For any passenger, the prospect of being denied boarding for a flight, especially with a prestigious airline like Emirates, can be a frustrating and stressful experience. Despite meticulous planning, there can be multiple reasons why such a circumstance might arise, including situations such as flight overbooking or operational issues leading to involuntary denied boarding. As a result, travelers have to deal with disrupted journeys, inconveniences and financial losses.
As a customer, first and foremost, your rights and options allow you to obtain an obligatory compensation from Emirates. These include not only the rebooking of your original flight but also additional non-monetary allowances, helping you to regain trust in the company’s commitment towards excellent customer service. Alternatively, refunds are also issued if rebooking is not possible or desired.
If you are someone who has gone through such a harrowing experience of not being allowed to board a flight for your travel on Emirates, then our extensive guide can help you learn more about the eligibility norms and the process you need to follow to claim your rightful compensation.
What is the Eligibility Criteria For Compensation
Emirates states that if you, as a passenger, have been denied boarding involuntarily from a flight that was due to depart from the United States, then you will be provided with a confirmed seat on the next available flight to your final destination, along with a ‘Denied Boarding Options’ voucher for a complimentary round-trip on select Emirates routes, by contacting the company’s customer support. The voucher can be redeemed for a flight only after you have flown your original flight.
It should be known that the journey that you can book using the ‘Denied Boarding Options’ voucher will depend on the journey that you were originally taking when denied onboarding. Additionally, to be eligible to claim compensation, you must have met the applicable check-in deadline for your original flight, and you are not traveling free of charge or at a reduced fare that is not available to the general public (directly or indirectly).
Lastly, remember that the denial of boarding permission for your flight was not on the grounds of health, safety, and security, inadequate travel documentation, or due to specific carriage conditions set by the airline operator.
Know the Available Options
As stated previously, the option to redeem the provided ‘Denied Boarding Options’ voucher will depend on the region from where your original travel was due to begin.
Starting with travel routes that are between Dubai and Zone 1, which includes the Gulf and Middle East, the Indian Ocean Islands (Colombo, Male, Mauritius, and Seychelles), and West Asia (Karachi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Dhaka, etc.), you can claim the voucher for a valid return journey for up to two flights. Then you have travel routes that are between Dubai and Zone 2, which includes Africa, Europe, and the Far East (Singapore, Malaysia, etc.).
The tertiary option includes travel routes between cities mentioned in Zone 1 via Dubai, including the Middle East, the Near East, and the Asian Subcontinent, for which the voucher can be used for a valid return journey for up to four flights. Along with that, travel routes between Zone 1 and Zone 2 or within Zone 2 via Dubai can also be booked for up to four flights.
The final options include travel routes between Dubai and Zone 5, as well as travel routes originating or terminating in Zone 5 via Dubai, where Zone 5 involves places such as North America, South America, and Australasia. You can claim your voucher for a valid return journey for up to two flights and four flights, respectively.
How to Claim Compensation
Emirates states that passengers who have been denied boarding in their respective flights will receive their compensation vouchers at the Emirates Airport Services office as soon as it is established that they are not able to make it onto the original intended flight.
Once you obtain the requisite ‘Denied Boarding Options’ voucher, you can claim it by following the recommended steps mentioned below. Keep in mind that the redemption should take place between 7 and 365 days after your voucher is issued. Additionally, your claimed ticket will be valid for one year from the date it is issued.
- Start by first locating an Emirates office around you in the United States.
- From the drop-down menu, select your preferred city, and the website will showcase the office address, its phone number, and operating hours.
- Proceed to head over to the stated address and present your compensation voucher for redemption.
- Upon presentation, you will be asked to select your preferred flight date, time, and location for your complimentary flight, along with any additional paperwork.
- Once done, your flight ticket will be booked, and you will receive a reference copy for the same.
For any further assistance, you can call Emirates customer support at +18007773999.
