What circumstances do you ask for compensation?
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: PDX
Programs: AS DL
Posts: 9,038
What circumstances do you ask for compensation?
When do you ask for compensation?
a. airline has a 20 minute bag guarantee and your bag comes out at 22 minutes after passenger door open
b. wifi doesn't work and there's an announcement at the beginning of the flight
c. other problem with flight (describe)
Do you wait a certain length of time before complaining again?
a. airline has a 20 minute bag guarantee and your bag comes out at 22 minutes after passenger door open
b. wifi doesn't work and there's an announcement at the beginning of the flight
c. other problem with flight (describe)
Do you wait a certain length of time before complaining again?
#2
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on the path to perdition
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 4,777
In general I do not ask for compensation. I just report the issue. However, when I do ask for compensation I specifically ask for $$. My minimum starting point is $100, which I have received in each case but one when I was given $50.
Last edited by FlyingUnderTheRadar; Sep 21, 2019 at 7:40 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,203
I wouldn't ask for compensation for any of those instances.
Had a soft drink sprayed over my white pants on JAL. FA was so upset about it and insisted I take a dry cleaning voucher to cover the cost. I said I didn't want it but eventually took at it to make her feel better. I left a negative review on a hotel who offered me approximately $500 in accommodation if I took it down. I didn't take it down.
I don't really ask for compensation.
Had a soft drink sprayed over my white pants on JAL. FA was so upset about it and insisted I take a dry cleaning voucher to cover the cost. I said I didn't want it but eventually took at it to make her feel better. I left a negative review on a hotel who offered me approximately $500 in accommodation if I took it down. I didn't take it down.
I don't really ask for compensation.
#5
Join Date: May 2019
Location: RTW
Programs: Delta PM, AA PlatPro
Posts: 406
Never ask, and when vouchers and stuff are offered, I dont take them. Ive gotten some miles occasionally for super delays, but I dont care and its not something that I would ever ask for.
Aside from ORC (I want my miles that i would have earned). I dont think Ive ever asked for anything in a million + miles and however many countries visited.
I just dont dont want to be bothered.
I want to get to and from where it says on the ticket. I can handle anything else myself. Its just not a way I value my time to seek compensation when things go wrong.
Such a strange way to go through life thinking you are owed things when they dont go how you want.
Aside from ORC (I want my miles that i would have earned). I dont think Ive ever asked for anything in a million + miles and however many countries visited.
I just dont dont want to be bothered.
I want to get to and from where it says on the ticket. I can handle anything else myself. Its just not a way I value my time to seek compensation when things go wrong.
Such a strange way to go through life thinking you are owed things when they dont go how you want.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NJ
Programs: Delta Plat, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Bonvoy Silver, Hertz PC
Posts: 12
I've never asked for compensation for inconveniences on a flight. I was, however, once given a very generous voucher when I called Delta about rebooking options during a bit of a flight cancellation mess at MDW last year. The rep said she was giving it to me because I was patient, I was nice to her, and I didn't ask for anything. Whether those reasons were true or if they were just giving it to all passengers on the affected flight, I admit that I didn't turn it down.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
It depends on the circumstances and how willing the airline is to help. When Delta canceled my next-morning LGA-FLL departure during a snowstorm, and the best option was rebooking BWI-ATL-PBI, and they were pleasant about it, I didn't go after them for the bus fare to Baltimore or the Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale. But in example (a) above, if I'd paid a baggage fee or been forced to gate-check a bag I normally carry on, I'd have put them on the hook at the 20:01 mark. I wouldn't complain about nonfunctional wi-fi as I see it as a "nice to have" (even when it's advertised and perhaps swayed my decision to fly with that airline, such as JetBlue). Other inflight problems I'd deal with case by case, but generally if I arrive within a reasonable time and having received reasonable service for my ticketed cabin, I wouldn't bother.
Seth
Seth
#8
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,417
I've asked for compensation twice from AA. The first was when my bag was damaged, and the second was when a work trip was seriously impacted by rolling delays that resulted in an overnight and refusal to pay for a hotel (despite being maint + crew timeout issue). The Plat line gave me $300/pp voucher which I found acceptable since that was more than the initial ticket cost.
Honestly I'd probably fill out the bag thing (example A) because free points are free points.
Honestly I'd probably fill out the bag thing (example A) because free points are free points.
#9
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,576
I ask for compensation only if I've incurred an out-of-pocket expense due to the airline's fault. For example, if my flight is cancelled and I am rebooked on a different flight to a nearby airport, I will ask for ground transportation costs. This has happened a few times, for example my flight to SNA is cancelled and I'm put on a plane to LAX.
I would not bother asking for compensation for a delayed bag if it's a matter of 2 minutes, which is not worth the hassle. I would also not ask for compensation for lack of wi-fi, unless I had paid extra for the wi-fi, in which case I'd of course ask for a refund.
I would not bother asking for compensation for a delayed bag if it's a matter of 2 minutes, which is not worth the hassle. I would also not ask for compensation for lack of wi-fi, unless I had paid extra for the wi-fi, in which case I'd of course ask for a refund.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,304
I ask for compensation only if I've incurred an out-of-pocket expense due to the airline's fault. For example, if my flight is cancelled and I am rebooked on a different flight to a nearby airport, I will ask for ground transportation costs. This has happened a few times, for example my flight to SNA is cancelled and I'm put on a plane to LAX.
thinking back 20 years, I actually went through this: SJC-EWR-BWI was uneventful, but BWI-IAH was delayed ~3 hrs for a mechanical; rather than having me wait 6 hours for the SJC flight, CO sent me IAH-SFO with a 1+10 layover, a SuperShuttle voucher, and an upgrade
#11
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: LON
Programs: Miles and More
Posts: 486
I usually only do it when I consider I've been seriously inconvenienced. Some scenarios:
1, Recent flight from LUX to FRA to SIN (and onwards to BNE) - flight cancelled due to the plane being stuck in New York as there was a mechanical failure. Got in a day late so asked for (and got) compensation as per EU rules and I'd lost a night of prepaid accommodation
2, A few months before on the same flights - flight cancelled due to late arrival of my incoming LUX-FRA flight which had been due to bad weather in the morning. Again, a day late, but was refused compensation as weather is excluded. I disagree that weather delayed my flight as such (they had time to get a replacement and if Lufthansa can't find a new plane in Frankfurt, where can they) but it's not worth the effort sometimes.
3, In flight entertainment in business wasn't working for whole flight LAX - LHR. As I was upgraded for a pittance, I let this one slide as I enjoyed business class and watched some movies on my laptop when I wasn't reading or sleeping
4, FRA-MAD flight was delayed 3 hours - didn't bother asking for anything as I wasn't working in MAD until the next day so it was either 3 hours in the airport or 3 hours at the other end
1, Recent flight from LUX to FRA to SIN (and onwards to BNE) - flight cancelled due to the plane being stuck in New York as there was a mechanical failure. Got in a day late so asked for (and got) compensation as per EU rules and I'd lost a night of prepaid accommodation
2, A few months before on the same flights - flight cancelled due to late arrival of my incoming LUX-FRA flight which had been due to bad weather in the morning. Again, a day late, but was refused compensation as weather is excluded. I disagree that weather delayed my flight as such (they had time to get a replacement and if Lufthansa can't find a new plane in Frankfurt, where can they) but it's not worth the effort sometimes.
3, In flight entertainment in business wasn't working for whole flight LAX - LHR. As I was upgraded for a pittance, I let this one slide as I enjoyed business class and watched some movies on my laptop when I wasn't reading or sleeping
4, FRA-MAD flight was delayed 3 hours - didn't bother asking for anything as I wasn't working in MAD until the next day so it was either 3 hours in the airport or 3 hours at the other end
#12
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta Gold, Marriott Platinum, Former Amtrak Select, Former Hilton Gold
Posts: 422
I claim the 2500 miles from delta's 20 minute bag guarantee every time I can. 2500 miles isn't much but it takes 10 seconds to make the claim online. There's a certain airport I semi-regularly fly into that I will check my bag to even if it's a short trip (and I have the time - it usually comes out between 25 and 30 minutes) since I know I will always get the 2500 miles there.
#13
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 177
I generally don't ask for compensation when I experience delays or things like that because I'd prefer airlines put safety first and don't second-guess not flying because they need to check something with their plane or wait for weather to clear up. I know people have gotten compensation in those circumstances, but I wouldn't want to discourage airlines doing that, even if me complaining actually doesn't matter.
No wifi or mistakes on their end, I will ask for compensation. Like one time a Southwest plane started boarding early and left early so I missed all the boarding groups because I was connecting from elsewhere, so I was pissed that I had to sit in a middle seat when I had an A boarding pass, and I didn't even have time to buy any food during my connection. So I complained about that.
No wifi or mistakes on their end, I will ask for compensation. Like one time a Southwest plane started boarding early and left early so I missed all the boarding groups because I was connecting from elsewhere, so I was pissed that I had to sit in a middle seat when I had an A boarding pass, and I didn't even have time to buy any food during my connection. So I complained about that.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Port Moody, BC
Posts: 484
a) 2 minutes? Not enough to worry about - if it'd been 30 minutes, then I might have said something depending on my subsequent travel plans (I'm assuming the 20-minutes starts when the doors open and pax are exiting) and if I was at risk of missing a connection.
b) I might complain, especially if the IFE was affected, but I wouldn't necessarily expect anything.
c) I missed a JEOPARDY audition because of a long flight delay (I couldn't travel the day before because of work commitments) but since the airline did get me to my destination eventually, the only compensation I asked for (which I received) was a refund on my seat selection fees as they put us on a different type of plane and I didn't get the exit row seats I'd paid for.
b) I might complain, especially if the IFE was affected, but I wouldn't necessarily expect anything.
c) I missed a JEOPARDY audition because of a long flight delay (I couldn't travel the day before because of work commitments) but since the airline did get me to my destination eventually, the only compensation I asked for (which I received) was a refund on my seat selection fees as they put us on a different type of plane and I didn't get the exit row seats I'd paid for.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SEA (the REAL Washington); occasionally in the other Washington (DCA area)
Programs: DL PM 1.57MM; AS MVPG 100K
Posts: 21,304
the worst part of that story is that the AS baggage service rep by the carousel wasn't able to process the 2500 mile compensation, and Customer Care resisted my email request saying I should have gone to the baggage service office before leaving the airport
a couple months later (at SEA) my bag appeared at T+43 ... I emailed a request for an additional 2500 miles since they had busted the 20-minute guarantee twice ... and got no pushback at all