While airline travel is often frustrating, you dont have to resign yourself to a completely miserable experience.
As a passenger, you havecertain rightsset out by theU.S.
Department of Transportation(DOT) in the event of delays, cancelations and other unexpected situations.
Heres what youre entitled to when you fly.
What are airline passengers rights?
Believe it or not, the government protects you from many potentially exploitative malpractices from airlines.
The DOT has put out about 40 pages worth of regulations for airlines and best practices for flyers.
Airlines are required to ask for volunteers to give up their seats before they start kicking people off.
If you get bumped involuntarily, you are entitled to compensation.
Lawyer Erika Kullberg has ahandful of videosoutlining this process and other airline reimbursement tricks.
Airlines also dont have to compensate you if they have to downsize to a smaller plane.
Theymay also reimburse youfor reasonable expenses or emergency purchases while your luggage is delayed.
Youll need documentation asserting the value of your belongings, and youll probably have to negotiate.
They also will not pay more than the current liability limit of $3,800.
Check your airlines specific policies to know what your leverage is.
Airlines arerequired to refund youif they cancel your flight and you choose not to travel.
There are certain accommodations that require advance notice (2448 hours before traveling).
The DOT has acomplete consumer guide to these rights.
They are required to acknowledge your written complaint within 30 days and respond within 60 days.
you’ve got the option to also complain to the DOT about airline serviceonlineor by phone at 202-366-2220.
