Dealing with Flight Delays Your Guide to Handling & Compensation

A well-planned trip is about to begin, but suddenly the flight status shows "Delayed"! The good feelings you've had since the start of the trip instantly crumble. Many people have experienced this frustrating situation, whether rushing to an important meeting, needing to catch a connecting flight, or simply wanting to reach their destination quickly. Flight delays can throw everything off schedule. So what should we do? What compensation can we get for flight delays? And who is responsible when flights are delayed?

Gother understands this feeling well, because travel is happiness and a precious experience. This article compiles important information you should know as a complete guide to dealing with flight delay situations wisely and protecting the rights you deserve, to keep your trip as smooth as possible.

Before looking at how to cope, let's first understand why airlines need to delay flights, as there are various reasons that will also affect your compensation rights.

• Unpredictable Weather Conditions: Storms, heavy rain, thick fog, or heavy snowfall are all uncontrollable factors that may result in poor visibility, requiring flight departures to be postponed for safety reasons.
• Aircraft Technical Problems: Safety is paramount. If any technical defects are detected, no matter how minor, the aircraft must be inspected and repaired before departure.
• Flight Management: Such as dense aircraft takeoff and landing queues at some airports, crew changes, or waiting for connecting passengers from delayed flights.
• Extraordinary Circumstances: Such as strikes by airline or airport staff, natural disasters, or various unrest incidents.

When you learn that your flight is delayed, the first thing to do is stay calm and follow these steps to handle the situation effectively:

1. Monitor Updates from the airline Closely

Airlines will announce flight status through various channels, whether through displays at the airport, announcements, SMS messages, emails, or the airline's mobile app. You should check for updates regularly to not miss important changes.

2. Contact Airline Staff Immediately

When you learn that the flight is delayed for more than 1-2 hours, quickly go to the airline counter or customer service point to inquire about additional information such as the cause of the delay, new flight schedule, and assistance or compensation rights you will receive. Direct communication with staff will help you understand the situation and plan ahead optimally.

3. Collect Important Evidence

This is very important! To protect your rights for flight delay compensation, you should collect various evidence including:

• Boarding pass or flight ticket
• SMS/email messages from the airline notifying of the delay
• Photos from the flight status display screens at the airport
• Receipts for expenses incurred due to the delay, such as food, accommodation, transportation costs (if you had to pay first)

4. Don't Throw Away Your Flight Ticket

The flight ticket is the most important evidence to confirm your rights. No matter how much the delay, or even if the flight is cancelled, never throw away your ticket.

5. Contact Travel Insurance (If You Have It)

If you purchased travel insurance, this is when you'll benefit from it. Many travel insurance plans cover flight delays or cancellations, which may include compensation for delays, expenses incurred while waiting, or costs for booking new flights. Contact the insurance company to inquire about details and claim procedures as soon as you learn about the situation.

6. If You Have Connecting Flights, Notify the Airline and Contact the Next Airline

If you have connecting flights and the delay of the first flight might cause you to miss your connection, quickly notify the staff of the first airline and coordinate with the airline of the next flight as soon as possible. The airline may help change your flight or provide guidance on managing the problem.

One question many people wonder about is: when a flight delay occurs, who is responsible? The answer is that typically, the airline is primarily responsible for caring for passengers affected by delays. Additionally, compensation rights vary according to delay duration, airline regulations, and passenger protection laws of respective countries. Here we reference the announcement from Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority Committee, with details as follows:

Basic Compensation That Airlines Must Provide (According to Delay Duration)

• Delay 2-3 hours: Airlines must provide food and beverages
• Delay 3-5 hours: Airlines must provide food and beverages and must provide accommodation (if overnight stay required) and shuttle service between airport and accommodation
• Delay 5-6 hours: In addition to the above care, airlines must consider providing additional appropriate compensation, which may be cash or vouchers
• Delay 6+ hours:
• Airlines must provide food and beverages
• Must provide accommodation (if overnight stay required) and shuttle service between airport and accommodation
• Must consider arranging new flights to the original destination
• Must refund ticket costs for unused portions if passengers don't wish to continue traveling
• Must consider providing compensation of at least 1,200 baht (for domestic flights) or according to international regulations for international flights

Additional Things to Know About Compensation:

• Cause of Delay Affects Compensation Rights: If delays are caused by "extraordinary circumstances" that airlines cannot control, such as severe weather, natural disasters, terrorism, or air traffic control orders, airlines may be exempt from monetary compensation but still have duties to provide food, accommodation, and flight changes.
• Regulations of Destination/Origin Countries: For international flights, passenger protection laws of origin or destination countries may apply additionally, such as EU261 regulations of the European Union, which mandate standard and relatively high compensation if flights are delayed more than 3 hours and not due to extraordinary circumstances.
• Read Ticket and Travel Insurance Terms: Your flight tickets and travel insurance policies will have different details about compensation conditions. You should read them carefully to protect your rights.

If a flight delay leads to flight cancellation, passengers have the right to:

• Receive full refund of ticket costs for unused travel portions
• Be provided with new flights to the original destination (if still wanting to travel) at no additional cost
• Receive care for food and accommodation (if waiting for new flights)

Additional Recommendations for Peace of Mind

• Always Allow Extra Time: If you have connecting flights, you should allow sufficient transfer time, at least 3-4 hours, especially for international flights, to reduce risks from delays.
• Buy Travel Insurance: This is a worthwhile investment! Travel insurance will protect you in various unexpected situations, not just delays, but also lost luggage, illness, or accidents.
• Download Airline Apps: Apps often provide real-time flight status notifications, so you won't miss any changes.
• Travel to Airport Early: Allow sufficient time for check-in procedures, security checks, and any changes that may occur.

Flight delays are something no one wants to happen, but they're unavoidable in some situations. Having knowledge and understanding of what to do, collecting evidence, and knowing your rights for flight delay compensation will help you handle unexpected events confidently and reduce potential damage.

Therefore, before every trip, don't forget to study information and always be prepared, so your trip remains the most memorable experience possible!

No matter what situation you encounter, Gother is ready to assist in making all your travels smooth and worry-free. We provide comprehensive services for you to search and book flight tickets to destinations worldwide, whether leading airlines or budget carriers, with special deals that make your travels even more worthwhile. Gother also understands that delays are frustrating. If problems arise, you can contact us for advice on tracking status, coordinating with airlines, or getting basic information about compensation rights. We're always by your side to give you peace of mind at every step.

Additionally, to save travel time, you can also choose to book accommodations and hotels near airports, whether luxury hotels, beautiful resorts, cute hostels, or Airbnb accommodations - Gother has many options for you to choose from.

And to make your trip not boring, Gother also has interesting activities and tours for you to book in advance, whether adventure trips in nature, food tours, city tours, or fun workshops - we have it all! Let Gother be part of making all your travels smooth and full of happiness!