DENVER – Whether it’s Denver, Durango, Colorado Springs or Grand Junction, Colorado airports were bustling last week with people catching flights to their Thanksgiving destinations. While the thought of delays or cancellations may be stressful, airline passengers can take comfort in knowing they have some protections under the law.
Abe Scarr, spokesman with the Illinois Public Interest Research Group, says most people don’t fly often, and they may be unaware of their rights as a passenger.
“Whether it’s the right to be reimbursed if you’re bumped or if there’s something wrong with your baggage,” says Scarr. “Or simply the right to complain, which actually has a lot of power to it, just by complaining to the airline and to the Department of Transportation.”
For overbooked flights, he says there is no amount of mandated compensation for those who volunteer to be bumped, but airlines typically negotiate with passengers willing to take a later flight. For those involuntarily bumped, Scarr says if the flight is not rebooked within one to two hours, a passenger is owed 200 percent of the one-way fare, up to $650.
Scarr says passengers also have rights when it comes to their lost luggage.
“If your bag is just simply delayed, the airlines are required to reimburse you for reasonable expenses, such as toiletries or a change of clothes,” he says. “If they lose your bags, they’re required to refund any checked baggage fees, and reimburse you for the lost items up to $3,400.”
Scarr adds, while tarmac delays were a big problem several years ago, rules adopted in 2009 and 2011 now prevent passengers from being parked on planes for hours and hours.
“If you’re stuck on the tarmac over a period of time, the airline is required to give you food and water and medical attention,” says Scarr. “After three hours, they either have to return you to the airport or be in the air.”