How to Handle an Airline Complaint : 111 Travel Directory

111 Travel Directory > Miscellaneous Travel Articles > How to Handle an Airline Complaint

Viewing How to Handle an Airline Complaint

How to Handle an Airline Complaint

Most of the time, complaining to counter help at the airport or to flight attendants will get no results. You need to document the problem and go to the top. This article explains how to resolve any difficulties that come up while you travel by air.

By Larry Westfall

Most of the time, complaining to counter help at the airport or to flight attendants will get no results. You need to document the problem and go to the top. Contact the airline's main office by either regular mail or email. Keep copies of all your documents.

Take notes at the time the incident occurs and jot down the names of the carrier employees with whom you dealt. Keep all of your travel documents (ticket receipts, baggage check stubs, boarding passes, etc.) as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred because of the mishandling. Here are some helpful tips should you choose to write a letter.

Type the letter and, if possible, limit it to one page in length.

Include your daytime telephone number (with area code).

No matter how angry you might be, keep your letter businesslike in tone and do not exaggerate what happened. If the complaint sounds very vehement or sarcastic, consider waiting for a day and then contemplate rewriting it.

Describe what happened, and give dates, cities, and flight numbers or flight times.

Send copies, never the originals, of tickets and receipts or other documents that can back up your claim.

Include the names of any employees who were rude or made things worse, as well as anyone who might have been especially helpful.

Do not clutter your complaint with petty gripes that can obscure what is really angering you.

Let the airline know if you suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses.

Explain what you expect the carrier to do to make amends. An airline may offer to settle your claim with a check or some other kind of compensation, possibly free transportation. You might want a written apology from a rude employee or reimbursement for some loss you incurred - but the airline needs to know what you want before it can decide what action to take.

Be reasonable. If your demands are way out of line, your letter might earn you a polite apology and a place in the airline's crank files.

If you follow these guidelines, the airlines will probably treat your complaint seriously. Your letter will help them to determine what caused your problem, as well as to suggest actions the company can take to keep the same thing from happening to other people.

About the Author:

Larry Westfall is a frequent traveler to Bangkok - the City of Angels - and owner of Bangkok Accommodations. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com)

More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com

Article added 12/27/07.