The runway mishap involving a Boeing 737-8000 plane owned by Xiamen Airlines and subsequent recovery flights caused one of the biggest pileup of stranded passengers seen in the history of air transport in the Philippines.
The chaotic weekend at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport saw travelers air out their complaints as flights were cancelled and delayed.
I waited over 3 hours at NAIA to get a boarding pass for my trip to BKK. There was a long line of people waiting to get information for their next flight and the travel desk agents WERE COMPLAINING about how long this line was. @flypal
— dc (@lanikaigirl17) August 20, 2018
Alana Katz, an American lawyer and avid traveler based in Chicago, has provided legal assistance to friends and fellow travelers who have had issues with airlines and travel agencies.
Katz is also starting her own travels rights website and has written demand letters to travel companies.
While she has yet to enter litigation due to a travel dispute, Katz related how most companies eventually answered demands after most of her correspondences.
In an interview with Interaksyon, Katz gave a few tips on how stranded passengers could enforce their rights and demand proper compensation for delayed, cancelled and diverted flights.
Katz suggests that passengers should document any evidence of the delay or cancellation and document any proof of damage, be it the hotel billing for tourists or reduced pay for overseas workers in transit.
She also suggested that checking an airline’s policies on cancellations is important in deciding on a course of action.
The amount of the compensation demanded and a breakdown of the damages along with the evidence can be sent to the airline involved. Should no response come from the company, Katz recommends calling the company and reaching out through social media.
Stories of passengers who experienced multiple cancellations and overseas workers who face issues with their employment because of their delayed flights have circulated in the days after the commotion at NAIA.
The country’s air transport authorities have also released reminders on how stranded passengers can ensure compensation and assistance in the event of delayed flights.
Presenting proof of the damage and addressing the party responsible for the delay, cancellation or diversion are among the most essential steps in making sure one is properly compensated for trouble at the airport.
