Flight Compensation Law, otherwise known as EC No 261/2004, is a significant European law that provides adequate passenger rights in case of travel disturbances. Effective February 17, 2005, compensation and assistance are strictly established for passengers in specific forms of difficult travel conditions under this regulation.
The compensation policy covers specific categories of passengers and circumstances. It deals with leaving passengers from EU airports, those traveling from third-country airports to EU airports onboard an EU airline, and customers who have received confirmed reservations upon check-in. Importantly, the policy also covers passengers holding tickets under frequent flyer or commercial programs. This means it covers travel for all kinds of passengers across the board. If your flight with American Airlines got delayed or canceled, you must wonder how you will get compensated. Right? Let us look into American Airlines compensation policy in detail
Does American Airlines Compensate For Delayed And Canceled Flights?
American Airlines tries its best to ensure that its flights are on time. However, sometimes, unavoidable circumstances may arise, and due to weather disturbances, technical glitches, or any other unavoidable circumstances, flights may get delayed or canceled. Before you stress, it is important to know that American Airlines ensures a flexible compensation policy.
When reserving with American Airlines, ensure you provide valid contact details, and get signed up for the flight notifications on their official website.
- American Airlines will take full responsibility for notifying about any cancellations, delays, or diversions about 30 minutes from the time they are aware that the flight will get affected.
- The representatives at American Airlines will mostly attempt you to contact their customers in advance on the numbers you have provided.
- In case you have made your bookings through any travel agency, in such cases an American Airlines representative will contact the respective agency in case they aren’t able to contact you.
- If there is any flight diversion because of any medical emergency or severe weather, you will be mostly notified near the gate, before your flight’s departure timings. Moreover, announcements will also be made on board to notify the flight’s status.
What Will American Airlines Do In Case They Cancel or Delay Your Flights?
Here are some things that American Airlines will do in the case of a delayed or canceled flight for the convenience of passengers.
- You will be rebooked on the next American Airlines flight without any additional cost.
- If there isn’t any American Airlines flight available until the day after, there isn’t much to stress about. In such cases, you will be booked in one of their partner airlines without any additional charges.
American Airlines Compensation For Delays Of 3 Hours or More
If the delay is for over three hours you will be given meal vouchers. Moreover, if there is an overnight delay, you will be provided with a voucher for any hotel approved by American Airlines where rooms are available. Transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice versa will be provided.
Alternatively, you may even be given a transportation voucher. If you cannot get a voucher for a hotel or transportation, you will receive a reimbursement in such cases.
American Airlines Compensation Policy for Flight Diversions
In case your flight gets diverted to a different city or if you aren’t boarded to your destination by American Airlines before 11:59 pm, the following measures will be initiated by the authorities.
- They will give you a voucher for any approved hotel with the availability of rooms.
- Arrangements for commutation will be made or you’ll be handed over a voucher.
- You’ll even be provided with meal vouchers if the diversion to another city exceeds three hours.
- You’ll get a reimbursement for your hotel, and conveyance if vouchers can’t be provided.
Will American Airlines Compensate If Flights Are Delayed or Canceled For Bad Weather or Reasons Beyond Their Control?
In such cases, American Airlines will rebook your seats on the next available flight without charges. But, if you have to arrange for meals or book any accommodation due to the delays, or diversions caused by weather or any situation beyond American Airlines’ control, you’ll have to do it at your expense.
Yes, the airline authorities will help you locate a proper hotel. If you wish not to fly, due to the cancellation, or delay, you may initiate a refund for your ticket’s remaining value alongside optional fees.
How Does American Airlines Look After Customer Needs In Case of Immense Delays?
American Airlines does its best to cater to customer needs and ensure that they are in absolute comfort if they have to stay on the flight for exceptionally longer durations than they are scheduled to. This doesn’t happen often and is rare. Yet, if it does, American Airlines ensures that:
- Passengers are provided with snacks and water
- They have restroom access
- Travelers are given the basic medical needs which they may require
- If the tarmac delay persists for long, you will even be given the scope to access your personal device, if that’s safe enough.
American Airlines is quite strong when it comes to having a contingency plan at hand for any unforeseen circumstances to ensure that customers aren’t affected in any way.
American Airlines Compensation for Denied Boarding
An airline knows in advance whether they will have to deny boarding and often begins by seeking volunteers to give up their reservations in exchange for incentives. If insufficient volunteers are still found, involuntarily denied boarding may occur, and several critical protections become available to passengers.
Passengers who were denied boarding shall be re-routed. It means they shall be carried to their final destination in comparable conditions. The condition can be either the shortest possible route or an alternative flight, which depends on the availability of seats at the passenger’s convenience. Other forms of comprehensive assistance the airline has to provide to the passenger include providing food, beverages, hotel accommodation if possible, transport to and from the airport for accommodation, and making free two calls.
American Airlines Compensation Amounts
The compensation structure is tiered very carefully by distance of flight:
- For flights up to 1,500 kilometers: €250 Compensation
- Intra-community flights above 1,500 km and flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km: €400 Compensation
- Flights that do not fall within the above categories: €600 Compensation
Compensation may be reduced by 50% if rerouting allows passengers to reach their destination within certain time frames. The passenger’s agreement is required, and payment can be made in cash, electronic bank transfer, cheques, or travel vouchers.
American Airlines Flight Cancellation Rights
In case of flight cancellation, reimbursement or re-routing shall be done. Compensation does not apply in specific conditions, for instance, situations beyond the control of the airline which include extreme weather, political instability, strikes, and unexpected safety issues.
Exemptions to compensation also include cases when the passengers were informed of the cancellations in advance. These cases include:
- Two weeks before the scheduled date of departure: No compensation
- Between two weeks and seven days before departure: Specific re-routing conditions apply
- Less than seven days before departure: Alternative travel options with specific time constraints are considered
American Airlines Delay Compensation
The law offers protection for major delays, which are:
- More than two hours for flights within 1,500 kilometers
- More than three hours for intra-community flights over 1,500 kilometers
- More than four hours for other flights
During substantial delays, passengers receive assistance similar to denied boarding scenarios. After a five-hour delay, passengers can request reimbursement and potentially return to their original departure point.
Upgrading and Downgrading Provisions
The policy also covers scenarios of class changes. If a passenger is upgraded, no additional payment is required. In cases of downgrading, passengers can receive partial ticket price refunds ranging from 30% to 75%, depending on the flight distance.
Special Provisions
Passengers with reduced mobility and their companions, as well as unaccompanied minors, are given priority for boarding issues, cancellations, and delays. They are serviced first in case of these problems.
Conclusion
American Airlines’ compensation policy, which is based on the EU Flight Compensation Regulation, offers strong protection for travelers. Knowing these rights puts passengers in a better position to face travel disruptions so that they can be treated right and compensated accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
American Airlines compensates in the event of significant delays longer than 3-4 hours, depending on the distance covered by the flight and the circumstances of the delay.
Contact the customer service of American Airlines directly, provide flight information, and documents, and send a formal written compensation request via email.
Generally, compensation is received if the flight is over 3-4 hours, depending on the route distance and specific conditions for that route.
If you are at the airport you can access the kiosk. You can even open the American Airlines app to alter or view your trip. If at the kiosk you have to either enter the confirmation code or scan the boarding pass. You’ll see the updated status of your flight.