The 10 Tips Social Media Gets Wrong About Airline Compensation
On TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube you can find countless short form videos explaining what to do and how to get compensation for flight disruptions. And while most of the information is generally correct, these social media posts usually don’t address the finer points because, in reality, how much can you really cover in a 60 second reel? So read on as we debunk some of the biggest airline compensation myths that social media gets wrong.
Myth #1: You’re always entitled to compensation for cancelled and delayed flights
The Reality
Actually, you’re only eligible for a cash payout if you are flying in an area that requires airlines to compensate passengers. The UK, EU, and Canada, for example, all have passenger rights regulations enforcing this, but in the US . . . not so much.
Plus, in order to qualify, your flight has to arrive 3 or more hours late, and the issue causing the delay or cancellation must be within the airline’s control. So, if you had a delay because of an IT outage, then you probably won’t get money from the airline.
Myth #2: All passengers get the same amount of compensation
The Reality
Laws like UK261 have set compensation payout amounts, but the amount you get from the carrier is based on how far you travelled and how late you arrived at your final stopping point. So, to get the maximum payout of £520, your flight has to arrive at least 3 hours late AND be over 3,500km.
Myth #3 If you’re bumped from a flight, you’re entitled to the maximum compensation payout
The Reality
Social media posts like to tell you that you can get 400% of your ticket price if you’re bumped from an oversold flight, but the truth is a little more complex.
First, this is only true in the US. Also, you can get between 200-400% of your one way fare, BUT the U.S. Department of Transportation caps the amount at $2,150, depending on how late you arrive.
If you’re flying in the UK or Europe, you can get between £220 - £520 if you’re denied boarding, depending on the distance of your flight.
Myth #4: You have to file flight compensation claims immediately
The Reality
There’s a common misunderstanding that, if you have a delay or cancellation, you have to rush home and submit your claim to the airline. In truth, you have upwards of a year to file in most places, but each country has their own statute of limitations for compensation claims. If you were travelling in Lithuania, Luxembourg, or Sweden, you have up to 10 years to submit a claim.
Bottom line, it helps to file sooner rather than later, but you don’t have to scramble to do it. Take your time, get all your supporting documents in order, improve your chances of getting what you actually deserve.
Myth #5: You have to be an EU citizen to get EU airline compensation
The Reality
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of air passenger rights regulations. The truth is anyone flying in the EU is protected by EU regulations. You don’t have to be a resident or a citizen to benefit from these rules.
Myth # 6: Budget airlines don’t have to pay passengers for flight disruptions
The Reality
Fortunately, all airlines have to comply with air passenger rights rules. It doesn’t matter if they’re a low-cost carrier, an ultra-low-cost carrier, or a legacy airline.
Myth #7: Aircraft mechanical issues exempt an airline from compensation payouts
The Reality
Airlines schedule routine safety inspections to ensure that aircraft are free of all mechanical and technical issues. Because these checks are scheduled, airlines are not automatically exempt from paying passengers for any disruptions that happen as a result. In other words, they don’t always count as extraordinary circumstances.
However, if something suddenly causes a mechanical problem like a bird strike, then the airline could avoid paying passengers since these events are sudden, unpredictable, and hard to avoid.
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Myth #8: Infants don’t qualify for compensation
The Reality
All ticketed passengers qualify for compensation, as long as your flight situation is eligible. So, if you take your infant on a flight, but they only sit in your lap, they won’t qualify. But, if you purchased a ticket for your baby, then they would qualify.
Myth #9: If you miss your flight, you’ll get a free rebooking
The Reality
It depends on the circumstances.
If you miss your flight because you couldn’t get to the airport in time, then you probably won’t be able to get a free rebooking. However, there is a chance the airline will put you on a different flight that same day at no extra charge IF you can prove that an unforeseen situation caused you to miss your flight.
This is known as the Flat Tire Rule, and it’s usually something only available in the US. Also, you might have to show proof of what happened. If your car wouldn’t start, for example, you might have to provide the tow truck receipt.
If you miss a connecting flight, it’s more likely you’ll get a free rebooking, but ONLY if both legs of your trip were on the same ticket. This is also referred to as a protected connection, meaning the airline must book you on the next available flight without charging extra.
Myth #10: You will always get compensated if you’re denied boarding
The Reality
Airlines can refuse to let you board your flight for any number of reasons, but not all of them will be compensation-eligible. Typically, you can only get compensated if you were bumped because the flight was oversold. So, if you had a few too many drinks, threw your bag at another passenger, and were denied boarding as a result, you won’t get any kind of payout.
Also, if you weren’t allowed to board your flight because you didn’t have the correct travel documents, you won’t get any money from the airline. Basically, if your actions caused you to be bumped, then compensation isn’t a possibility.
To sum up
Social media can be a helpful way to learn about flight compensation, but you should always dig a little deeper to discover the nuances. As you can see, many of the most popular ‘tips’ don’t put these situations in context and tend to overpromise what you’re really entitled to. So, if you have a delay, cancellation, or other flight mishap, be sure to check your eligibility and follow up with the steps that can get you what you’re really owed.
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