Overbookings:
The airline is required to ask passengers to voluntarily take a later flight.
Sometimes an airline will kick in an incentive such as a free domestic or international round trip
ticket for doing so. Usually those that checked in the latest or those with the most recent
reservations are the first to be bumped. There are some loopholes for not receiving any
compensation due to the event of overbooking. For example, if you didn't comply with the
airline's check-in, ticketing or reconfirmation requirements, or if the airline offers to place you on
another flight scheduled to your final destination within an hour of your original scheduled time.
To see more specifics on overbooking, and other passenger right issues, visit the Department of
Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division's section on
flight rights.
Other Considerations:
The airlines will allow nonrefundable tickets to be refunded due to the illness or
death of your traveling companion or a close relative. Travel insurance will cover this
contingency and charging a ticket on a credit card will give you some travel cancellation insurance.
An airline may offer a discounted fare when a close relative becomes seriously ill
or dies, causing you to travel without any advance planning. Criteria for bereavement fare
varies among airlines. Some airlines will give a discounted fare to attend the funeral of
a parent, child, sibling, spouse or in-laws only, while others include non-marital partners and their
immediate family members.
If You Lose Your Ticket:
Contact the airline as soon as possible. You will need to fill out a lost
ticket application. The airline will either issue a replacement ticket or force you to
purchase a replacement ticket at the current available fare. You'll probably be required
to sign an agreement saying that you will pay the cost of the replacement ticket if someone uses your
lost ticket. If you purchase a replacement ticket, the airline will issue you a refund if
no one ever used your lost ticket. Expect to wait anywhere from two to six months.
Back Read More
|