What to Do When an Airline Tries to Screw You

When the Airline Changes the Scheduled Time of Your Flight

When an airline changes the time of your flight, it can either be a huge convenience or an opportunity to work the system. If you receive an online notification from the airline that the time of your flight has been changed, don't accept the changes right away. You can use the schedule-change as an excuse to call the airline and ask to switch to a different flight that will add more flexibility to your schedule.

For example, if you booked a budget red-eye that was rescheduled by even half an hour, you can request to be placed on the more convenient morning flight that costs $200 more. Of course, airlines don't always send out notices when flight schedules are changed, so it's best to keep an eye on your flight times to take advantage of this opportunity.

When the Airline Doesn't Inform You of Your Rights

If your flight is severely delayed or canceled and it's the airline's fault, they owe you. If a canceled flight forces you to discontinue your travel plans, the airline must refund you. And if you decide to keep your plans, the airline must put you on their next available flight.

Unfortunately, airlines often fail to fully inform passengers of their rights. While it's essential to know what you're entitled to in any given situation, there are a lot of rules and exceptions to memorize when it comes to air travel. That's why we've put together the Air Passenger Rights Fold-up Card. This free, pocket-sized guide has everything you need to know about what you're entitled to when things go wrong. Download the printable PDF here.

When the Airline Overbooks Your Flight

It's common practice for airlines to overbook flights in order to account for no-shows, which means when everyone does show up, there's not enough room and someone needs to be bumped. If no one volunteers to take the next flight, the airline will pick a passenger or passengers.

If you're the unlucky one bumped from your flight and the airline can't get you to your destination within two hours, the airline owes you 200 percent of the original cost of your one-way fare (with a $650 maximum) for domestic flights and 400 percent (with a maximum of $1,300) for international flights.

The airline might try to offer you vouchers, upgrades, or other forms of compensation, but you are entitled to demand a check or to have the money returned to your credit card.

When the Airline Makes You Miss Your Connection

If you book your connecting flight through a different airline than your originating flight, it's not the first airline's responsibility to help you make your connection—even if it's their fault you miss it. The best thing to do if you're worried that a missed connection would ruin your plans is to book all your connecting flights through the same airline. Then it's that airline's responsibility to rebook you on the next flight out.

If the airline can't get you on a flight until the next morning, they might not set you up with accommodation or compensate you for your meals. You can, however, try to negotiate.

When the Airline Loses Your Luggage

When your luggage does not arrive at your destination, file a report right away to figure out if your bag has been lost or simply delayed. If it's delayed—meaning it was put on the wrong flight—the airline will return it to you as soon as possible.

Setting a claim with the airline will also motivate them to find your bag as soon as possible, since if you are left luggage-less for more than 30 days, the airline by law needs to cover "all reasonable, actual, and verifiable expenses related to baggage loss, damage, or delay." On domestic airlines, you can be compensated for up to $3,500 ($1,600 internationally). You can also ask to be reimbursed for your checked baggage fees.

If the missing items throw a wrench in your travel plans—if the airline loses your camera or sports equipment, for example—you can also negotiate with the airline to compensate you for rentals during your trip.