It was a moment Katrien had been waiting for with great anticipation. The Belgian was to travel with American Airlines to Cancun, Mexico, from Dusseldorf. Despite a reservation in order and a presence well in advance, she was not allowed to board the plane. “There were too many passengers,” she told Belang van Limburg.
As a result, Katrien finds herself grounded in Germany. She has to wait five hours before receiving a proposal from the airline. “I could fly five days later! “An obviously unthinkable solution for the woman who had obviously booked her hotels. “So I paid for the next affordable flight. This one cost 2,200 euros. »
In his misfortune, however, he was reassured by telling him that this ticket will be refunded to him. Except that. “Now I am told that American Airlines will only reimburse the missed flight. A misunderstanding for the Belgian who does not understand why the company does not pay compensation when it cancels a customer’s trip. “Even Ryanair does it…”, she adds.
From 250 to 600 euro
If American Airlines claims to have reimbursed the ticket for the missed flight (the first therefore), Katrien affirms that she has not yet seen the color of this money. Above all, she is surprised not to see the question of “compensation” anywhere. “I’m not entitled to it then?” »
However, as the SPF points out, she has a right to it. “Companies are not allowed to refuse passengers boarding unless they cannot find enough ‘volunteers’. The latter are entitled to another flight or to a refund if the trip has become useless due to the delay, ”we comment to our colleagues.
Katrien will therefore have to turn to her departure airport, in Germany, to hope to obtain the compensation she deserves. We are still talking about a sum of between 250 and 600 euros.