Travel and Meal Vouchers as Flight Delay Compensation? (NEVER ACCEPT)
Travel and Meal Vouchers as Flight Delay Compensation? (NEVER ACCEPT)
How Much Am I Entitled to Actually?
The amount of the compensation depends on the length of your flight:
– €250 for flight less than 1500km
– €400 for flights between 1500 and 3500km
– €600 for flights more than 3500km
For example: if you have a flight from Berlin to Barcelona, you can get €400 compensation
If you are interested in getting compensation, read more here: How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation? Step-by-Step Guide
And question remains the same: Should I accept the vouchers ?
Answer is YES and NO.
Why? Because we have two types of vouchers: Travel Voucher and Meal Voucher. Let me explain
Why Shouldn’t I Accept the Travel Voucher?
The travel vouchers offered are intended to be used to book a new flight and are typically valid for one year. When a company offers you vouchers, the money stays within the company, so they only benefit from this situation. In many cases, the vouchers are not even exchanged for a new flight, so double profit for the airline!
– Your Travel Voucher will eventually Expire
You usually have a few months to use that voucher, a year at most. If you do not plan to fly again soon, accepting a voucher is anything but a good idea. And even if you do, it’s still a bad idea..
– Travel Vouchers can be used with the airline, that you just had a delayed or cancelled flight with
If you just had a cancelled or delayed flight with Lufthansa, they will offer you a travel voucher to be used for a flight with Lufthansa. In the best case, you will also be able to use it on a Air France flight as well, or for a flight with another airline from the group.
Unless you are used to flying with a single airline or know that you will have to use the same airline’s services soon, refrain from accepting that voucher.
And be honest, wouldn’t you rather spend your compensation on whatever you choose?
At the end of the day , being paid with money instead of a voucher simply gives you more flexibility: you are free to use your flight compensation as you wish.
Even if you’re going to fly again with that same airline soon, nothing prevents you to use your cash compensation to pay for your ticket: it will be the same as using a travel voucher.
The only situation in which accepting a coupon is more interesting than asking to be paid with money is when:
– The amount of the voucher is higher than the compensation in cash, AND
– You are sure to fly again with this airline in the near future
Most importantly, once you accept the vouchers, you will lose your right to compensation. So our advice is: never accept a travel voucher.
What is a situation with a Meal Voucher?
Now, that’s a whole other story. Your passenger rights include a “right to care”. Accepting the food voucher doesn’t affect your right to flight compensation. This will give you a right to have both. Of course, you can accept vouchers for certain amount food and drinks, because you are entitled to them separately from compensation.
Regardless of what caused the hold-up, your airline must look after you if you’re delayed or waiting for an alternative flight if your original was cancelled. They should provide food and drink (or vouchers to buy them) if you’re delayed more than 2 hours.
In Conclusion, the Only Vouchers You Should Accept from the Airline are Meal Vouchers 🙂
Have you experienced Cancelled or Delayed Flight? Claim Flight Compensation NOW!