Canceled Flight? How to File a Federal Claim for Reimbursement

Published by FareCompare on July 30, 2024

Air passengers around the world are still dealing with the fallout from thousands of delayed and canceled flight chaos after a massive IT outage disrupted operations for several global airlines. One carrier in particular – Delta Airlines – has struggled more than others to get back on track and solve the problem for an overwhelming amount of its customers.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launched an investigation into Delta's mismanagement of the situation as a result of repeated customer complaints. This is good news for anyone that has been stuck dealing with delays, cancellations, or any other kind of flight interruptions. There's now an easy way to file an official passenger complaint, which will track the issue and strive to provide a satisfactory solution.

How to Get Reimbursement for a Cancelled Flight

First and foremost, the DOT recommends travelers contact the airline with which they were booked to fly in the case of any issues or problems. Many times, the situation can be resolved without needing to file a federal complaint; however, in cases that affect millions of travelers on a larger scale, you're going to want to know what to do.

"Before you contact DOT for help with an air travel problem, you should give the airline a chance to resolve it," the DOT shares on the complaint site. "Airlines have trouble-shooters at the airports, usually called Customer Service Representatives, who can take care of many problems on the spot."

In the case of an airline not solving or acknowledging the issue, passengers can visit the DOT’s Air Travel Service Complaint or Comment Form.

The form can be completed either by the passenger or a relative of the passenger, so rest easy if you need to do this on behalf of a child or someone who isn't able to fill it out themselves. The complaint form requests details about the airline, flight itinerary, and a description of the problem.

Travelers can also upload files, such as documents or images, to help illustrate the reason for their complaint. Additionally, passengers can visit FlightRights.gov for a listing of the benefits and rights to which they are entitled.

It's important to note that the complaint form should not be used for safety issues, as those are handled by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).