How to Avoid Airport Problems and Snafus

By Tisha Tolar (Staff Writer), on July 12, 2010

As this year’s summer travel season may be off to a slower start than most, there will still be issues travelers experience when flying on airlines. Delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage, or getting bumped off a flight altogether, leaving you stranded in the airport happens to the best of us. At some point, you will probably be stuck in an unfortunate airline situation especially when you are taking a summer trip with thousands of other travelers.

Photo by Andrei Dimofte via Flickr

So what do you do when you feel you’ve been through the wringer and no one at the airline really cares to help? Many travelers report bad customer service when things go wrong. Airlines do have a history of trying to compensate their own mistakes but as time goes on and the airline industry as a whole is facing a variety of issues, customer service is not always as serviceable as passengers had hoped.

Here are some tips to help you through and overcome a bad flight experience without losing money (or your sanity):

Carry Your Contract With You

In addition to your airline tickets and flight itinerary, be sure to carry your airline’s Contract of Carriage along with you. In the event something happens during your travels, you’ll have a copy of your rights as a passenger that can help you plead your case.

State Your Position

If you belong to the airline’s frequent flier reward program, be sure to mention that when speaking with the representative about a problem. You will likely get prompter service because the airline rep knows you are a valuable customer. Remain polite and free of attitude when you mention your status but do let the airline know you fly their line often.

Call Up the Airlines

When your flight has been canceled and you need to book another one, don’t get caught up in a line of 50 at the airline counter. Instead, call the airline by phone to reserve a new flight. Waiting in line risks the possibility that all of the other flight’s seats will be taken by the time you make it to the front.

Lost Luggage Problems

As soon as you realize your bags are not on the same flight path as you are, go immediately to the lost baggage claim office and complete the required paperwork. There may be a long line but you’ll have to wait it out. No matter how frustrating the situation can be, remember that you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. Customer service reps are overworked and not very pleased that your luggage was lost either. If you want prompt and positive attention, be polite and patient. When you get to speak with the representative, be sure to ask about the airline’s policy for reimbursing passengers with lost luggage. You can also get information from your Contract of Carriage documents.

Cover Your Valuables

If you must travel with valuables, do pay for the extra coverage. Generally it costs $6 per $100 worth of value which isn’t much. Paying for extra coverage provides you with a special sticker that can reduce the risk of your belongings getting lost. Check with your individual airline to assess insurance coverage and cost.

Get On the Phone from Home

As soon as you make it home from your vacation, make a point to get on the phone to the airline to voice your complaints in a calm, professional manner. Follow up your phone call with a letter to the airline that outlines the problems you experienced and why you feel the issue is not resolved. Be realistic in your complaint and stick to the facts. Bad-mouthing the company will not get you far but if you are a respected customer with a legitimate complaint, chances are good your voice will be heard and compensation, if warranted, will come your way.

Don’t Give Up

If there was a serious problem where you feel you are justified in asking for compensation beyond an apology, keep at it. Be persistent in your quest to get answers by following up with your correspondence. If the case gets out of hand or the airline is not cooperative, you can file a complaint against the airline through the Aviation Consumer Protection Division.

Be Realistic About Your Demands

If you feel you have not been treated fairly during your trip – perhaps your seat was given away or there were problems with your airline tickets that were not your fault – you can ask to be reimbursed for replacement tickets. Some airlines will voluntarily offer you free airline tickets or hotel accommodations to make up for their own errors but not all will. Whatever you are looking to receive, make sure it is realistic and in line with the situation. Don’t demand free airline travel for a year because you missed your own flight. The more reasonable you are, the more inclined the airline will be to working with you.

An airport problem can quickly result in your having to dig in your own wallet just to get where you were going. It can be frustrating and unfair when you are in the situation but after you’ve calmed down and got to where you need to be, rational thinking and persistence can help you find compensation for your terrible travel experience.

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Tisha Tolar is a co-owner of Trifecta Strategies, LLC, an online writing and content management company. She specializes in personal finance articles to help people make more out of their money. She is also a fiction writer and avid blogger.

All posts by Tisha Tolar (Staff Writer)

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