Passenger Was Denied Boarding Due To Illness: Compensation Eligibility

Why Do People Travel Sick?

Some travellers feel obligated to attend important events such as family gatherings or business meetings, even if they are feeling under the weather. The pressure to fulfil these commitments can outweigh concerns about their health. Sometimes, people are not aware they are sick (or just simply ignore the symptoms), or that they can even catch a cold during the flight. According to some research, air passengers in general are more likely to catch illnesses because of added stress, anxiety, changes in their routines and exposure to germs.

Basis For Denied Boarding

Denied boarding means “ to refuse to allow passengers on a flight even though they have presented themselves for boarding”. According to the EU and US regulations, airlines have the authority to deny boarding if a passenger poses a health risk to themselves or others. This includes contagious illness or medical unfitness, that can affect other passengers.

Situations can vary, some paperwork and documentation may even be required. Those who travelled pregnant know, that airlines can mandate to present a doctor’s note about fitness to travel on later terms. During COVID, when airlines across the globe all implemented mandatory COVID test certificates, this document had to be presented upon boarding if one wanted to begin their journey by plane.

Passenger Rights And Compensation

Each airline will have different policies on this topic, starting with strict “nothing we can do for you” outlook to flight rebooking, vouchers or even a generous refund. What a passenger is entitled to will also depend on their ticket type.

According to EU Regulation 261/2004, if a passenger is denied boarding due to their contagious illness or medical unfitness, the airline is typically not obligated to provide compensation. However, they must prove that the denial to board the plane was justified based on health or safety risks.

Based on the U.S. regulations, airlines also have the authority to deny boarding due to health risks without being required to provide compensation, as long as they can substantiate their decision with reasonable grounds.

Feeling Under The Weather Before A Flight?

First and foremost – do not travel while ill, put your health and safety of others as the highest priority. Contact airline in advance, ask about your options, try to reschedule your flight. Don’t forget to check in with your insurance company too, they might be able to offer you a wider range of options.

If you are feeling unwell and your upcoming flight cannot be postponed or rescheduled, we advise you to obtain a doctor’s certificate confirming your illness is not contagious. If you show up with visible signs of flu, this paper will come in handy, although it may not always guarantee admission to the flight. 

If you were denied boarding, try and get some help from the airline about rebooking, or ask some advice what your next steps should be. Same goes for your travel insurance – check in with the insurance provider what your best course of action should be in this situation.

No Compensation?

As mentioned before, airlines generally are not obligated to provide compensation, if there were reasonable ground for denied boarding. You doubt it was the case? We encourage you to contact us – Skycop can help you get compensated if you were denied boarding.

Safe travels!