep raising incentives for voluntary bumps, involuntary
bumps would not exist.
I don’t know but I noticed $1350 was the same number as the maximum they are allowed to offer to voluntarily give up seat.
Campaign cash. This makes the rubes think the government is protecting them by awarding monetary penalties. In fact, the sum is probably what the airlines are willing to pay. In turn, the airlines slide a little cash to the politicians for re-election. Everyone is happy.
Broken ribs and a fat lip?...................
About a million dollars.
Actually no clue..but he will get a settlement.
If they gave compensation in the form of cash-at-the-counter, they would have a lot more takers.
Translation: It probably won’t happen to you so don’t worry about it, and buy those tickets, folks!
Reminds me of a somewhat similar concept I used to use in the 70’s:
The difference between a guy that lives in Queens his whole life and a guy that lives in Lenningrad his whole life is that the guy in queens at least thinks he can leave any time he wants.
And that is huge. It’s called freedom. It significantly improves his quality of life because he doesn’t feel like he’s constantly under someone’s thumb and couldn’t leave even if he wanted to.
The psychology is the same here. You may NEVER get bumped, but every time you fly, it is a concern. It’s why I only fly if I HAVE to. The less I fly, the less likely it is to happen.
This
For some people, it is a critical distinction.
UAL set the new precedent: You get beaten by cops and dragged off the plane, and the unlucky bump gets determined by an algorithm based on your past criminal history.
People really need to get with the program. Air lines are in the business to make money, and not serving customers.
And if you have a problem with that, the word today out of mexico is that one of their air lines has a novel method of dealing with uppity customers.
> They don’t mention that the compensation generally is in the form of a credit towards your next flight on that airline. <
Excellent point.
UAL set the new precedent: You get beaten by cops and dragged off the plane, and the unlucky bump gets determined by an algorithm based on your past criminal history.
**********
UAL chose to use more sticks and fewer carrots.
Airlines may offer free tickets or dollar-amount vouchers for future flights in place of a check for denied boarding compensation. However, if you are bumped involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check if that is your preference. Once you cash the check (or accept the free flight), you will probably lose the ability to pursue more money from the airline later on.
RE: He was not denied boarding a$$hole!
The title of the article is not about boarding, it’s about getting involuntarily bumped.
Those dollar amounts are ludicrously low.
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