Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages lose much of their value when the originally scheduled flights are canceled or delayed for long periods of time. In the U.S. airlines are not legally bound to provide compensation, but most have company policies to help in these situations if equipment failure is responsible. U.S. airlines will often pay for passenger meals and hotel rooms when flight cancellations are the fault of the airlines. However, they offer no compensation for delayed or cancelled flights due to weather or factors outside of their control.

In the European Union there is a law, EC 261, enacted in 2005, which requires airlines to pay penalties of up to $750 per passenger for flight problems where the airline is at fault, and to cover hotel room and meal expenses even when it is not. This rule applies to all flights departing from the European Union, regardless of the passengers’ nationality or what country the airline is based.

Passengers flying on American, Continental, Delta, United and US Airways from Europe to anywhere in the world are covered by the European Union passenger rights laws. Only American and Delta have admitted that they have paid claims based on EC 261.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Europe’s passenger rights regulations apply to American airlines departing from Europe, but acknowledges that there is no government body that enforces them in the United States. This consumer protection gap is expected to be addressed in future talks with other nations.

Before heading to the airport you should check with the airline that you will be flying out on to learn its policy concerning delayed and cancelled flights.
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