My wife and I took American Airlines flight no. 63 on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 9:30 AM, with a scheduled arrival in Miami at 1:30 PM local time.
After about half an hour of flight, a young passenger had a medical emergency. They were given care, and a flight attendant went to get an oxygen bottle. Then, an announcement over the loudspeakers informed passengers that the plane was diverting to London.
Once at London Heathrow (LHR), we were waiting to depart again. But a new announcement asked us to disembark because the plane wouldn’t be able to take off until the next day. (American responded to my follow-up, saying they’re required to limit their staff’s working hours to a certain number per day.)
A crowd of travelers gathered at the American Airlines counter, where they were told to follow instructions to get to a hotel. Meanwhile, I called the airline’s customer service to find a replacement flight that same day, since I couldn’t afford to leave the next day. If I had, I would’ve lost my hotel and car rental reservations due to late cancellation, which would’ve cost me a significant amount.
After discussing in English with customer service and the counter staff (who I handed my phone to), we managed to get two seats on British Airways flight BA 0209, which was leaving about 2 hours later.
That’s how, after a stressful wait unsure if we’d get our luggage back, and once we did, we hurried—heavily loaded—to reach the far-off terminal for our new boarding on foot and by train shuttle.
We finally took off for Miami and landed around 7:30 PM, which was 6 hours later than the originally scheduled arrival time of American Airlines flight 63.
On top of the stress, there were the costs of meals in the meantime, and I had to notify the hotel and car rental company about our delay.
As a result, I requested compensation for a flight delay of at least 3 hours (and I’ve involved my insurance’s legal protection to pursue this claim). American Airlines argued that exceptional circumstances prevented them from compensating me.
Hi there, in your case, the airline couldn't have you travel on the same plane due to a lack of staff, so this isn't an exceptional circumstance, and you're entitled to a flat-rate compensation. Here are a few general rules to follow:
- You have five years to file your compensation claim—here, 600 € for a 3,500 km flight with over 3 hours of delay. So avoid those online agencies that claim to handle everything and will take between 30% and 40% of your compensation (like Flightright, RetardVol, etc.).
- Everything must be done by mail with a registered letter and acknowledgment of receipt. The airline has two months to respond. Avoid emails and phone calls—the airline doesn’t have to cite exceptional circumstances upfront; they must provide proof.
After two months, contact your local court (check service-public.fr by entering your town’s name). Make sure to scan all your documents (SMS received, airline emails, registered letter), as files are submitted online. Usually, the airline gives in before going to court.
For my part: a 5-hour delay on a Bordeaux-Athens flight with Volotea due to an air conditioning breakdown and waiting for a new crew from Algiers. Seven weeks after sending the registered letter, Volotea offered me either a one-year voucher or the 400 € compensation, payable within two months. It was paid 7 weeks later—so 14 weeks total to resolve the dispute.
A site with sample letter templates: service-public.fr (look under "fiches pratiques" > "transport-mobilité"). You can request info by email there.
Otherwise, on the *Guide du Routard* forum—specifically the "avion" section—the member gilloraymondo advised and guided me well. Clicking on their username will give you all the necessary info via PM.
Keep us posted, and good luck!
PS: The airline was supposed to provide free drinks and meals in London. If you have receipts for your meals, reimbursement for your expenses is mandatory.
hi,
Following up on Glykofilousa’s reply, I highly recommend a fellow VF member’s site—''specialized in flight delays and other ''hiccups'', Elviajeropar. Here’s the link: Compensation for flight cancellations, denied boarding (overbooking or not), and significant flight delays – Stand up to airlines
I’ve successfully filed compensation claims multiple times using the tips from his site. It works—just be patient and keep any frustration out of your request when you write it up!! ;-)
Good luck!!
"Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer" (Baudelaire)
Thanks to everyone for your replies. I’ll try to follow your suggestions if my legal protection doesn’t work out and to be more persistent this time.
It turns out I’d already experienced a major transatlantic delay with Norwegian before (due to a technical inspection). My legal protection couldn’t get anything, and I’d already consulted Elviajorepar.
I’m also carefully noting the name of the forum user from *Le Guide du Routard*.
As for Attila’s thoughtful point, I’m taking it into account, even if changing the departure date and flight raises questions.
In the case we're discussing, the health issue that caused the problem does indeed qualify as "extraordinary circumstances that couldn't have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken" (end quote). But the SINE QUA NON condition is that they must PROVIDE PROOF.
Reasonable measures: these were taken as soon as you were rebooked "as soon as possible."
As a result, in your case, I’m afraid you won’t be able to get compensation if the airline provides PROOF of the "extraordinary circumstances" they’re claiming.
Best regards,
What you're saying doesn't hold up.
The flight was diverted due to a passenger falling ill.
The airline is absolutely not at fault.
There was no issue with the aircraft, and no mistake on the airline's part.
This is clearly an exceptional circumstance that doesn’t qualify for compensation.
I’ve been compensated three times for my flights.
Twice, the airline canceled or delayed flights due to an issue with the plane.
The third time, an engine caught fire.
In all three cases, there was no exceptional circumstance—just something that should have been avoided with proper aircraft maintenance.
For example, a weather issue is an exceptional circumstance that relieves the airline of responsibility. The same goes for a passenger falling ill...
Additionally, the compensation process nowadays is only handled through a request on their website.
They acknowledge receipt of your claim very quickly.
Compensation is paid out very fast (less than a month each time).
Rest assured, airlines don’t mess around with the law. They accept responsibility without hesitation when it’s their fault.
My compensations were with British Airways and American Airlines, both of which play by the rules perfectly.
Thanks Olive for this feedback, but I’m noting ElviajeroPar’s little caveat: “✈️ if the airline provides PROOF of the ‘extraordinary circumstances’ they’re citing ✈️”
Moreover, regardless of the exceptional circumstances—even if PROVEN—compensation is still due if the airline doesn’t re-route the passenger "as soon as possible." You did the right thing by immediately looking for alternative flights, stopping just before payment, and taking screenshots.
Compensation is very quick (less than a month each time).
Believe me, airlines don’t mess with the law. They accept it without fuss.
This is increasingly rare and more of an exception these days. For my part, and just to give a few examples, I’ve already won cases against:
- Iberia twice for 3 compensations (1 group procedure for 2 delayed flights). In one case, Iberia tried to settle the evening before the hearing, and in the other, in the courtroom just before the case was called. In both cases, I felt it was too late and went through with the ruling.
- TUIfly for... simple refunds of flights canceled by the airline: they had given me vouchers when I never agreed to them.
- Air Caraïbes only decided to compensate me for a delay after I took them to court, just before the hearing.
Moreover, regardless of the exceptional circumstances—even if PROVEN—compensation is still due if the airline doesn’t re-route the passenger "as soon as possible." You did the right thing by looking for alternative flights IMMEDIATELY, stopping just before payment, and taking screenshots.
Compensation is very quick (less than a month each time).
Believe me, airlines don’t mess with the law. They accept without fuss
This is increasingly rare and more the exception these days. For my part, and just to give a few examples, I’ve already won cases against:
- Iberia twice for 3 compensations (1 group procedure for 2 delayed flights). In one case, Iberia tried to settle the evening before the hearing, and in the other, in the courtroom just before the case was called. In both cases, I felt it was too late, so I went through with the ruling.
- TUIfly for... simple refunds of flights canceled by the airline. They’d given me vouchers even though I’d never agreed to them.
- Air Caraïbes only decided to compensate me for a delay after I took them to court, just before the hearing.
Well, anyway, I’ve never had any issues getting compensated three times over.
And just this past September, with a 3-hour and 15-minute delay—all it took was a simple photo of the screen showing the landing time...
No, you can’t claim compensation because the delay wasn’t the airline’s fault—it was due to a medical emergency involving a passenger. That’s what caused the diversion, so it’s considered an exceptional circumstance.
How come you’re not blacklisted by (all?) airlines yet? 😏
Hi there,
It’s actually quite simple: an airline must be able to justify such a decision. It’s very clear that if an airline tried to play that game, I’d immediately take them to court for "refusal to sell." Legally, that’s serious. Only insurance companies can do that, based on their risk assessment.
And I can’t imagine a defendant telling a judge, "because the plaintiff dared to demand their passenger rights in court!!!" With that kind of response, the judge—whose role would be challenged—would bring the full force of the law down on that defendant.
Well, in any case, I’ve never had the slightest problem getting compensated three times.
And just last September with a 3-hour and 15-minute delay—just a photo of the screen showing the landing time was enough...
Hi,
If I say it’s the exception, that means the exception exists!
Besides, airlines aren’t used to contesting delays at all—it’s too easy to prove online (FlightAware’s website).
There are just a few cases where they dispute the landing time, the time the plane came to a stop, and the time the door opened (only the last one counts).
How come you haven’t been blacklisted by (all?) airlines yet?
Our 'specialist' in Airline Regulations is just reminding everyone what every air passenger should know ("Ignorance of the law is no excuse," as the saying goes!!), so this isn’t "illegal" in any way, and no airline could blame him for what THEY should be doing (informing their passengers of their rights!!)—something they’ve started to do in recent years. In fact, I’ve noticed that airlines (at least in Canada) are more proactive than before when it comes to their duties (and thus passengers' rights in cases of delays/cancellations, etc.). Air Canada, for example, now displays European regulations on its website (okay, the page isn’t exactly "front and center," but what progress compared to a few years ago!)
Anyway, thanks Elviajeropar for your site—I’ve used it several times in the past to claim the compensation I was owed!!
"Homme libre, toujours tu chériras la mer" (Baudelaire)
This person was a huge help in getting compensation after my CDG/Chicago flight was canceled a few years ago, without having to go through paid intermediaries.
I followed all their advice—it took months, but I finally got the compensation I was entitled to.
Another big thank you to them
* 04.2016 - San Francisco (semi marathon) / New York / Washington
* 05.2015 - Chicago + Sud Ouest US -
* 08.2013 - Voyage en famille - Principaux Parcs West US.
* 06.1994 - http://georgesroy.perso.worldonline.fr/usa/
* 12.1986 - 1er Voyage USA (CA / AZ / Nevada / Colorado / FL)
Here’s an incident report I found somewhere online—I don’t remember where—and had saved, where a technical issue was cited:
“American Airlines Paris-Miami Flight Makes Emergency Landing at London Heathrow
The aircraft involved in the incident was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as N875BD.
By Kevin Derby February 18, 2025
3-Minute Read
Photo: Clément Alloing
LONDON – An American Airlines (AA) flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Miami International Airport (MIA) made an emergency landing at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on Tuesday (February 18, 2025).
The Fort Worth-based carrier operates a daily flight between Paris, France, and Miami Airport in the United States.
Photo: FlightRadar24
American Airlines Emergency Landing
According to FlightRadar24 data, an American Airlines flight departed Paris CDG at 8:48 AM UTC.
After being airborne for over 30 minutes, the flight crew declared an emergency.
The crew contacted London Heathrow ATC and decided to make an emergency landing at Heathrow. The flight landed safely at London Heathrow at 9:48 AM UTC.
The exact nature of the emergency was unknown, but some experts speculated it was due to a medical emergency.
However, reviewing the data, it appears there were technical issues with the aircraft, as it remained grounded for nearly seven hours.
The plane involved in the incident was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, registered as N875BD. Additionally, it’s a 4.3-year-old aircraft powered by GEnX engines.”
Hi everyone,
I’m bumping this thread because I need some advice.
Our flight from Basel to Phoenix via London was canceled 9 hours before departure.
We were rebooked on a Zurich–Phoenix flight via New York, but due to extreme weather conditions in NY, our flight was delayed, and we missed our connection (when it rains, it pours!).
We arrived more than 8 hours after the originally scheduled time.
I tried contacting American Airlines through their online form, but there’s no space for a detailed message or to upload supporting documents for compensation.
I then emailed customer.relations@aa.com, but I got this response:
You’ve reached a mailbox that is not monitored by American Airlines.
To ensure a consistent and transparent experience, all inquiries related to travel disruptions on American Airlines should be directed to our Customer Relations team by submitting a request through our contact form here. And we’re back to the same form with no way to explain the situation properly.
I thought about sending a registered letter, but I’m worried it’ll take even longer to process.
What do you all think?
Hello,
Most of the time, even with exceptions, you need to be *very* patient when dealing with this type of case!
With rare exceptions, the proper way to proceed is by sending a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt.
You mentioned that the originally scheduled flight departed from Basel.
More precisely, this refers to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg.
It’s important to note that this airport is ENTIRELY located on French territory. What’s called the "Swiss zone" at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg is merely the result of a Franco-Swiss police and customs agreement—nothing more.
Therefore, under the application of EU Regulation 261/2004, the French local court with jurisdiction over EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg is the competent authority.
You didn’t specify the reason for the cancellation of the first flight segment. However, the only reason that will matter is the one the airline provides in writing.
That said, it will be more appropriate to claim compensation for the flight cancellation (the cancellation of a connecting segment counts as cancellation of the entire flight) rather than for the delay, if the re-routing offered did not meet the requirements of Article 5 of Regulation 261/2004:
Article 5
Cancellations
1. In the event of a flight cancellation, affected passengers:
(..)
c) are entitled to compensation from the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 7, unless they are informed of the cancellation:
(...)
iii) less than seven days before the scheduled departure time if they are offered re-routing allowing them to depart no more than one hour before the scheduled departure time and to reach their final destination less than two hours after the scheduled arrival time.
End of quote.
You’ll notice that in this case of cancellation and re-routing, the threshold is only 2 hours (compared to 3 hours if you file your claim under delay).
Thanks so much for the clear and detailed response.
To answer your question, I don’t know the reason for the flight cancellation. I just received an email saying the flight was canceled without any further explanation. I checked, and indeed, the entire flight was canceled.
I sent my claim to American Airlines (the airline I booked through) with a description of the facts and attached the supporting documents as indicated on your site.
I actually got their response pretty quickly—they basically asked me to file this claim with the airline that canceled the flight, namely British Airways, as well as the one responsible for the delay on the first leg, United Airlines.
As you said, you’ve got to be patient and not throw in the towel after the first negative response.
I’m a bit confused about my compensation and would love your input.
My flight was canceled and:
I was notified less than 7 days before departure.
The airline offered me a rebooking that would get me to my final destination 3h30 after the originally scheduled time.
Theoretically, compensation for cancellation would be 600 €, but it would be reduced by 50% because the scheduled arrival time of the rebooked flight exceeds the original time by less than 4 hours (for my flight over 3,500 km).
However, my rebooked flight ended up experiencing a real delay, and I had a total delay of 8h40. (disastrous weather conditions)
My question: Is it better to claim compensation for cancellation (risk of a 50% reduction) or for delay (but with the concern that weather conditions might disqualify me from compensation)?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Just adding to this:
Since I bought my flights with American Airlines / the canceled flight was the first leg operated by British Airways / Our rebooking was operated by United.
Naturally, it’s not straightforward. One airline is late with the cancellation, the other with the delay...😕
I also had a five-hour delay, which was a really bad experience.
I’m sure I won’t be using this service again in the future.
My wife was really upset about the delay,
especially since there were no apologies or compensation from the company.
I also had a five-hour delay, which was a really bad experience.
I definitely won’t be using this service again in the future.
My wife was really upset about the delay,
especially since there were no apologies or compensation from the company.
Hello,
The right to compensation, as outlined in Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council, only applies under the conditions specified in Article 3, including:
"Scope
1. This regulation applies:
a) to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State subject to the provisions of the treaty;
b) to passengers departing from an airport located in a third country and arriving at an airport located in the territory of a Member State subject to the provisions of the treaty [...] if the operating air carrier performing the flight is a Community carrier.
Compagnies aériennes › Grande-Bretagne / États-Unis / Polynésie Française · 49 replies
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Hi there,
I’m planning a winter trip across India. Departing in early December and returning to France in mid-April.
My main concern is finding an airline that offers this round-trip with the fewest hassles regarding cancellations or flight schedule changes. The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East isn’t making this search any easier—recent reviews online about airlines from Gulf states describe quite a few struggles over the past few months.
The direct Paris-Delhi round-trip flights offered by Air France or Air India are probably the safest options, but not the cheapest!
Given this uncertainty, I’m still holding off on finalizing my ticket purchase... Maybe some of you India lovers on VoyageForum have tips or experiences to share?
Thanks, and happy travels to all.
Hi everyone,
Next January, I’m heading to India.
My outbound flight is with Emirates from Paris to Dubai, then another Emirates flight from Dubai to Calcutta.
Could anyone tell me how the connection works? I’ve heard there’s a dedicated Emirates zone, but how does it actually work in practice—I’ve got a 2-hour layover.
Thanks so much!
Take care.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Madagascar in early October to cycle from Tana to Diego along the east coast.
I really want to visit the Masoala Peninsula and its primary forest. If anyone’s interested, I’m open to company.
Maybe see you soon!
Hi,
I’m thinking of heading to Malaysia soon.
I’ve seen some great prices and direct flights from Paris with Malaysia Airlines.
Is it a reliable airline?
Thanks for your feedback!
Back in February, I booked a flight with Air France-KLM from Lyon to San Diego with a layover in Amsterdam (flights operated by KLM). The flight is scheduled for late August.
My Lyon→Amsterdam flight was canceled by KLM in June, and a replacement flight the evening before was booked for me. So, I’ll end up spending the night at Amsterdam Airport to catch my flight to San Diego the next morning.
Since the cancellation happened more than 14 days before departure, I know I’m not entitled to financial compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004). But am I entitled to reimbursement for a hotel night in Amsterdam?
Hi there,
We had planned a trip to Sicily in August, and due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, my flight was canceled. The airline is refunding the outbound flight, but none of the non-refundable expenses: accommodation booked through Booking, rental car, and the return flight aren’t covered. My SUPER Gold card doesn’t work in this specific case! :( If anyone has been in this situation, could you let me know if you were able to get any recourse and, if so, how?
Thanks in advance
I’ve been traveling regularly for over twenty years,
but this is the first time an airline has treated me as poorly as Air France.
Two trips, two problems. The latest:
Trip from Seoul to Rennes. Last leg from Paris CDG to Rennes with Air France.
I arrive in Paris and go straight to Air France to get my boarding pass to Rennes. They assure me my baggage is continuing to Rennes.
Arriving in Rennes, no baggage—same as five other people.
The Air France office is closed, and the airport staff tell me there’s rarely anyone there.
With the help of the airport staff, I file a claim online, and my baggage is almost immediately located. As a result, I’m told I’ll have it the next day.
Four days later, the baggage is still in the same place at CDG—nothing’s moving.
The problem is Air France has no customer service. What they call customer service is a department that takes an hour to answer and just repeats what’s on the online form. No coordination, no way to get things moving. I guess Air France would rather pay the compensation after 21 days than actually do something.
I’ve had lost baggage on other trips, but this is the first time I’ve seen such indifference and lack of professionalism.
Hi,
Air Cairo offers good prices on domestic flights and schedules that work for us, but is this airline reliable?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi,
I booked an Etihad ticket on their website for Dusseldorf-Abu Dhabi. In the first name field, I entered all my first names (something I never do and I regret it, but the site was confusing). Everything is spelled correctly, but the problem is that I just received my new passport and only my first two first names and the first letter of the third appear—there’s no trace of the last one.
I called Etihad, and of course, they tried to charge me $100 USD to remove that last first name. But I’m hesitant because usually, I only put my first first name and not the others, and I’ve never had an issue... So I’m wondering if having that extra first name, which isn’t on my passport, could get me denied at check-in.
Thanks for your feedback!
I’d like to fly to Malta from Lyon.
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about KM MALTA, especially regarding baggage fees at the airport.
Of course, I don’t want to book through third parties (like SkyScanner, Opodo…).
AIR FRANCE offers tickets to MALTA in partnership, if I understood correctly.
On AIR FRANCE, the tickets include everything (checked baggage, cabin bag, small personal item, seat), whereas with KM MALTA, everything is extra and the final price is almost double!
In this case, is AIR FRANCE considered the same as sites like Opodo or others?
Given the price difference, I’m hesitant…
Have any of you booked with AIR FRANCE for this destination? How did it go?
Thanks,
HERVE
Hi everyone, I’ve unfortunately only just noticed that I booked two flight tickets, but I made a mistake on the second first name. Basically, my computer auto-filled and typed my first name twice, so both tickets are in my first name. Only the last names—mine and my friend’s—are correct.
TAP Portugal refuses to make the change because they consider it a change of passenger, even though it’s clearly a typo (plus, my last name isn’t common).
I’m leaving in 5 days, and buying a new ticket would cost 3 times the original price. Has anyone been in this situation before? I’d like to try negotiating at the airport, but it’s a gamble… Thanks in advance for any advice!
Since it came into force, Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council, which defines air passenger rights, has faced fierce resistance from airlines, backed by IATA (the association representing almost all passenger airlines).
Beyond the airlines' often abusive—and even frequently bad-faith—resistance to passenger rights, IATA has been lobbying EU institutions for years, with the Council paying close attention for a long time.
As a result, the Council and the Commission have been proposing revisions to Regulation 261/2004 for years that are particularly unfavorable to passengers. The latest attempt nearly eliminated the right to compensation for delays of 3 hours or more upon arrival at the final destination.
However, since this is a regulation of both the European Parliament AND the Council, the two bodies had to agree.
But the European Parliament has always stood firm, consistently responding that passenger rights must be preserved.
After 11 years of struggle, it seems likely that we’re finally nearing the end of the match between the European Commission, the Council (the 27 heads of state or government), and the European Parliament.
Indeed, the Commission and the European Parliament have agreed on a text that will be debated again on Monday, July 6, 2026, with a vote scheduled for July 7, 2026. It’s very likely that this text, which would come into force in a year, will be adopted.
The main changes would be as follows:
- Families with children will no longer be forced to pay to sit together on planes;
- A flight will be considered canceled (not just delayed) if it departs more than one hour late;
- Right to compensation for arrival at the final destination if the delay exceeds 3 hours (no longer "3 hours OR more"). The arrival time will be when the plane, having reached its parking spot, engages its parking brakes (no longer when the aircraft door opens);
- Airlines can no longer refuse boarding or charge extra on the return flight for a passenger who didn’t take the outbound flight;
- If a flight is canceled, the airline must, at the same time as informing passengers of the event, offer the choice between a refund and re-routing, and inform them of their rights to assistance and, if applicable, compensation;
- The airline must, without undue delay, inform passengers of the reason;
- In the case of a connecting flight, if the connection is missed and the delay at the final destination entitles the passenger to compensation, the responsible airline will be liable. This is very different from the current situation, where, under the KLM ruling, any airline operating a segment of the flight is liable for compensation. This promises more disputes that the Court of Justice of the European Union will have to resolve if two separate airlines operating segments of a connecting flight are both responsible for the delay. See this case for an example: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2026/04/18/swiss-international-air-lines-la-mauvaise-foi/
Moreover, this case demonstrates in advance another potential dispute: It could be argued that it wasn’t a missed connection since the flight was canceled before the first leg even departed.
- Within 96 hours of a flight that could entitle passengers to compensation, the airline must contact them to inform them of their rights and explain the next steps.
- Passengers must claim their right to compensation within 9 months. This is very different from the current situation, as Regulation 261/2004 sets no time limit. Currently, national law applies—in France, the limit is 5 years. The airline must respond within 30 days. If the airline refuses compensation on the grounds of "extraordinary circumstances," it must specify which type of case it refers to from the list in the annex of the new regulation. If the case isn’t on the list, the airline must explain what the event was, why it qualifies as extraordinary circumstances with "clear, substantial, and concise" explanations, and why it’s directly linked to the reason given. It must also declare what "reasonable measures" were taken to mitigate the issue. This is, of course, a huge change in the regulation, with the clear goal of preventing airlines from declaring just anything as "extraordinary circumstances" to avoid compensation.
- If, within 3 hours of a last-minute canceled or delayed flight, the airline hasn’t offered re-routing under comparable transport conditions and as soon as possible—whether on one of its own flights or another airline’s—the passenger will have the right to arrange their own re-routing and demand a refund for the new ticket, up to 400% of the original ticket price. This is a significant improvement that would have likely prevented the case described here: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/reacheminement-catastrophique-droit-indemnisation-meme-circonstances-extraordinaires-2/
- If a flight is canceled due to "extraordinary circumstances," the airline will only be required to offer up to 3 nights in a hotel. This is a major change, as there’s currently no limit. Expect disputes if the extraordinary circumstances end while the passenger hasn’t been re-routed.
- The price of a flight, as first displayed, must obligatorily include a cabin bag. This doesn’t prevent the airline from offering a price reduction if the passenger waives the cabin bag. This will put an end to abnormal practices, such as (just one example) Condor charging extra for a cabin bag on long-haul flights like Frankfurt (Germany)–Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)–Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)–Frankfurt.
- Free correction of a passenger’s name if requested 48 hours before departure. Note: This can’t be used to replace one passenger with another—just to correct a typo, e.g., Dupont instead of Dpont.
- Airlines’ websites and apps must include information on how to file a claim.
It’s clear that, despite a few details, these changes are very positive for upholding passenger rights. It remains to be seen whether this text will be definitively adopted on July 7, 2026, as is very likely, and, more importantly, whether IATA will encourage airlines to loyally respect these new rules or persist in their old habits.
I’m planning a trip to Georgia this summer and I’ve been comparing some airlines. I’m not particularly set on flying with Pegasus (though it’s convenient with direct flights from Lyon to Tbilisi), but right off the bat, Pegasus states this:
As of January 1, 2026, all foreign nationals traveling to Georgia for tourism purposes will be required to present valid travel health insurance. Guests who fail to provide the relevant health insurance will not be accepted on our flights to Georgia.
Sincerely,
Pegasus Airlines
In other words, if you don’t show proof of travel health insurance, you’ll be denied boarding.
Personally, my credit card insurance has always been enough for me, and I’d rather not take out extra coverage...
Have any of you run into this issue before? If not, what do you think? Why is Pegasus asking for this proof? Other airlines don’t mention it at all.
I bought my flight ticket with my first (usual) first name, which appears first on my passport. However, I have two first names on my passport, and of course, it’s mentioned in the machine-readable zone at the bottom.
I booked with Turkish Airlines (through an online agency) for a trip to South Korea.
I wanted to know if it would be a problem that I only used my first first name on the ticket, while my passport has two. I had requested through the agency to add the second first name, but the airline refused because it doesn’t meet their general conditions. (They must have seen that the last name and first name were the same, and only the second first name was added.)
So, my ticket has my last name and first first name correctly spelled, and when I check in online, I’ll enter the passport details correctly.
I’ll have a layover in Istanbul on the flight.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Have a great day.
Hi there,
I traveled in June 2025 with Nouvelair Destinations to Hammamet.
I had one checked bag and one carry-on sized 40x24x30, which I usually take on low-cost flights, and I didn’t have any issues. But I just read on a website that Nouvel Air only accepts carry-ons of 40x20x15. I’m flying back to Djerba in June—what do you think? Especially since that size is impossible to find??????? Thanks
Hi, it's my first time taking a plane and I chose EasyJet for a Geneva -> Barcelona flight.
I booked my ticket.
I received my booking reference by email, but I don’t see the actual ticket (barcode or QR code?).
Then I checked in to get the boarding pass with the flight details, QR code, etc. But does this boarding pass act as the ticket?
Because I’ve seen several times online that the flight ticket and the boarding pass aren’t the same thing.
We're leaving for Albania on June 18th. When I validated the flight tickets with Wizz Air on Booking, I only put my son's first name but forgot to include his other three first names on the ticket.
On the passport: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAMES: toto titi tutu tata
On the flight ticket: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAME: toto
I can't seem to reach anyone at Wizz Air to get an answer.
Booking and Wizz Air's chat say I need to modify it, but ChatGPT says it should be fine.
I wanted to know if he can fly like this or if I need to change his ticket?
(It costs 140 €, I know I shouldn't have made a mistake🙁)
Basically, all airlines have been blacklisted because they don’t meet European safety standards. They’re banned from flying in Europe but continue operating in Tanzania.
The main issue is that travel agencies’ civil liability no longer applies to blacklisted airlines.
So we can’t allow clients to fly with these carriers.
Of course, there’s huge pressure from European agencies, which are forced to disrupt their plans or even cancel trips because of this.
Personally, I’ve got a trip planned for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll be keeping an eye on how this develops.
Do any of you have updates?
Thanks!
Right now, with the war raging in Iran and affecting all the neighboring countries of the Persian Gulf, many airports are completely closed to all traffic.
Several airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and others have almost completely halted their operations.
Whether in the Middle East or Africa, many travelers are stranded—maybe for a long time... A heartfelt thought for them and the struggles this will cause.
Four months ago, I was in Kenya with a flight booked through Qatar Airways... I can’t even imagine how I’d react if I were stuck there now. ??
Wishing all these travelers courage, patience, and success in making it back home.
Hello, some (potentially) good news for Brazil lovers—GOL airline is launching a route to Europe from Rio, starting in September for Lisbon, then Paris at a later date that hasn’t been announced yet.
They’ll be using their new A330-900 neo.
No prices have been announced so far, but hopefully we’ll find direct flights from GIG at a more interesting fare than AF or Latam…
I’m really surprised because in TUI’s new tour packages, the airlines they’re using are of low quality. Before, they used to prioritize major airlines, but now it’s small airlines from small countries—companies with terrible ratings and borderline safety concerns. I even just noticed this note for a Tanzania trip: "We inform you that the domestic flight segment in Tanzania included in your trip is operated by an airline listed on the European Union’s list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the European Union. This ban only applies to European Union airspace, meaning this airline is not permitted to take off, land, or fly over European airspace. However, this airline is authorized to operate in Tanzania."
This means they’re using airlines on the blacklist!! It’s pretty worrying for safety. What do you all think?
We’re planning a cruise to the UAE/QATAR/OMAN starting from DUBAI, with flights departing from Paris CDG.
Which airlines would you recommend for round-trip flights, with or without a layover?
We need assistance for check-in and boarding/disembarking (my husband is a mobility-impaired traveler who uses a cane and/or a walker).
We’ve done a cruise return from Dubai to Paris CDG before in 2016, with a layover in Istanbul, but we booked the transfer and return flight with COSTA.
For our current plan, it would be with Celestyal, which doesn’t offer round-trip flights from Paris to Dubai.
Should we book very far in advance, or is a few months before departure enough (4/6 months)?
We’re thinking of arriving the day before the ship departs, so we’d need to stay overnight in Dubai—either on the way there or for the return flight, depending on the flight schedules. Could you recommend a hotel not too far from the airport, and how to get to the port from the airport?
Thanks so much for your advice. Have a great Sunday! Mum49
Hi,
It's all in the title—this means nothing's getting through, so no more oil.
In Europe, kerosene reserves are still good, but by the end of April, flights will have to be reduced.
European airports fear running out of kerosene if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within three weeks
I’m reaching out to ask for your help with a bit of a problem:
I booked a flight to Berlin from Orly for April 15th—it’s coming up fast. But I just made an annoying discovery: my passport expired two weeks ago.
From what I understand, in principle, I can still travel within the Schengen Zone with an expired passport as long as it’s been less than five years. However, EasyJet’s website explicitly requires a valid ID (and just to add to the fun, my national ID card has been expired for a while now).
So, I’d love to know: how strict are EasyJet’s ID checks? Do they enforce validity rules strictly and refuse boarding if the ID isn’t valid? Or is it more of a luck-of-the-draw situation?
Basically, should I just write off this trip now, or should I still try my luck—maybe with a little tearful plea? Has anyone here had a similar experience? I can’t be the only one, right!
I booked a flight with RyanAir for next month, with the priority+ option and two cabin bags. So I can take a 10 kg bag with dimensions 55x40x20 in the cabin (plus another smaller one).
The problem is that the smallest suitcase I have (which is supposed to be designed specifically for cabin size standards, according to the manual) has the following dimensions: 55x37x21, so it's just 1 cm over (wheels included) on one of the measurements.
I wasn’t too worried at first, but I’ve read dozens of stories about people’s misadventures and the hassles they’ve had with RyanAir.
Since I don’t want my suitcase to end up in the hold (that would waste time picking it up when I’m already arriving late and need to get to the city center), nor do I want to pay an extra fee (apparently 50 €) for the outbound and return flights for just 1 centimeter—especially since I paid for the "priority+" option and I’m not exactly rolling in money—I’d love some advice.
Have any of you been in the same situation? I’ve read that with this airline, they check bags in templates (testing them in different positions) and are completely uncompromising. I tried contacting customer service, who, as luck would have it, "don’t handle this kind of request," and a rep I spoke to wasn’t much help.
I know it’s a low-cost airline, and I don’t expect luxury or even kindness, but come on—just 1 cm on a short flight with the + option... I’m a bit overwhelmed by everything I’ve read...
Just to clarify, since I’m going for 8 days, I can’t just take one bag for my stuff. I’ve done that for shorter trips before, and it was a hassle—I even had to buy an extra bag for the return trip... Luckily, the inspector was nice about it!
Thanks so much!
I’m a newbie when it comes to air travel :) Hope I posted this in the right section!
When I run searches on Skyscanner, I see that only Lufthansa has flights to Seoul with just one stop. Air France doesn’t show up, even though I thought the French airline served Seoul?
I can’t even log into the Air France website—it keeps glitching.
Hi there,
I’d like to return to Uzbekistan next April for 10 days with my husband to visit our son who lives there. We went last July and I bought the flight tickets (direct flight from Paris on Uzbekistan Airways) about 2 months in advance at very reasonable prices. I’ve been checking for late April for a few weeks now, and the tickets are much more expensive and keep rising. I can’t figure out if the prices are going up because it’s still a bit too early to buy and they’ll likely drop if the planes aren’t full, or if it’s because the period is actually in high demand. For reference, last year I bought my son’s ticket on May 30th for a departure on June 3rd—just 3 days later—at a very low price that didn’t budge at all.
Just in case, does anyone know the pricing trends for this airline and can advise me? Should I wait or not?
Thanks, and feel free to ask if you need any tips about the country!
My wife bought a flight ticket (Lucky Air) under her Thai maiden name and was issued a Chinese visa on her new Thai passport but with her French married name (due to administrative requirements). She was denied boarding by the airline in Bangkok for the flight to Kunming—resulting in the loss of our round-trip flight tickets, including mine since we were traveling together—despite presenting both passports at the airline counter at the same time.
Hi there.
I’m planning a trip to Chile, and the fares from the Colombian airline Avianca are really appealing.
Way cheaper than Air France, for example.
That said, the reviews I’ve seen online aren’t great.
What do you think of this airline?
Have any of you taken long-haul flights with Avianca?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Eric
