There are two types of denied boarding situations:

1. Voluntarily bumped off a flight
2. Involuntarily denied boarding

Voluntarily bumped off a flight

is a situation that the airline asks you to volunteer to give up your seat on the plane and the airline agrees to compensate you.

In that situation, the amount of compensation is not set by law and you must negotiate the ‘best deal’ with the airlines.

Do:

• Demand the full statutory compensation applicable to your flight;
• Demand a replacement ticket for the next flight; and
• If the replacement flight is the next day, demand a hotel room per each 2 people in your party; and
• Demand transportation to the hotel and transportation back to the airport from the hotel; and
• Demand that the airline arrange for room service from the hotel in which you are staying; and
• Get the agreement with all terms of the agreement in writing with the name of the person with whom you negotiated the deal listed on the paper and have the paper stamped by the airline.

All this must be at their cost, as required by law. Do not agree to lay out the money and then submit for the airline to reimburse you. If you do, you will wait a very long time to get that money back from the airline.

Don’t:

• Accept vouchers
• agree to lay out any money even if the airline promises to reimburse you at a later date (if the airline refuses to pay in the first instance – video it).

Involuntarily denied boarding

The airline does not permit you to board the flight for any reason.

It is JustNotFare’s position that if you have two legs of a flight with the same airline and there is a delay in the first leg causing you to miss your connecting flight (irrespective of whether the plane was on the ground when you landed or not), that, too, is an involuntary denied boarding situation

You are entitled to:

• Assistance Services without payment*, as detailed below:

(a) food and drink In accordance with the waiting time (in this Law – Food and Drink);

(b) accommodation at a hotel if an overnight stay, or longer, is required or if a stay is required which Is longer than the planned stay of the passenger (in this Law – Accommodation Services);

(c) travel services between the airport and the hotel where the passenger is staying as stated in sub paragraph (b), and if the passenger has chosen to stay elsewhere at a reasonable distance from the airport during the said period of time, as stated In that sub paragraph – travel services between that place and the airport (in this Law- Travel Services);

(d) two telephone calls and the sending of a notice by fax or e-mail at the election of the passenger (in this Law – Communication Services)

* El-Al and several other airlines will tell you to get your own transportation and hotel and then submit receipts for reimbursement.

THAT IS A VIOLATION OF LAW!

It is advised that respond to the airline personnel that you know that their position is unlawful and demand that they pay for the transportation and hotel up front and make sure you video the whole exchange. Also, it would be good if you video the airline saying the same thing to many passengers; to prove widespread violation of the law,

AND

• (2) Reimbursement of the cost of the ticket if the passenger abandoned his plans to fly

in the amount paid for the Flight Ticket, including any payment paid for the Flight Ticket, including fees, levies, taxes and other obligatory payments, OR

• a Replacement Flight Ticket, at the election of the passenger (to the Final Destination of the passenger, under as similar conditions as possible to the conditions of the original Flight Ticket issued to him and at the earliest time possible, or at a later date in coordination with the passenger, and subject to available places on the flight);

AND

• Statutory compensation

1440 NIS – flights 2000 km or less (approx. $390)

2310 NIS – flights between 2000 km-4500 km (approx. $625)

3460 NIS – flights over 4,500 km (approx. $935)

 Do’s:

Try to get something in writing that the airline is not letting you board the plane and the reason why they are denying you boarding OR video the situation (with your phone) as it unfolds and ask them why they are not letting you on the plane.

Do Not:

• Accept vouchers
• Do not agree to lay out any money even if the airline promises to reimburse you at a later date (if the airline refuses to pay in the first instance – video it).

If you have any questions related to a denied boarding situation, please feel free to email us:  justnotfare@gmail.com.