Travelling by plane is not only the fastest, but also perhaps the most enjoyable way to get from point A to point B. Or at least that is the case until we have to deal with unexpected complications. You get up in the middle of the night to catch a plane and the flight turns out to be delayed by many hours or canceled altogether? Your luggage accidentally flew to another country and was lost or damaged on the way? Unfortunately, all passengers using scheduled flights must be prepared for such situations. Check what your rights are in the context of the unpleasantness you have experienced and learn about a reasonable, convenient alternative.
Problems at the airport – what can happen to a passenger?
Even if the plane arrives on time and the luggage goes where it should, the passenger can experience many unpleasant things at the airport. Waiting for individual elements of the procedure is long and irritating. We are constantly exposed to crowds, noise and intense visual stimuli. It is easy to catch a nasty infection in a crowd that will ruin your vacation or affect the course of business meetings that you have agreed to.
The biggest problem, however, is delayed and canceled flights. As a result, we may not only not reach our destination on time, but also experience huge problems – especially if we have to change planes. Another fatal scenario is when, after a long journey, we want to change into clean clothes, but it turns out that our luggage has been lost or destroyed.
Delayed or canceled flight – passenger rights
A canceled flight creates huge logistical problems. If you find yourself in this fatal situation, you are of course entitled to a full refund for your ticket. Alternatively, the carrier may offer another connection. If the waiting time is long, the passenger must receive accommodation in a hotel with transport. In the event of being left at the airport, the carrier is obliged to provide care, including meals and e-mail and telephone contact with the world – but this is poor consolation.
If the flight does take place, but the plane takes off later than planned, the passenger can also claim their rights. Whether you are entitled to compensation in a given case and in what amount, depends on how much the flight is delayed.
Lost or damaged luggage – procedures
In many cases, losing luggage is much more problematic than a cancelled flight. If a suitcase is lost, the passenger faces a long and arduous road – and without any guarantee of success. You have to go to the appropriate point at the airport, describe the luggage, fill out the form. Then all that is left is to wait.
The carrier is obliged to reimburse the costs incurred as a result of the loss of luggage. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the amount of compensation is a maximum of PLN 7,000. If there was something more valuable in your suitcase, the loss is therefore severe. In addition, complaint procedures drag on for weeks and the passenger has to cope on his own, without his belongings, often in a foreign country.
Private charter – a solution to problems
The icing on the cake is the fact that the above obligations apply only to airlines registered in the EU. Entities from other countries may operate on different principles and put the passenger in an even worse situation. Fortunately, there is a real alternative to problematic scheduled flights. It is to take advantage of the offer of carriers offering comfortable and tailor-made private charter flights, taking place on board modern and safe jets. Flight cancellation or delay, loss or destruction of luggage – these are scenarios that are unlikely to happen to users of private charters.