involuntary denied boarding compensation
Denied boarding is a situation where an airline company refuses to allow a passenger to board a flight, despite having a valid ticket, due to overbooking or other reasons. However, in Canada and USA, passengers are entitled to certain rights and compensation in such situations. In this article, we will explore the rules and regulations around involuntary denied boarding compensation.
What is Denied Boarding Compensation?
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Denied boarding compensation is a payment made by an airline to a passenger who is involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking or other reasons. The amount of compensation depends on the length of the delay and the price of the ticket. Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) in Canada and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the USA regulate the amount of compensation that airlines must pay to passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding.
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The CAT and DOT require airlines to ask for volunteers to give up their seats before involuntarily denying boarding to passengers. If a passenger volunteers to give up their seat, the airline may offer them compensation, such as a flight voucher or cash payment. However, if there are not enough volunteers, the airline may involuntarily deny boarding to some passengers.
What options do you have if you are denied boarding?
As said before, if you have given up your seat voluntarily, you are eligible to certain benefits, including:
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re-routing as soon as possible;
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re-routing at a later date at your convenience.
If, on the other hand, you were refused boarding involuntarily and for no good legal reason, you have every right to seek compensation. You have the right to obtain support in addition to monetary recompense of up to $2400.
Passengers who are delayed for an extended period of time have the right to assistance. The right to assistance varies based on the length of the delay, ranging from at least two hours for short flights to at least four hours for longer flights. You are entitled to the following services:
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within seven days, a refund of the ticket price or a return trip to the point of departure or re-routing to their final destination;
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care (refreshments, meals, hotel accommodations, transportation between the airport and accommodation, two free phone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails);
Compensation Amounts:
Passenger Rights:
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If you are involuntarily denied boarding on a flight, the amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on the length of the delay and the cost of the flight. The following table outlines the compensation amounts:
If the customer makes his own arrangements, the passenger is simply entitled to a full refund of his ticket.
If you arrive at your destination after your scheduled flight has been delayed, you are entitled to compensation based on the length of the flight delay.
If you were denied boarding due to overbooking, there are a few things you may do to ensure that you get compensated.
To begin, save all documentation pertaining to your flight and/or any alternate flights, such as your boarding pass, e-ticket, booking confirmation, luggage tag, and so on.
You should also maintain receipts for any additional expenses incurred as a result of the boarding denial.
Each airline is obligated by law to provide a written statement to all customers who have been denied boarding involuntarily, outlining their rights and explaining why they were denied boarding.
You have 30 days to file a claim for compensation and negotiate a higher amount.
If an airline denies boarding to a passenger, the airline must provide the passenger with a written statement that explains the passenger's rights and the airline's policies for handling overbooked flights. The statement must also include information about how the airline determines who will be denied boarding and how the airline will compensate passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding.
Passengers who are denied boarding involuntarily also have the right to choose between a full refund of their ticket or alternate transportation to their final destination. If the passenger chooses alternate transportation, the airline must provide the transportation at no additional cost to the passenger.