My flight is changed to include an overnight layover, can I claim compensation from airline?
I booked a flight a few months ago using an online booking agent (cheaptickets) from Zhangjiajie (China) to Chiang Mai (Thailand). The flight details were as followed:
9h50 Zhangjiajie - 11h25 Guangzhou
A stop for 4h35
16h00 Guangzhou - 17h50 Chiang Mai
Yesterday the booking agent mailed me stating that China Southern Airlines changed their flights and asked me to send them an agreement for the proposed changes. The new changes are:
19h50 Zhangjiajie - 21h30 Guangzhou
A stop for 11h10 (so +1 day)
8h40 Guangzhou - 10h25 Chiang Mai
This is clearly a disadvantage for me, because I don't want less time in Chiang Mai and I don't want more time in Zhangjiajie. So I replied and said that I didn't agree with the changes and I just got a response stating that this is my best option.
- Am I allowed to ask for some sort of compensation, because of this? Although it's probably the China Southern Airlines' responsibility.
- Or could I ask them to put me on a flight earlier which has a stop in Guangzhou for 18 hours, so I can at least explore the city a bit?
- Are there other options or factors I should keep in mind or that I can do?
Note: My other flight from Brussels to Beijing with Hainan Airlines (using the same booking agent) also changed 2 days ago, but the changes were not that drastic.
Edit: I ended up getting a flight a day earlier (which I mailed them for) so I had 18 hours in Guangzhou so I can explore it a little bit. They had to check this first with the airlines and it was approved. Since it was a change of the airlines (which they can apparently make any time) I didn't get a compensation or something.
Best Answer
First, the travel agent is your point of contact here. Any changes to the booking need to be negotiated with the agent; believe it or not, the airline has no control over your booking at this stage.
This is either very good, because the agent takes care of the leg work, in which case you should certainly patronize his or her services in the future. Alternatively, it is very bad, if the agent doesn't do anything and the airline will not assist you either. In the latter circumstance, you should not use this TA again.
Anyway, I think you are unlikely to get your hotel paid for because of a schedule change. Some airlines will do this (QR, EK, BA) but it is not something you can expect as a standard industry practise. [None of them will admit this in their Terms and Conditions though, they all insist it is a goodwill gesture. So no harm in asking.]
However, in my experience, the carrier is likely to be willing to allow you to take an earlier flight, as long as your stop remains under 24 hours. This should be at the same price, without a change fee applying. The carrier might also permit a change to route, but some carriers dislike doing this. Unfortunately, I don't remember ever having to deal with a schedule change on China Southern, so that is not from specific experience.
In your shoes, I would go to the TA and ask them to get you on the earlier flight, so you can at least enjoy the city.
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Am I entitled to compensation if my flight is changed?
There are no specific laws governing schedule changes, although the air carrier's terms and conditions will usually refer to them. You will usually only be entitled to a refund where the schedule change is greater than two hours. There is no right to compensation in the case of schedule changes.What are my rights if an airline changes my departure airport?
It's federal law: \u201cA passenger is entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the passenger chooses not to be rebooked on a new flight on that airline.\u201d Airlines may try to hide the refund option and push you to take a voucher instead. Know your rights and be proactive.Can airlines change your layover?
Can airlines really do this? Yes. They have the power to switch your arrival, layover, and departure airports for a variety of reasons. If it happens to you (and if you travel enough, it likely will), don't get flustered and make a bad move\u2014like panic-booking a last-minute flight on another airline for top dollar.Can I get a refund if airline changes flight time?
Schedule Change/Significant Delay - A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline made a significant schedule change and/or significantly delays a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel.HOW TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR FLIGHT DELAYS| AIRHELP
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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