Behind The Paperwork: Why Every Document Matters For Your Claim

Imagine finding out your compensation claim is delayed because of missing documents. Frustrating, right? Let’s demystify why these documents are essential.

Why Is The  Information You Provided Not Enough?

The client filled in the claim form specifying the flight information and date and signed the agreement. After a short time, he receives a message from Skycop that the flight tickets need to be submitted. 

Some clients submit the requested documentation and are quickly informed that the claim has been forwarded to the airline as all the relevant and thus very important details have been gathered.

However, some clients are frustrated with why what they have provided is not enough. Here’s why: 

  • Incorrect flight information

Our system is linked to databases that show whether a flight was disrupted or had no major delays. We might ask you to provide documents that would help us better identify the cause of disruption.

  • The document submitted identifies passenger A, and the claim is made by passenger B.

Compensation for a disrupted flight belongs only to the passenger, not to the person who bought the tickets, which is why we need to get all the items, such as names and other information that would help us identify the person to whom the compensation belongs, in order.

  • We asked for a ticket and a passport and received multiple documents from different people.

The system does not automatically scan or add passengers from the provided documentation to each claim. So it is important to send the exact files a person is asked for. Also, each passenger must sign an agreement with us. It is a crucial step before the compensation process can begin.

The Value Of The Documents

Why is there so much paperwork? It is one of the most popular questions from our clients. Don’t the airlines already have the necessary information? The answer is a little more complex.

Financial resources are also involved in this procedure and therefore it is important to provide documentary evidence.

You must keep your flight documents and information about flight changes or cancellations, whether or not there has been a disruption. Do not delete this information, keep it as you may need it later, especially if there is a disruption during any stage of your journey. It may help your claim to be processed quicker and even prove that the disruption is claimable even though the airline may state differently. 

Tickets, Tickets, Tickets

The various documents are needed to prove that you were the passenger on the flight that was disrupted. For example, you arrive at a shop with a defective item. The first thing you will be asked to do is to show the purchase receipt. A raised voice will not help, nor will a sad story that the document is gone. No receipt means no acceptance of the claim. Then there is the checking to see if the shoe is defective or if it has already been damaged after purchase. The same happens with flight disruption claims but in a slightly different form.

There’s also the other side of the coin. Some airlines make it so that passengers can file a claim themselves to make the process longer.

Many times the Skycop team has heard from airlines that we must submit documents by registered mail and forward the original paper boarding passes received at the airport. What are the chances that the passenger has retained all of this and the documents sent by registered mail will not get lost?

If your claim has more passengers, please provide the tickets of all passengers. 60% of claims are delayed at the first stage of the claim only because of the missing documents. Sometimes it takes up to two weeks to receive the required tickets.

So if your flight FR3522 was disrupted, this is the exact ticket we need. Not the ticket for any other flight. If you had connecting flights, we need all tickets or booking confirmations covering all included flights.

Why Do You Need My Passport?

This question would be in the top 3 most frequently asked questions.

We fully understand our clients’ reluctance to provide documents with highly sensitive information, such as passports or IDs. For this reason, we always inform you that you can seal or cover particularly sensitive information seen on the passport. The most important thing is that your full name and signature are visible. Why? 

As this is a procedure that includes financial processes which will result in money transfers, airlines protect themselves by making sure that they transfer the compensation only to that passenger or that passenger’s legal representative.

A copy of your passport is one of the documents required by airlines. This rule was not created by the Skycop team, which is why we often ask our clients to re-sign their agreements. The signature on the agreement must match the signature on the passport.

There were some cases where clients have sent us both sides of their IDs and even passport pages that have been merged into one document. Let’s make it clear once and for all. The most important information we need from your identification document is your full name and signature, and they must be visible.

Even That?

Airlines have strict requirements for claims involving minors, especially when their last name differs from the main claimant. This ensures that only the rightful person receives the compensation belonging to a young passenger. For example, the passenger whose last name is Barlowe submitted the documents of the minor with the last name Whitlock in addition to her own. However, she claims to be the minor’s mother. The airline then asks for a copy of the child’s birth certificate. The only reason for this is that it is a financial procedure and such so-called double checks are needed to avoid such situations where Mrs Whitlock receives money for a minor passenger unfairly.

It’s easy to get lost in the maze of documents. The Skycop team is experienced and knows the way down the yellow brick road. We provide you with information letters on just the documents you need. If you’re not sure what you need or who needs it, our team will help you. One-click and a list of required documents could be just one step to your compensation. Visit www.skycop.com for more information. 

Was Your Flight Disrupted?

Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!