Airport is a crowded scene much to the excitement of airplane passengers to fly out especially for vacation. With the increasing number of people travelling yearly to and from the Philippine airports, concerns about an increase in the number of complaints relating to the conduct of air carriers were also raised.
While “the customer is always right” will hold true no matter how cliche it is, one will not win in such situations unless you are aware of your rights and privileges.
There is such a thing as the Air Passenger Bill of Rights in the Philippines which took effect on December 2012. In case you haven’t read up on it yet, here is a rundown of some important points that should guide you next time to get the full experience of being a flight passenger.
1 The right to know about airlines policies
We are guilty of prioritizing only the when and the where of our travel destinations when planning a trip, not so much so on the other important details. It is also a passenger’s right to be informed on policies on refund, rebooking, and such to avoid being misinformed should disputes arise.
2 The right to check in before ETD
Passengers should know that carriers are not allowed to refuse processing their check-ins as long as they made it to the airport at least at 11:00am when their flight is at lunchtime. International flights should allow at least two hours of check-in time before the estimated time of departure and an hour for domestic trips.
3 The right to compensation when overbooked
It is important to know that airlines sell tickets more than the maximum seat capacity because they know typically some passengers don’t and won’t make the flight. It’s a negotiation process when the airlines try to solicit volunteers to give up their seats. Passengers are entitled to the privileges available for them, like free accommodation or a compensation for an airline credit among others, should they opt for a voluntary flight bump.
4 The rights during delayed and canceled flights
It is any passenger’s nightmare. But should it happen, the airlines is required to provide food and free calls, and first aid if necessary. When flight is delayed more than three hours, passengers reserve the right to be endorsed to another airline or have their tickets rebooked or refunded. However, if flight is cancelled 24 hours before the ETD, customers are no longer entitled to receive such incentives.
5 The rights to lost and damaged baggage
For every 24 hours that a baggage is delayed, passenger must be compensated with P2,000. When items are lost or damaged, such in the case of a recent incident at NAIA Terminal 2 where a passenger claimed his bag was slashed, if found and proven liable, the airlines shall provide reimbursement that will base on the amount specified.
