Annoyances such as canceled flights and missing baggage are an unfortunate fact of flying. Although I have found that they occur relatively rarely, considering the increasing numbers of travelers taking to the skies, and the uncertainty of the times, you should be prepared to resolve any problems that might occur.
When problems do come up during your air travels, it's best to deal with them as they arise. On the ground, take questions or concerns to an airline ticket desk or information booth immediately. On board the aircraft, seek out the head flight attendant, who can usually be found in the first-class cabin. At the baggage carousel, lost or damaged bags should be reported to the baggage claim office right away.
Whenever you do talk with someone about your complaint, remember to be nice and as friendly as possible. Normally, the first person you are talking to rarely has any direct connection with your problem so - don't blame them or be mean. It is not the flight attendants fault if the food is not good. The ticket agent cannot be blamed for late flights. Remember that they are people just like you who are doing a job and sometimes get caught up in an unfortunate situation just as you sometimes do on your job. Also, be sure to keep records of your complaint to include when, where, and to whom you talked with and what their answers were. I have normally found that any problems I have encountered have been handled at this level - especially when I was "nice."
Occasionally, however, this won't be enough. You may find that you need to go to a higher level, perhaps even to management, to lodge a higher-level complaint. And, if this is the case, the records you have been keeping will be come increasingly important.
First try calling or writing the airline's corporate consumer relations office. You can find a list of airline toll-free numbers at GettingAway.com. Again, when you talk with them, keep records of what you say and with whom you were talking and what their responses were. When writing, keep a copy of your letter and a copy of their answer. If you do not receive an answer in a reasonable time, post a follow-up. I would also send a letter to follow-up on a telephone complaint or problem
If calling or writing the airline doesn't resolve the problem to your satisfaction, you can lodge a more formal complaint:
Again, keep a record of you telephone call and copies of any correspondence. Then, after you have contacted the Aviation consumer Protection Division, make a follow up call or post a letter to inform the airline of your actions.
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