Your flight is supposed to land in Boston. Instead, the captain announces that the plane is diverting to Providence. The obvious question is, “What compensation do I get for a diverted flight?” But that is usually the wrong place to start. A diversion describes what happened to the airplane. It does not tell you whether…
Your flight has been canceled because somebody is on strike. That explanation does not tell you nearly enough. A strike by your airline’s pilots is very different from a strike by airport security workers or air traffic controllers. In the United States, the difference can affect whether the airline pays for your hotel or meals.…
You paid for Business Class. Then, at check-in, at the gate or even after boarding, the airline tells you that your seat is gone. You can still fly—but in Premium Economy or Economy. You do not simply have to shrug and accept that as bad luck. In the United States, an involuntary downgrade to a…
Your flight is canceled. You are standing at the airport with a dead phone battery, a hotel reservation you may lose and no idea when you are getting home. Then the airline sends you a message containing two words that sound suspiciously like they were written by lawyers: Operational issue. Or perhaps it is “weather,”…