Air travel is surging again and along with it, the usual travel pain points: lost luggage, flight delays and cancellations. Luggage that’s delayed for days can threaten to ruin your vacation and rack up big costs as you rush to replace your toothbrush and underwear. And hours-long delays can make nerves fray and tempers flare. The same goes for broken bathrooms, entertainment systems that never start and a whole host of travel headaches. But how much hassle do you have to simply put up with, and are there times when you can be paid for airline headaches that made you miss a flight or go home without your bags?
The answer can be complicated. While airlines typically can’t and won’t cater to every minor upset, sometimes they will compensate you for bigger ticket items, like missing bags or very long delays. And even if you’re not automatically entitled to refunds or credits, you can always file a case with the airline if you think travel credit or additional frequent flier miles are called for.
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” policy for airlines when it comes to travel troubles (scroll to the end for the latest from popular airlines). But there are some similarities to help you know what you can expect if an airline cancels your flight or your luggage is lost. And you’ll need to know your rights if delays stretch on (for both domestic and international flights). Plus, there’s an update on how new vaccine and cancellation policies can impact your flight….