Bumped From a Flight? These Are Your Rights

Getting bumped off a flight can be great…if you’re doing it voluntarily. Airlines often offer incentives in hopes of convincing passengers to change their travel plans. I once got a $500 travel voucher and a $15 airport restaurant credit to take a flight two hours later.

I, of course, volunteered because I wasn’t in a hurry to get to my destination and $500 sounded like a great trade-off for a slightly later flight. These situations are ideal. What’s not ideal is getting involuntarily bumped. Luckily, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it helps to know what you’re entitled to.

The Department of Transportation has several rules when it comes to passengers’ right regarding involuntary bumping. For starters, airlines are required to explain to passengers why they’re being bumped and what compensation they’re entitled to. This usually translates to cash or a voucher, depending on your original itinerary and the alternative travel arrangements the airline makes for you.

 

New flight arrives within 1 hour of original arrival time

If the airline changes your flight so that you arrive within an hour of your original arrival time, you are not entitled to any compensation. That doesn’t mean airlines won’t offer you some sort of compensation or that you shouldn’t ask. At the very least, you may receive a small voucher or airline miles. It always helps to do ask, nicely of course.

 

New flight arrives 1-2 hours after original arrival time

If the new flight arrives 1-2 hours after your original scheduled arrival time, passengers are entitled to 200% of their one-way fare. This amount is capped to $675. On international fares, this rule applies if your new flight arrives 1 – 4 hours after your original arrival time.

 

New flight arrives 2+ hours after original arrival time OR alternate travel arrangements are not made

If your new flight arrives two or more hours after your originally booked flight’s arrival time, you qualify for compensation equaling 400% off your one-way fare. The maximum compensation amount passengers are entitled to us $1350. For international flights, your arrival time must be four hours late in order to qualify for this level of compensation. You also qualify if the airline does not make alternate travel arrangements for you.

 

Bookings made with airline miles

You’re probably wondering what your compensation percentage is for flights booked with frequent flyer miles. It’s based entirely on the lowest cash fare booked on that flight. In other words, far less generous than if you were involuntarily bumped off a flight while traveling on a paid ticket.

Be aware of these rules and know what you are entitled to if you do end up getting involuntarily bumped off a flight. These rules and compensation amounts are probably why it doesn’t happen often and airlines choose to instead offer incentives for those who volunteer to get bumped.

 

Have you gotten bumped off a flight before? What compensation did you receive from the airline for this inconvenience?

 

[Image: Wikimedia Commons]