Shaircraft CEO, James Butler, has bailed out stranded travelers before. In his recent contribution to Halogen Jets, he advises jet travelers to plan for the unexpected.
Referring to heavy demand periods such as summer and holidays, Butler says,
“[V]ariables like weather and equipment problems, as well as pilot work rules, can wreak havoc on flight schedules — inevitably causing delays and even some flight cancellations. It makes sense to plan for this possibility.”
Butler arms you with some helpful survival tips:
- Establish Your Rights Up Front — Make sure your contract spells out your rights to on-time departures, force majeure delays (like inclimate weather) for which the jet company is not responsible, and your rights in the event that an unexcused delay occurs.
- Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate! — Often times, contract provisions regarding your jet company’s performance obligations are negotiable. Get specifics regarding on-time departures and try to minimize excused delays.
- Get it in Writing — If your flight is delayed, maintain a paper trail establishing that fact and the reasons given so that later on you can prove that you’re entitled to compensation.
- The Squeaky Wheel… — If you’re not getting the response you need, ask to speak with senior management personnel.
- Follow Up and Insist Upon Compensation that is Valuable to You — Ask for compensation that’s most valuable to you, i.e., short leg waivers, guaranteed availability, ferry fee waivers, guaranteed upgrades, etc.
For more insight into how best to handle service problems, download the full text version of this article below.
Halogen Guides Jets: “Survival Tips — What to Do if You’re Stranded”
Download in PDF format (96kb)
