Be about to start your vacation or to return from them and that they give you access to the plane for “overbooking” (more tickets are sold than available seats) it is not a good drink for anyone. But … What happens in these cases? The union of consumers of Aragon (UCA) ensures that the airline must request volunteers among passengers so as not to fly on that flight and, if there are volunteer passengers, the consideration to be received for the denial of embarkation must agree with them. These volunteer passengers will also be entitled to information and alternative reimbursement or transport.
However, as usual, there are usually not enough volunteers and the shipment against the will of the passenger is denied. In this case, the UCA expresses a series of rights that the affected passenger has: information law, right of attention, refund right and compensation right.
Information Law
Right of attention
Refund or alternative transport right
Compensation right
Information Law
The passenger has the right to information. The airline must deliver a form with the rights that assist. If they do not deliver it, they have to request it from the airline. This may be the information of the brochure or similar.
Right of attention
The passenger also has the right of attention while waiting for his flight, and the airline has to give it: sufficient food and drink, two phone calls or access to the email, hotel accommodation if necessary to spend or if an additional stay is necessary to that planned by the passenger and the transport between the airport and the place of accommodation.
If the company does not fulfill its obligation to provide the indicated attention for free, the passenger must save the receipts of the expenses incurred to subsequently claim them to the airline.
Refund or alternative transport right
The airline has to offer the passenger the choice of one of the following options:
– Refund of the cost of the ticket within the following 7 days (with the airport of origin in the event that the passenger is in a connection if his trip is no longer aims to be). The reimbursement may be made in metallic, bank transfer, check or travel bonds or other services (prior agreement signed by the passenger).
– Alternative transport to its final destination as quickly as possible (with the airline or other) and in comparable transport conditions.
– Alternative transport on a later date that suits the passenger. (In case of choosing this option, the passenger ceases to have the right of attention from that moment).
If the company does not meet the obligation to provide the choice between the three previous options and the passenger chooses to buy its own ticket, you must save the receipt and the new shipment card to claim them to the airline.
The UCA remembers that the alternative transport offered by the company must be the one that allows it to reach its destination as quickly as possible, including flights with other airlines and other possible means of transport with comparable conditions.
Compensation right
The passenger has the right to financial compensation that varies between 250 euros and 600 euros, depending on the distance of the flight, although these amounts can be reduced by 50% if the airline offers alternative transport and meets a series of requirements in terms of the time of arrival to the final destination.
