Are websites promising to get refunds for delayed flights reliable?
Recently a flight I took had a very long delay (over three hours) and I think I could be entitled to a refund.
I found websites such as Green Claim and their UK version Flight Delayed and I am wondering if they are legitimate services. Have you ever used them?
Best Answer
I have not personally used these websites, but it is possible that these are legitimate websites.
In the EU, there are strong air passenger protections. From that website:
In addition, if you are denied boarding, your flight is cancelled or arrives more than 3 hours late on arrival at the final destination stated on your ticket, you may be entitled to compensation of €250 - 600, depending on the distance of the flight.
Naturally, getting payment for such a claim is made exceedingly difficult by the airline: they will repeatedly refuse to pay legitimate claims. A friend was flying back to the US from Spain and had a flight that was delayed for 24 hours for non-weather reasons and registered a claim. He made repeated requests for payment and followed up with both Spanish and EU regulatory boards regarding the matter, and the airline still refused to pay. Eventually, his hounding caused the airline to offer him compensation, but he held out for the full 600 euro he was entitled to, and received it, but it took more than six months of back-and-forth with the airline.
I was booked on the same flight with my friend, but did not follow up with the airline, as the amount of paperwork and repeated requests required was more effort than I cared to put in. This is where these websites would presumably step in, and handle the negotiation with the airline on your behalf, in exchange for part of the proceeds.
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Can I get refund if flight is delayed?
The U.S. Department of Transportation says you are entitled to a refund of your ticket cost because of a cancellation or "significant delay" and you choose not to travel. This is the policy regardless of the reason the airline cancels or delays the flight.Do airlines have to compensate for delayed flights?
In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled. Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are \u201cbumped\u201d from a flight that is oversold.Can I get partial refund for delayed flight?
There is no legal obligation to provide compensation to passengers for flight delays, as long as it's a short delay. Airline policies differ when it comes to refunds for delayed flights. Some, like Southwest and Delta, will allow passengers partial refunds or redirect them to another airline.HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR FLIGHT DELAYS| AIRHELP
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