Let’s say that you just had a flight that was just awful.  You either had to wait a few hours, or maybe your flight was canceled.  A question that I hear pop up a lot is, “How can I get compensation on my flight?”

It’s a great question and I dug deeper into the issue to find out how other travelers get compensation from their flights.  Its going to be a tough task, but if you try hard enough, you’re going to find that you can get things the way you want it if you don’t give up!

99% of the time, you won’t get a refund

What you’re going to find out is that airlines will never give you a refund.  Instead, they are going to give you vouchers that are worth what you paid in the first place.  Is it a good deal?  Sure, its better than nothing, but what you’re going to find out is that if you want to get compensated in cash, it’s going to be very, very hard.

How can I start the compensation process?

The first thing that you’re going to want to do is start by writing a certified letter.  Don’t write an email or call up customer support.  You’re going to want to write  letter and  send it through the mail.  You will want to make sure that its certified so that you know that they are getting it.

Once you get the address for the airline’s customer service department, you’re going to want to document your trip.  What exactly happened?  Why do you deserve some sort of refund?  You will want to include your flight number, the time/date, the situation, who you dealt with, etc.

What situations are going to give me the best chances with compensation?

Generally, those that have delayed flights, an airline problem, or potentially a customer service issue such as a rough flight or bad experiences.  These call all lead to some sort of benefit.  It’s all going to narrow down to the airline and who you’re working with, since they all deal with customers in different ways.

What you’re going to want to do is make sure that you’re nice.  You don’t want to threaten them because they don’t care.  I’ve found with stories online that people that deal in a humane way get what they want.  You don’t want to demand anything, nor do you want to tell them that you will never fly again.

Instead, voice your complaint, tell them how you love their airline, and just let them know that the experience was a bummer for you.  Just by doing this, you’re going to increase your chances at landing a refund or future airline voucher.