Sunday, 26 February 2012

When Filing Complaints About Your Airline

By Alison Heath


Sometimes, things beyond our control happen to ruin what could otherwise have been a pleasant and memorable airline experience. It could be bad food, poor service, a mishandled luggage, or any other problem.

In cases such as these, the best thing to do is to resolve these issues on the spot with the airline's customer service agents as calmly and with as much courtesy as possible. The ticket you hold is a contract of service between you and the airline. It covers your rights, and in turn informs you, the passenger, of the airline's guidelines.

However, it is understandable that sometimes, complaints cannot be dealt with on the spot. Here are some of the pointers to help make an effective complaint letter to the airline's customer service office at their headquarters.

Taking notes of the details at the time the incident occurs is a must. Remember to write down the names of the airline employees who have attended you on your complaint.

Because of the complaint, you should keep all your travel documents such as ticket receipts, boarding passes, baggage check stubs, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses incurred. Make copies of these and attach them as supporting documents to your complaint.

As much as possible, try sending a letter that is typed and signed. Limit it to only one page in length and make it brief. Remember to include your contact details on the letter.

Your tone should be businesslike and be sure to focus on the matter at hand. Do not beat around the bush, avoid exaggerating, and try not to veer to other subjects that are not related to your complaint.

Aside from describing what had happened, you should also give details such as dates, names of involved parties and flight numbers. Who were the employees who were rude to you and have made the situation worse and who were those that were particularly helpful to you?

Clearly state what it is you want the carrier to do with regards to your complaint. Inform them if you have suffered any special inconvenience or monetary losses, as well as your estimate of these losses. Your demands should be reasonable but do not hesitate to demand for a monetary settlement or some other compensation or a letter of apology.

If done properly, then a letter of complaint can make the airline take you seriously. It could also make them implement measures that would prevent the same thing from happening to other people, therefore improving the service they give to their clients.




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