Secrets Airlines Keep

Just a few behind the scenes secrets airline management keep.

Airline Complaints: Management cares a lot about the company’s image, and the most serious airline complaints are sent right to the top with threats of talking to the media or the Department of Transportation.

Most of those complaints are handed off to someone, whose job is to make you feel like a ‘valued’ customer—which can mean free tickets, if management is in a good mood that day.

Mishandled luggage: Airlines know that about 1 percent of checked luggage will be lost, damaged, or stolen, and they even forecast this in their budget.

The maximum that domestic airlines have to pay for damaged or delayed bags is $3,000 per passenger, as per the Department of Transportation.

But airlines rarely ever dish out anywhere near that amount because they don’t pay back for cash, cameras, video equipment, computers, jewelry, antiques, or other expensive items.

Canceled flights: Whenever flights are delayed or canceled, most of the times airlines promise to reimburse passengers only for most important needs (such as meals, ground transportation, and lodging).

Airlines will never reimburse for losses that are caused because of missed meetings or lost wages. If you complain the right way, however, they may provide tickets or discounts on future flights, as a show of goodwill.

airline complaints