What Counts as an Extra Expense During a Flight Delay or Cancellation?

Accommodation

If due to delay or cancellation, your flight was moved to another day and you need to do the overnight stay, you might experience some additional costs Usually, airlines have deals with hotels for passengers experiencing such cases disadvantages. However, it may be that the airline does not provide accommodation, and in that case, you may need to book an overnight stay yourself.

Be careful and collect every invoice for your stay with the following information:

•       Visible name (must be the same as the name on  your flight booking confirmation);
•       Dates (must match the period of flight cancelation/ delay)
•       Amout of money you spent on the type of accommodation you had to book.

Meals and Beverages

Reasonable costs for meals and non-alcoholic drinks during the waiting period are also considered as extra expenses. The time period for your food purchase must be after your original flight time and before your new flight departure time. If it is possible, ask for an invoice for your food expenses as well.

Transportation

Let’s not forget the additional costs for taxis, rideshares, shuttles, or public transportation between the airport and your accommodation. The time of the ride must be in a period of your disrupted flight until the new flight’s time of departure.

Other Necessities

Medicine: If it happens that due to any flight disruption you miss access to your regular medicine supply and it endangers your health, airlines should count it as an additional expense. Necessary medication such as prescribed drugs and other medicine must be taken at specific times. Usually, you might need to present a doctor’s note for airlines to use such medication. Therefore, always be prepared and have such documentation with you.

What is Not Counted as Extra Expenses

It is important to understand that not everything that you spend your money on due to a disrupted flight is counted as additional expenses. And do not make a mistake when you try your luck to receive compensation. Here are some examples of what is not counted as extra expenses caused by delay or cancelation of your flight:

• Bookings: These are the most mistaken expenses passengers are trying to get their money back.  Your hotels, holiday rentals and other bookings  you missed due to delay or cancelation of your flight is what counts. It is up to the person who organizes the trip, to make sure everything they planned is not directly dependent on the flight, and it is important to book a refundable option is possible for your stay, because airlines will not refund these expenses.

The same goes with car rentals or advance-booked train and bus tickets. Even if they do not get used, they will not be counted as additional expense.

• Luxury Expenses: Upgraded hotel rooms is another thing passengers are trying to claim compensations for. Our tip? Please choose the most simple option for your accommodation. Don’t indulge in expensive meals or premium transportation options like private cars or limousines, if the place you are staying at can be reached in a more simple way, like a bus or a taxi.

• Entertainment: How you spend your time during flight delay or cancelation is up to you. Purchases like books, clothes, visits at the movie theaters or casinos, or other discretionary spendings are not necessary and it is not counted as extra expenses caused by disrupted flights.
• Unrelated Travel Costs: Expenses that are unrelated to the disruption, such as souvenirs or extended stays for personal reasons are also not claimable

Airline policies vary in what they will reimburse, so it’s crucial to check the airline’s passenger rights or customer service commitments. If you have travel insurance, it might cover extra expenses as well, so be aware of that as well. Keep receipts for all purchases and document the delay or cancellation to facilitate claims.

Have a safe flight and always collect all invoices for your expenses! It helps us, Skycop.com to provide better service and get you the compensation you deserve a lot quicker.