You have rights when you face a flight cancellation or delay. Most airlines make rules assuming that their passengers want to reach their destination ASAP. That is why the government issues directions to bring the rules in conformity with the accepted standards of passenger assistance. Almost every airline today will offer you a seat to the next available airline if your flight gets delayed. That is usually without any extra costs. Here are some of the things that might help you in reaching your next flight in case it gets delayed.
It Is Your Right to Ask To Transfer Your Ticket
If your flight is delayed, then it is highly likely that you can switch your airlines. But you got to do some effort on your part. You can make arrangements by calling the airline directly or you can use their mobile application. Most of the airlines these days have a mobile assist app. It is however recommended to talk to the airline representative over the phone to avoid any confusion. Also, check with them if the other flight has any additional charges that you might have to pay for changing your reservation.
The Benefits and Trade-offs
Once you are satisfied. You can ask your current airline to transfer your ticket to the new airline. In most cases, this can save you a lot of money. Most of the time, the new flight won’t charge you anything extra. You might even be shifted to a higher class if they don’t have any seat left in the economy. That too is without any additional charge. Conversely, if you purchased the first class and you couldn’t be shifted to a first-class, they will put you in the economy class and refund the additional amount you paid for the first class. Do remember though that changing flights can sometimes be troublesome as there are no well-defined laws for reimbursement. It also gets difficult if you have checked bags.
Here is the biggest catch. Airlines are not legally bound to put you on another airline. That is why you should always ask them politely if they can transfer your ticket to another airline. If they have any available seats, there is a high chance that you will be transferred. But do remember that there are times when finding available seats on airlines may be difficult. That is especially true in holiday seasons and peak times.
Bottom Line
Airlines are not bound to provide you with any indirect compensation. That means that any loss you sustained outside the cancelled airline ticket will not be covered by the airline. For example, baggage fees, upgrades to the seat, cab fare, food, hotel room charges etc. However, every airline has its own set of rules. To make flight delay claims you can politely ask them if they will pay for the food or hotel rooms. Some airlines do provide these facilities to regular passengers but they would rarely offer these services to those who are stranded.
