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Flying with families: Common problems and your rights as passengers

What to prepare before air travel with kids

How to travel with kids during the flight

Emergencies and disruptions during family travel 

What are some common problems when flying with families and what can you do about it? - AirHelp

What you need to know when traveling with the Covid-19 vaccine passport

What you need to know when travelling with the Covid-19 vaccine passport

Learn everything you need to know about traveling with a Covid-19 passport - AirHelp

A guide to safe summer travel in 2021

Travel has been on hold for months now due to the pandemic, but with countries beginning to open up again, many of us are starting to ask ourselves, “Will summer travel be possible?”. While travel will likely resume in 2021, especially as vaccine efforts ramp up across the world, those who are already thinking of flying this summer may be met with several difficulties due to a maze of ever-changing Covid restrictions and safety requirements.
If you’re itching to get out and enjoy the sun somewhere other than your own backyard, we’ve put together some summer travel tips for you to do so safely and comfortably.
<h2>When will travel restrictions be lifted?</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/summer-travel-masks-airport_7Nc00gNHFoiS.jpg" alt="Man with mask at airport getting ready for summer travel" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Gerald Friedrich from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5148748" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
How long will travel restrictions last? Well, we can’t be sure for now, but it will depend on vaccination rates as well as the number of infections per country. However, several countries are already beginning to open up.
<h3>Find out if you can travel</h3>
The first thing you have to find out is if you’d be allowed to travel in the first place. If your country is currently under some form of lockdown, it could prove difficult if you decide to leave, as you could be met with unexpected flight cancellations and quarantines.
Monica Fish, a travel writer at <a href="https://planneratheart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Planner at Heart</a> says “When flying internationally, make sure you have a complete understanding of the testing requirements for both your vacation destination and when returning home.”
On a recent trip to Barbados, both she and her partner were required to take a Covid test before returning home, even if they were both fully vaccinated. She says that some other passengers were outright denied boarding because they didn’t get tested before returning.
<h3>Check if your destination allows travelers</h3>
For international travel in 2021, there are some ways for you to check whether a particular destination is allowing travelers to enter. Sam Claassen at <a href="https://safetywing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SafetyWing</a> recommends using websites like <a href="https://borderless.safetywing.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BORDERLESS</a> for restriction updates. He says: “Use BORDERLESS to figure out which countries are open, what restrictions they may have on travel, testing requirements to get in, what vaccination levels are like there, etc.”
Alternatively, you can also visit the official government websites of each country, which should give you a clear overview of their current restrictions.
To check if specific hotels, resorts, or other attractions are accepting travelers, Tim Sutton from <a href="https://coffeegeek.tv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CoffeeGeek TV</a> suggests using <a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tripadvisor</a>. He says: “The site is dedicated to offering information and reviews about attractions. Considering the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, Tripadvisor makes an active effort to update travelers with relevant information. Find your favorite attraction and check out the opening hours and recent reviews to find out whether they’re open.”
<h2>Will summer travel be safe?</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/vaccine-passport-summer-travel_Hx3PH3ecuWNx.jpg" alt="Vaccine passport for summer travel" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Markus Winkler from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=6012613" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
While summer travel is not guaranteed to be 100% safe as the pandemic hasn’t officially ended, many countries require hotels and other establishments to follow strict hygiene rules to minimize the risk of infection. Plus you should also take precautions to make travel safer for you and your fellow travelers. Here are some ways for you to do so:
<h3>Get vaccinated</h3>
If it’s possible for you, the best way to keep yourself safe is to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Not only will it significantly reduce your chances of getting sick or hospitalized, it can also allow you to skip certain requirements such as testing and quarantine. Anne Abreu, a blogger at <a href="https://shepackslite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ShePacksLite.com</a> has first hand experience with this: “Get vaccinated! When my husband arrived in Madeira last week he had no quarantine or testing requirements because he is fully vaccinated.”
Be sure to have your proof of vaccination on hand at all times — some EU countries have already started issuing <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/eu-covid-certificate-travel-explainer/index.html?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_term=link&amp;utm_content=2021-06-09T13%3A30%3A54&amp;utm_source=fbCNNi&amp;fbclid=IwAR169SO2DMShuSXgWjcEJPqcG_YxA4ejoZ3XXXsBECEyCZ_4OnfB55xADJ4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">digital Covid certificates</a>. Just be sure to check if your vaccine is accepted at the destination country — most of the EU for example has only approved AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech, and Johnson &amp; Johnson. If you’ve had another vaccine, you may need to present a negative PCR test result instead, though some countries may have their own policies for which vaccines they’d accept. Greece, for example, also accepts travelers with Novavax, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, and Casino Biologics.
<h3>Book your Covid-19 test ahead of time</h3>
Chances are, you will need a Covid test for travel. Alex Stewart, who runs <a href="https://www.onenine5.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OneNine5</a>, says “If you’re required to schedule a Covid-19 test before you fly or after you land, make sure you’ve got them booked. Don’t rely on the testing facilities at the airport where others have queued for hours and missed their flights.”
Many countries will require you to present a negative Covid-19 test before you even board the plane, and again when returning home — in some cases, even if you’ve already been vaccinated. So book your test ahead of time to avoid any potential problems.
You should also make sure that you are booking the correct type of test — most countries will require you to get a PCR test. Compared to the antigen or rapid test, the results of a PCR test take longer, so plan accordingly.
<h3>Follow safety and hygiene guidelines</h3>
If you want to make sure that your summer travel will be safe, keep following safety and hygiene protocols. Wear a mask, wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and maintain social distancing.
Roger from <a href="https://rogersenpai.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RogerSenpai</a> also takes extra precautions to keep himself safe: “I carried a bottle of Lysol wipes with me on my trips. When I arrived at my hotel, I would wipe down as much as I can (e.g. tables, doorknobs, TV remote, light switches). And every night, I’d wipe down my phone, wallet and keys because I’d be touching them throughout the day with potentially dirty hands. Disinfecting surfaces definitely gives better peace of mind!”
Lauren Levy O’ Brien of <a href="http://adensmom.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">adensmom.com</a> also suggests traveling at night to minimize exposure to maskless travelers: “Consider flying at night. Passengers are more likely to be sleeping, rather than eating (maskless) and getting up to use the bathroom.”
<h2>Where to travel this summer</h2>
<figure style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full" src="https://ik.imagekit.io/8ilcm9xcdap/Blog_Jacky/Dubrovnik-summer-travel_RWC65yDBUg.jpg" alt="Dubrovnik summer travel 2021" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image by Adri Marie from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4106788" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
Zander Buteux of <a href="https://www.vacationrenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">VacationRenter</a> says that there is a lot of interest in travel already. “In one of our <a href="https://www.vacationrenter.com/trends/survey-what-will-we-sacrifice-to-travel-in-a-post-pandemic-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">recent surveys</a>, 1,000 Americans found that their top post-pandemic destinations are Japan, Australia, Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Italy.” While Las Vegas has already lifted restrictions for US travelers as of June 1, Japan and Australia have not yet made any announcements to lift international travel.
So where to travel this summer? While many people plan on traveling locally, there are many countries that are already starting to accept international travelers for non-essential travel. Summer travel in the EU, for example, is looking really promising. Here’s a quick look at countries that are <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/which-eu-countries-accept-vaccinated-travelers/a-57808870" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">already allowing fully vaccinated tourists</a> to visit:
<ul>
<li>Greece — From 14 May 2021</li>
<li>Italy — From 16 May 2021</li>
<li>Cyprus — From May 25, 2021</li>
<li>Spain — From 7 June 2021</li>
<li>France — From 9 June 2021</li>
<li>Croatia — Already accepting tourists but only from specific countries</li>
<li>Madeira — Tourism allowed with some restrictions</li>
</ul>
Of course, each country has its own specific entry requirements, and the restrictions are bound to change depending on the infection rates and the number of people vaccinated. Always check the country’s official tourism websites to see what you’ll need to visit.
So yes, even if there are still a lot of restrictions, with careful planning, we will be able to travel this summer 2021.

Did you also know that you can claim for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights from&nbsp;up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible — it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free!&nbsp;<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Get started with your claim now.</a>

AirHelp's guide to safe summer travel 2021. Find out which countries you can visit this summer and know what to prepare, such as masks, PCR tests, and more.

Warum weigert sich Lufthansa, Tausenden von Fluggästen Entschädigung zu zahlen?

Why is Lufthansa refusing to pay thousands of passengers compensation?

The worldwide travel chaos of 2020 may have eclipsed all that came before it, but 2019 was also a difficult year for many air passengers. Between March and November 2019, a series of Lufthansa staff strikes caused around 1,650 flights to be canceled, leaving as many as 214,000 passengers stranded and forced to change or abandon their travel plans. 
Despite <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/strike/airline-strike-compensation/">clear EU laws</a> entitling passengers to claim up to up to $700 (€600) per person for this type of disruption, Lufthansa has so far refused to pay thousands of passengers, including up to 4,500 who have approached AirHelp for support. 
Read on to understand what’s happening, what your rights are and how AirHelp is fighting to get passengers the compensation they’re owed. 
Were you affected by the Lufthansa strike? <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">Check if you’re owed compensation, and let AirHelp help you claim it.</a> 
<h3>About the Lufthansa 2019 strikes</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/cancelled_flights.jpg" alt="canceled flight screen at an airport"> 
Lufthansa’s cabin crew union, UFO, launched a <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/bitter-lufthansa-union-row-goes-beyond-worker-demands/a-51833773">series of strikes in 2019</a>, in a dispute with the airline over flight crew expenses and allowances. They also wanted to improve career possibilities for seasonal workers.
After strikes in March and October failed to make an impact on negotiations, the biggest strike took place between 6-9th November 2019. That strike resulted in Lufthansa canceling up to 1,500 flights, forcing around 200,000 passengers to abandon or change their travel plans. 
<h3>What does the law say?</h3>
Passengers travelling in the EU are protected by one of the world’s strongest air passenger regulations, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en-int/eu-261-compensation/">EC 261</a>. 
This regulation makes clear that airlines are responsible for passengers’ essential care when flights are delayed or canceled. And if the airline delays flights over 3 hours, or cancels a flight less than 14 days before departure, the passengers are owed up to $700 compensation as well. 
The law does make an exception for extraordinary circumstances. This means if the disruption is caused by a situation outside of the airline’s control, such as a storm or natural disaster, the airline doesn’t have to pay compensation. Some airlines have claimed that they shouldn’t pay compensation for staff strikes either. They argue they aren’t within their control, and thus fit the definition of an extraordinary circumstance. 
<h3>AirHelp’s victory at the European Court of Justice</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/flight_delay_justice.jpg" alt="AirHelp gets justice for EU air passengers"> 
AirHelp disagreed strongly with this line of reasoning, and following a 2018 strike by Scandinavian airline SAS, when the airline refused to pay passengers compensation, we took a stand for passenger rights. 
We took the matter to court, and the case ended up being referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the highest authority in the EU. On 23rd March 2021, the court issued their <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2021-03/cp210044en.pdf">verdict</a>: AirHelp was right, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/airline-on-strike-not-an-extraordinary-circumstance-rules-ecj/">airline staff strikes are not an extraordinary circumstance</a>, and passengers are entitled to claim compensation. 
That ruling represents a major victory for air passenger rights. Not only does it apply to victims of the SAS strike, but it also applies to all other EU airline staff strikes, past and future. 
<h3>Lufthansa is not above the law</h3>
Despite the ECJ decision, Lufthansa argues that since it did everything in its power to prevent this strike, and staff went on strike anyway, that means that they should be exempt from paying passengers compensation. 
However, the European Court of Justice made it clear in its decision that all staff strikes, without exception, cannot be considered an extraordinary circumstance. Strikes must be planned by companies as a regular activity and are therefore always considered to be within the airline’s responsibility to manage. 
Indeed, an earlier <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-04/cp180049en.pdf">2018 ruling by the ECJ</a> already confirmed that “wildcat” strikes — that is an unannounced, spontaneous strike — are eligible for compensation. 
The message is clear: airlines must plan for strikes and compensate the passengers affected by them.
<h3>We continue to fight for passenger rights</h3>
<img src="https://img.airhelp.com/blog/woman_boarding_plane.jpg" alt="Woman boards a airplane"> 
Lufthansa’s refusal to accept the ECJ ruling is highly unusual. However, just like the SAS strike, AirHelp is prepared to take the strongest legal action to ensure that passengers’ rights are respected, and that they get the money they are owed. 
Already AirHelp is helping up to 4,500 passengers, handling their claims and connecting passengers with specialist legal representation to bring the claims before German courts. All done on a no win, no fee basis to ensure there’s no risk to the passengers involved. 
Christian Nielson, Chief Legal Officer at AirHelp, comments; 
“Lufthansa’s tactics are not only a highly unusual practice, but also underline the company’s unwillingness to compensate passengers for its own failings. This refusal to respect passengers’ rights is especially disappointing given that German taxpayers, many of them passengers, paid billions to keep Lufthansa afloat during the pandemic. However, due to the ECJ ruling we won, the situation is clear. Ultimately Lufthansa must pay compensation to the affected consumers.”
If you are one of the passengers affected, the good news is it’s not too late to get justice. AirHelp’s <a href="https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details?lang=en">free eligibility check</a> will confirm if you’re owed compensation, and our specialist team are ready to help you claim it.

Airline on Strike? Not an Extraordinary Circumstance, Rules ECJ

Justice for air passengers as the ECJ confirms they can claim up to $700 compensation for flights delayed and canceled due to strikes. 
 
&nbsp; 
The latest ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg brings much-needed certainty — and compensation — to over 370,000 passengers who were left stranded at the airport when their flights were delayed or canceled in the 2019 SAS staff strike.
In a groundbreaking decision, the ECJ confirmed that airline strikes aren’t an extraordinary circumstance and that all passengers affected deserve financial compensation — a decision that is now binding for all courts across the EU.
Here’s what you need to know:
<ul>
<li>Airlines can deny a passenger’s compensation claim if they can prove the disruption was due to extraordinary circumstances, i.e., events outside of their control.</li>
<li>Previously, airlines have claimed strikes fall into that category, but today the ECJ definitively ruled that an organised strike by staff “does not fall within the concept of an extraordinary circumstance“</li>
<li>The court added to their ruling that the airline “cannot claim that it does not have any control over that action.”</li>
<li>The ruling is retrospective, so passengers affected by previous strikes can <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/strike/airline-strike-compensation/">claim compensation</a>, so long as their flight is still eligible under EU rules</li>
<li>Strikes from airport staff, or air traffic control, remain ineligible for compensation.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Does an airline owe you money? Tap here to file your compensation claim today –&gt;&gt;</a></h3>
<h3>Long legal fight for passengers rights</h3>
This ruling ends a long legal dispute over passengers’ rights when airline staff go on strike. A <a href="https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2018-04/cp180049en.pdf">previous ruling by the ECJ</a> in 2018 established that passengers are entitled to compensation for sudden or “wildcat” strikes.
In AirHelp’s view, if a “wildcat” airline strike is not an extraordinary circumstance, then a planned strike could not be considered one either.
However many airlines continued to refuse compensation to their passengers who suffered from the delays and cancellations resulting from strike action.
As a champion for air passenger rights, AirHelp filed a claim with a Swedish court after SAS refused to pay compensation for passengers who were affected by their 2019 pilot staff strike. That case was referred to the ECJ to decide the matter for once and all.
Christian Nielsen, AirHelp’s Chief Legal Officer, comments:
“The decision from the European Court of Justice sets the new standard on how strike cases are dealt with, as it is binding for all EU countries and airlines. The ruling clarifies a very important matter for all passengers that are affected by airline staff strikes in the future, but also for those who suffered from this in the past years.”
“This is a landmark case. Given the number of passengers with a potential claim for compensation, not only from the SAS strike but also from other past and future staff strikes, the ECJ decision will have a major impact all over Europe. We encourage all passengers that have suffered a flight delay or cancellation because of a strike in the past years to come to airhelp.com and verify for free whether they’re owed compensation following this ruling.”
<h3>About the strike</h3>
The SAS pilots’ strike lasted for over a week between April 26 and May 3, 2019. While it ultimately resulted in the pilots securing a deal on improved pay and work schedules, it also left just over 370,000 passengers struggling due to the ensuing 4,000 canceled and delayed flights. This ruling means that at last, they can also receive fair compensation for their lost time.
Unfortunately, many passengers are not informed of their <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/what-to-do-if-an-airport-strike-cancels-your-flight/">rights during strikes</a>, and may not be aware that they may be eligible for compensation, even if they received a refund for a canceled flight.
<h3>When does an airline owe money?</h3>
In case of delayed or canceled flights, or in instances of denied boarding, passengers may be entitled to <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">financial compensation of up to&nbsp;$700 per person</a>. The condition for this stipulates that the departure airport is within the EU, or that the airline carrying the flight is based in the EU.
Furthermore, the reason for the delay in flight operations must be caused by the airline. The right to financial <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/flight-delay-compensation/">compensation flight delay</a> must be claimed within 3 years of the delayed date of the flight.
On the other hand, extraordinary circumstances such as storms or medical emergencies mean that the operating airline is exempt from the obligation to compensate air passengers.
<hr>
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be&nbsp;<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to as much as&nbsp;$700 in compensation</a>&nbsp;if your flight has been delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last 3 years.

The ECJ confirms an airline strike isn't an extraordinary circumstance and passengers can claim up to $700 for delays and cancellations.

Your Privacy Matters: We’ll Help Get Compensation for Data Breach Incidents

No one wants their private data stolen and leaked for anyone to see, which is why AirHelp has <a href="https://www.airlinedatabreach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">partnered with PGMBM</a> to help air passengers get compensation for data breach incidents.
We care about upholding all air passenger rights — including the right to have your private data respected and stored securely. So we’re excited to work with PGMBM and start offering GDPR compensation claims to hold airlines accountable and ensure that your data is kept safe when you travel.
Since so many flights these days are booked online, passengers are becoming aware of the airline’s responsibility to protect their personal and financial data, especially following several high-profile cybersecurity incidents. 
“Data breaches can have far-reaching consequences for passengers, especially if information such as their names, debit or credit card numbers, home addresses, and email addresses are left vulnerable to attack by third parties. This is very serious and exposes travelers to further crimes such as online bank account hacking and identity theft. Airlines should therefore compensate passengers on top of improving their security systems.” says Christian Leiniger, Director of Corporate Development at AirHelp.
<ul>
<li><a href="#personal-data">What laws protect air passenger’s personal data?</a></li>
<li><a href="#compensation-data-breach">How much compensation for data breach incidents can I receive?</a></li>
<li><a href="#why-claim-gdpr">Why should I claim compensation under GDPR?</a></li>
<li><a href="#how-do-know-data-breach">How do I know if the airline I am flying with had a data breach?</a></li>
</ul>
<figure id="attachment_241137" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-241137" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-241137" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/24145958/gdpr-compensation-claim.jpg" alt="gdpr-compensation-claim" width="1200" height="800"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-241137" class="wp-caption-text">Image by Mohamed Hassan from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3256079" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pixabay</a></figcaption></figure>
<a name="personal-data"></a>
<h2>What laws protect air passengers’ personal data?</h2>
All personal and financial information, including the data of airline passengers, are protected under the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR in the EU. GDPR is one of the strictest regulations on data protection and privacy in the world. It ensures that all companies that target or collect the data of people in the EU meet minimum privacy and security requirements. The laws also apply to all companies that operate within the EU, such as EU airlines, even if their customers are outside the EU.
If a company such as an airline has a data breach, and if lawmakers find that they didn’t do enough to protect your data, you are entitled to make a GDPR compensation claim and receive compensation. For more information on GDPR and your rights, <a href="https://gdpr.eu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.<a name="compensation-data-breach"></a>
<h2>How much compensation for a data breach can I receive?</h2>
GDPR breach compensation amounts aren’t set, so the amount you’ll receive can vary, depending on what courts and victims deem fair. Just like our flight delay and cancellation claims, AirHelp and the PGMBM team make GDPR compensation claims an easy and straightforward process — just <a href="https://www.airlinedatabreach.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">check if you’re eligible here</a>.<a name="why-claim-gdpr"></a>
<h2>Why should I claim compensation under GDPR?</h2>
Your personal and financial information should be safeguarded. You wouldn’t leave your valuables unprotected. And your personal data is valuable. Whenever you entrust any company, such as an airline, with your personal information they should be held responsible for storing it securely, and for the consequences should they fail to protect your information. Just one data breach can lead to the loss of personal finances as well as identity theft — not to mention all the stress it can cause you personally too.<a name="how-do-know-data-breach"></a>
<h2>How do I know if the airline I am flying with had a data breach?</h2>
The easiest way to find out is if the airline sent you an email or a letter about a data breach. They are required by law to let you know whenever there has been a breach so that you can monitor your accounts for any strange activity. You can check your inbox or your spam folder in case you missed it.
If you didn’t receive an email, but still suspect that your data with the airline was somehow compromised, you can ask the airline. Again, they are required by law to tell you if your data has been leaked in any way.
We’re starting our new service focusing on helping air passengers affected by the British Airways data breach in 2018. If you were one of those affected, you can <a href="http://airlinedatabreach.com/">start a claim here</a>. We are excited to start offering this new service to you and keep fighting for the rights of all air passengers. We’re always here to help.
Did you also know that you can claim for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights from up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible — it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free! <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Get started with your claim now.</a>

Can you get compensation for data breach from an airline? AirHelp and our partners can help you get the money owed to you.

Business Trip Compensation: When Your Work Trip Goes Wrong

Being late to a meeting is never a good look, which is why flight delays, cancellations, and overbookings are real nightmare scenarios for business travelers.
If you’ve ever been one of those unlucky passengers traveling for work who got stuck waiting for takeoff, you could be owed up to $700 (€600) in business trip compensation.
Even though you were traveling on behalf of your company, the money owed for the inconvenience belongs to you. To get the answers to your questions if your flight doesn’t go as planned during your business trip, keep reading or jump ahead to these answers: <a name="law"></a>
<ul>
<li><a href="#law">What laws protect business travelers when they fly?</a></li>
<li><a href="#trips">Which business trips are covered?</a></li>
<li><a href="#amount">How much are travelers owed in business trip compensation?</a></li>
<li><a href="#refunds">Are flight compensation and refunds the same?</a></li>
<li><a href="#apply">How do I apply for compensation?</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Let’s start with the law that protects business travelers when they fly.</h2>
When traveling for work leads you to Europe, you’re protected by a European law called EC 261. If you would like a deep dive into the regulation, you can <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/ec-regulation-261-2004/">find out more here</a>, but to keep things easy, here’s a summary of the most important facts:
<h3>Delayed Flights</h3>
You’re on your way to an important meeting but you’ve just been notified that your flight is delayed. We all know that a delayed flight can cost business travelers a lot more than just time. That’s why you could be owed up to $700 in compensation when your flight delay exceeds 3 hours.
<h3>Canceled Flights</h3>
A last-minute flight cancellation can throw out months of preparation on an upcoming work trip. Under EC 261, if the airline notifies you of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, and they can’t offer you a comparable alternative flight, you could be eligible for up to $700 in compensation.
<h3>Denied Boarding</h3>
You’re ready to get your business trip off the ground, but the airline has made some business decisions of their own and oversold your flight. If you’re denied boarding because of overbooking don’t settle for a flight voucher. The airline could have to pay you up to $700 for keeping you grounded.<a name="trips"></a>
<figure id="attachment_225434" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-225434" style="width: 1798px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-225434" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/08122755/business-traveler-ec261-compensation.jpg" alt="business traveler flight compensation" width="1798" height="1200"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-225434" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-sitting-holding-white-desk-globe-1036628/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Moose Photos</a> via Pexel</figcaption></figure>
<h2>Does this include all business trips to Europe?</h2>
No matter where you call home, if you’re departing from Europe or traveling to Europe on a European airline, you are protected by EC 261. Here are the specific flights that qualify for compensation: <a name="amount"></a>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Flights within the EU on any airline</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Flights that depart from the EU on any airline</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;">Flights to the EU with an EU airline</li>
</ul>
It also applies to Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the so-called “outermost regions”. That’s places like French Guiana and&nbsp;Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Saint-Martin, Madeira and the Azores, as well as the Canary Islands.
<h2>How much are travelers owed in business trip compensation?</h2>
Under EC 261, each passenger could be owed up to $700 in compensation. The amount depends on how far you’re flying, and how late you are arriving at your final destination.
Here’s a brief breakdown of how much you could get:
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-226298" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp.png" alt="airhelp ec 261 compensation amounts" width="1200" height="1878" srcset="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp.png 1200w, https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp-192x300.png 192w, https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp-768x1202.png 768w, https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp-654x1024.png 654w, https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/21142625/ec261-compensation-amounts-airhelp-224x350.png 224w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"> 
<a name="refunds"></a> 
The compensation amounts are listed as euro as EC 261 is a European legislation, the actual amount you will receive depends on the current exchange rates. For specific compensation amounts visit our <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/">air passenger rights</a> page.
<h2>Compensation is different from a refund.</h2>
<a name="apply"></a> 
Business travelers are entitled to business trip compensation, as they are the ones who suffer the inconvenience of flight issues. But in some cases, your employer is also entitled to a refund. Claiming compensation does not affect your company’s claim.
Imagine your flight got canceled while you’re at the airport, forcing your company to pay for a new flight. You would be eligible for up to $700 in compensation, but your company could make a separate claim to recoup the cost of the replacement flight.
<h2>How do I apply for compensation?</h2>
Hold on to your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any documentation the airline gives you about why you couldn’t take off on time.
You can claim directly with the airline, but the process can be stressful and time-consuming. A way to get around this and make things easier for yourself is by having flight compensation experts like us <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">handle your claim</a>.
Did you also know that you can claim for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights from up to 3 years ago? AirHelp is here to help you check if your flight is eligible – it’s quick, easy, and totally risk-free! <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Get started with your claim now.</a>

When the airline causes business travelers to get off to a late start, they could be owed up to $700 in business trip compensation.

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Everything You Need to Know About ETIAS

Taking a trip from the U.S. to many European countries can be as easy as: search, book, fly. But in the future, the process will require an added step called the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS.
You’re ready to start planning your dream trip to a <a href="/blog/best-time-to-visit/">destination in Europe</a> but will this extra step delay your ability to cross the border? With <a href="https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/41-percent-of-americans-wrongly-believe-they-will-soon-need-a-visa-to-europe/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">almost 42% of Americans</a> unclear about what the ETIAS actually is, air passenger rights specialists AirHelp, are here to help. We’ll break down everything you need to know for when this new system is implemented. <a name="what-is"></a>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: 0px;">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#what-is">What is the ETIAS?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#etias-visa">Is there an ETIAS Visa?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#when">When does this go into effect?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#etias-countries">What are the ETIAS countries?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#why-etias">Why would I need an ETIAS?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#apply">What will I need to apply?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#etias-process">How long does the ETIAS process take?</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="border: 0px;">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#application-denied">Why would my ETIAS application be denied?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#etias-cost">How much does the ETIAS cost?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#how-long">How long does it last?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#children">Do children have to apply for the ETIAS?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#travel">Can I travel anywhere with the ETIAS?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#us-citizens">Is this only for U.S. citizens?</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="#us-system">Does the U.S. have a system like ETIAS?</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>What is the ETIAS?</h2>
The European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS, is a special authorization that will be required before entry to countries within the Schengen Zone.
The European Commission introduced the need for the ETIAS during the State of the Union Address in September 2016. The idea is that it will work as a security measure, to better manage who is entering Schengen Zone countries. 
<a name="etias-visa"></a> 
Essentially the ETIAS system will pre-approve travelers to enter Europe, before they actually arrive on the continent. A background check will be run for each applicant to make sure that they don’t present any security concerns.
The system will also keep track of travelers as they move throughout the Schengen Zone, as a continued effort to determine any risks.
<h2>Is there an ETIAS Visa?</h2>
Despite being referred to as the ETIAS Visa, the authorization process does not require the same lengthy approval procedures as a visa.
Depending on factors like the purpose of your visit and your country of residence, you may also need a visa to visit Europe. 
<a name="when"></a> 
Countries throughout the world have different visa requirements that can include extensive amounts of paperwork before granting you admission for tourism, work, or educational purposes. Visas can take up to several weeks for approval and cost a significant amount of money.
You can visit the EU Travel Information &amp; Authorization System website for the <a href="https://etias.com/about-etias/who-needs-etias" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">full list of countries</a> that will require the authorization to travel to Europe.
<a name="etias-countries"></a>
<h2>When does the ETIAS go into effect?</h2>
You will be required to submit an ETIAS application for any travel planned within the Schengen Zone after January 2021.
<h2>What are the ETIAS countries?</h2>
<figure id="attachment_226311" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-226311" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-226311 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/21151556/woman-holding-map1.jpg" alt="woman holding map" width="1920" height="1278"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-226311" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ioYwosPYC0U" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Annie Spratt</a> via Unsplash</figcaption></figure>
The European Travel Information and Authorization System will cover all 26 Schengen Zone countries located within Europe, that includes:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Austria</td>
<td>Germany</td>
<td>Lithuania</td>
<td>Slovakia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Belgium</td>
<td>Greece</td>
<td>Luxembourg</td>
<td>Slovenia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Czech Republic</td>
<td>Hungary</td>
<td>Malta</td>
<td>Spain</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Denmark</td>
<td>Iceland</td>
<td>Netherlands</td>
<td>Sweden</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Estonia</td>
<td>Italy</td>
<td>Norway</td>
<td>Switzerland<a name="why-etias"></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Finland</td>
<td>Latvia</td>
<td>Poland</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>France</td>
<td>Liechtenstein</td>
<td>Portugal</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Why would I need a ETIAS?</h2>
No matter if you are traveling for vacation, business, medical reasons, or for transit reasons you will need to apply for the ETIAS.
Along with a <a href="/blog/passport-about-to-expire/">valid passport</a> the ETIAS is an essential travel credential that ensures you are allowed entry into countries within the Schengen Zone. 
<a name="apply"></a> 
It is the responsibility of the traveler to make sure that they have all of the visas and authorizations required to enter their destination. While AirHelp is there to help you seek compensation when your travel plans are disrupted, you will not be eligible for anything if you are <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/denied-boarding-compensation/">denied boarding</a> for something that’s your own fault — such as not having your ETIAS. 
<a name="etias-process"></a>
<h2>What will I need to apply for the ETIAS?</h2>
There is only one official document needed to submit your ETIAS application: a valid passport. There may be certain features required though. For example, your passport must be machine readable, include a digital photograph, and in certain cases have an electronic chip.
<h2>How long does the ETIAS process take?</h2>
According to the <a href="https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Schengen Visa Info website</a>, it will take 10 minutes to complete the ETIAS application. After filling out your personal information, travel details, and other required sections, your eligibility can be determined in just a few minutes. 
<a name="application-denied"></a> 
Once your information is verified and the system confirms you’re not a security risk, you will receive a notification on the ETIAS website that you are approved. If your application is flagged for any reason a manual assessment will be done that could take up to 2 weeks.
<h2>Why would my ETIAS application be denied?</h2>
Each applicant’s information will be run through several databases and watchlists from agencies such as Europol, Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS) and more. The ETIAS will also factor in whether applicants have recently been to any conflict zones, been deported or rejected from another country, along with any criminal records. 
<a name="etias-cost"></a> 
If the applicant is flagged by any of these systems, the information provided is deemed fraudulent, or security concerns arise, the application can be rejected. If you receive a notification that your application is not approved, you will also receive justification as to why.
In the case that your application is denied, you will always have the ability to appeal the decision. 
<a name="how-long"></a>
<h2>How much does the ETIAS cost?</h2>
The ETIAS cost is expected to be €7 (about $8) per application. The fee can be paid directly on the website before your ETIAS application is processed.
<h2>How long does the ETIAS last?</h2>
Once your ETIAS application is approved it’s valid for 3 years of travel. During that time you’ll be allowed an unlimited number of visits to Schengen member states. Each visit can not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. 
<a name="children"></a> 
Did you know that you could claim compensation for disrupted flights within the same amount of time your ETIAS is valid? You can <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">check to see if you’re eligible</a> for compensation for delayed or canceled flights with the last 3 years.
<h2>Do children have to apply for the ETIAS?</h2>
<figure id="attachment_226329" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-226329" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-226329 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/22072928/child-with-globe2.jpg" alt="child with globe" width="1920" height="1285"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-226329" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/teaching-child-world-geography-928637/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Mojca JJ</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
<a name="travel"></a> 
Travelers of every age, from infants to the elderly, will be required to complete an ETIAS application when they plan to enter any Schengen Zone country. The legal guardian of minors must complete the application on their behalf. However, the application fee is waived for applicants under the age of 18 and over the age of 70.
<h2>Once I receive the ETIAS will I be able to travel anywhere in the Schengen Zone?</h2>
Once your ETIAS application is approved, you are granted access to travel anywhere within the Schengen Zone for 90 days at a time. However, you should know your ETIAS approval is based on a specific country of entry.
<a name="us-citizens"></a>So, if you state that you are traveling to France first, your first point of entry can only be through France. If you end up trying to enter the Schengen Zone through Spain (or any other country) you may not be allowed through, because your entry was not approved for that location.
Keep in mind that even with your ETIAS it is always up to the discretion of the border patrol to allow you entry. 
<a name="us-system"></a>
<h2>Will the ETIAS only be required for U.S. citizens?</h2>
No, citizens from any country that doesn’t require a visa to enter the Schengen Zone will also need to apply for the ETIAS. There are currently <a href="https://etias.com/about-etias/who-needs-etias" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">57 countries outside of the EU</a> whose citizens will need to apply for an ETIAS, including Australia, Singapore, and Brazil.
<h2>Does the U.S. have a system similar to the ETIAS?</h2>
Yes, it does. The <a href="https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)</a> became mandatory for those traveling to the U.S. from countries that are a part of the Visa Waiver Program in January 2009. The fee is $14 for every application for visitors who will travel to the U.S. for less than 90 days.

AirHelp wants you to be prepared when you’re set to fly so that your trip goes smoothly. We’re also here for you when there’s trouble with your trip. If your flight to Europe delayed, canceled or overbooked in the last 3 years you could be owed up to $700. Use our <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">eligibility checker</a> to see if you can get compensated for your disrupted flight.

Travelers heading to Europe can learn all about the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) before it goes into effect.

Cómo encontrar 600 € en tu bandeja de entrada

Hoe je €600 in je inbox kan vinden

How to Find $700 in Your Inbox

Come trovare 600€ tra le tue email

Como Encontrar US$ 700 em sua Caixa de Entrada

Jak znaleźć 600 € w swojej skrzynce odbiorczej

Как найти €600 в своей электронной почте

How to Find €600 in Your Inbox

Dank des EU-Rechts bis zu 600€ in Ihrer Inbox finden (abzgl. Erfolgsprovision)

Does running a quick search of your emails and discovering money that you had no idea was there sound too good to be true? It doesn’t if you know about your air passenger rights!
85% of travelers aren’t aware that they even <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/">have rights</a>*, so it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where AirHelp comes in. As the world’s largest air passenger rights specialist, we’re here to help you <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/">claim the compensation you’re owed</a>.
There’s a European regulation, titled EC 261, that entitles you to financial compensation when you experience a flight cancellation or delay. So that time spent stuck at the airport could mean you’re owed up to $700 in compensation. And you can claim for past flight disruptions from the last 3 years.
But what if you’re not aware which of your flights qualify? We’ve prepared some easy-to-follow tips on how best to scan your inbox and make sure that you aren’t missing out on compensation.
<h2>Which flights should I look for?</h2>
Think back. Have you had a flight that was:
<ul>
<li>Canceled less than 14 days before departure</li>
<li>Delayed for 3 hours or more</li>
</ul>
And was it on a route departing from the EU? Or flying to the EU with an EU airline? Those are the flights most likely to earn you compensation.
Now you need to find the flight details – and if you booked online you’ll have a record called a booking confirmation somewhere in your inbox.
To get started, open your preferred email account and click on the search box. Then simply type in words that are likely to be on an email about that flight. It’s a good idea to start with the destination airport, departure airport and/or airline.
<h2>Or, try these disruption terms</h2>
Can’t think of any flights that might qualify? Well if you were on a disrupted flight you were likely notified about it via email.
Try searching for any of the following phrases in your inbox to uncover potentially eligible flights:
<table style="text-align: left;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Booking reference</td>
<td>Delayed departure</td>
<td>Departure delay</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flight has been delayed</td>
<td>Flight status</td>
<td>Status delayed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Delayed overnight</td>
<td>New departure time</td>
<td>Revised departure time</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Changes to your booking</td>
<td>Flight time has been rescheduled</td>
<td>New flight schedule</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canceled flight</td>
<td>Flight is canceled</td>
<td>Flight has been canceled</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flight cancellation</td>
<td>Rebooked to an alternative flight</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Once your search results come up you’re one step closer to potential compensation.
<h2>How do I turn this email into $700?</h2>
<img loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-48369" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/28172434/airhelp.jpg" alt="AirHelp home page on laptop" width="1200" height="800">
When you find a flight that was disrupted, the email will hold another important piece of information: your booking reference number.
Enter this number, along with your flight and personal details, into AirHelp’s <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">eligibility check</a>. We’ll tell you if your disruption is eligible for compensation in just a few minutes.
<a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">Check your flight &gt;&gt;</a>
We can also help you file your claim against the airline, we’ve helped over 13 million air passengers, so we’re experts at negotiating with the airlines.
If you booked more than one flight under the same reference number you can check for all affected travelers at the same time. Every individual passenger with a confirmed reservation is eligible to receive the full amount of compensation of up to $700 each.
Unable to find any emails but believe you had an interruption to your flight plans within the last 3 years? It’s also worth taking a look through any text notifications you may have received from the airline about a canceled or delayed flight. Once you’ve found an alert, you can head back to your email, search for the exact flight details, and then <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">check on AirHelp</a> to see if it’s eligible.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to turn your time spent waiting for your flight into money! AirHelp makes it easy to file your claim.

Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as $700 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.
*All data is provided by SurveyMonkey. 2,279 respondents participated in the survey, which took place in 2018. The results were weighed and are representative of air travelers from the United States (age 18+).

A quick search through your emails for delayed or canceled flights can result in up to $700 in flight compensation. Here's what to look for.

AirHelp Score 2019: 7 Surprising Discoveries and Travel Trends

AirHelp Score 2019: Die beste Airline, der beste Flughafen und vieles mehr

As air passenger rights advocates, we know how important it is to make informed decisions when you fly. That’s why each year AirHelp releases its global ranking of the world’s best-known airlines and airports.
Our definitive 7th annual ranking is based on authoritative databases, extensive surveys, as well as our own unparalleled statistics.
This year’s ranking saw the rise of new leaders as well as some unexpected trends with Qatar (both the country and the airline!) dominating the top spots.<a name="best"></a>
Let’s take a look at the front runners, and see what’s causing some interesting trends.
<ul>
<li><a href="#best">Best airlines for air passengers</a></li>
<li><a href="#wrong">Who’s great if things go wrong?</a></li>
<li><a href="#breeze">The airports that make traveling a breeze</a></li>
<li><a href="#airlines">Why are U.S. airlines soaring?</a></li>
<li><a href="#bigger">Is bigger better?</a></li>
<li><a href="#brazil">Brazil: world champion airports</a></li>
<li><a href="#brexit">More Brexit chaos?</a></li>
</ul>

View the full ranking of all <a href="/airhelp-score/airline-ranking/">72 airlines</a> and <a href="/airhelp-score/airport-ranking/">132 airports</a>.
<h2>Which are the best airlines for air passengers?</h2>
<figure id="attachment_186809" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186809" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-186809" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/06115437/qatar-airways-airhelp-score.jpg" alt="Qatar Airways airplane taking off" width="600" height="338"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-186809" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qatar_Airways_Boeing_787-8_Dreamliner_A7-BCA_MUC_2015_04.jpg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Julian Herzog</a> via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>
Overall:
#1 – Qatar Airways 
#2 – American Airlines 
#3 – Aeromexico<a name="wrong"></a>
Thanks to its great reviews for in-flight service as well as a strong on-time performance in 2018, <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/airlines/qatar-airways/">Qatar Airways</a> claimed the leading spot in the AirHelp Score airline rankings for the second year in a row!
The 5 airlines with the lowest rankings were Ryanair, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, easyJet, and Thomas Cook Airlines.
Want to get to your destination on time? Who doesn’t? Then Indonesian airline Garuda Indonesia is your best bet. They came out on top of our on-time performance rating, with 91% of their flights running to schedule. 
If you’re impressed by in-flight service – that’s things like the food and comfort levels when you fly – you better book with Emirates. Their score of 8.9 out of 10 just beat off some strong competition from other superior service fliers like <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/airlines/turkish-airlines/">Turkish Airlines</a> and <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/airlines/etihad-airways/">Etihad Airways</a>.
If things go wrong: 
As advocates for better air passenger rights, we’re really interested in who is scoring highly when it comes to claim processing – that’s our measure of how well airlines treat their customers when things go wrong and the airline needs to pay out compensation. So a big shoutout to these airlines:<a name="breeze"></a>
#1 – SAS Scandinavian Airlines 
#2 – WestJet 
#3 – American Airlines
They all do a great job of working with AirHelp, to ensure their customers are compensated as quickly and efficiently as possible.
And remember if you do have a disrupted flight, no matter who you fly with, AirHelp is here to <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">help get the compensation</a> you’re entitled to. 
View the breakdown of each airline’s ranking <a href="/airhelp-score/airline-ranking/">here</a>.
<h2>The airports that make traveling a breeze</h2>
Overall:
#1 – Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar) 
#2 – Tokyo International Airport (Tokyo, Japan) 
#3 – Athens International Airport (Athens, Greece)
The top 3 airports managed to master shopping, perform punctually, and offer outstanding service!
Who’s not doing so well? The lowest ranked 5 airports were Malta International Airport, Henri Coandă International Airport, Eindhoven Airport, Kuwait International Airport, and Lisbon Portela Airport.<a name="airlines"></a>
If you’re looking for an airport that pulls out all the stops when it comes to service quality, that’s<a href="/en/blog/weird-airport-attractions-from-around-the-world/"> Singapore Changi Airport</a>. The airport is filled with lush gardens, tropical butterflies, and mesmerizing art. 
If you like to shop-’til-you-drop before you fly, check out Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport. They received the highest review ratings for their selection of shops and restaurants.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport are the airports you can depend on for timely takeoff and landings – both with 86% of flights on time in 2018.
See the detailed ranking of these airlines and more <a href="/en/airhelp-score/airport-ranking/">here</a>.
<h2>U.S. airlines are soaring, while EU airlines have room for improvement</h2>
<figure id="attachment_226344" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-226344" style="width: 1920px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-226344 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/22075953/american-airlines-airhelp-score1.jpg" alt="american airlines plane taking off" width="1920" height="950"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-226344" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/american-airline-aircraft-travel-2721441/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Bilal EL-Daou</a> via Pixabay</figcaption></figure>
After the release of 2018’s AirHelp Score, AirHelp CEO Henrik Zillmer called for the improvement of passenger’s experience on <a href="/blog/airhelp-score-best-airlines-airports/">U.S. airlines</a>. We’ve changed the methodology this year, so we can’t compare like for like. But it’s possible that America was listening, as this year 3 airlines from the U.S. have made their way into the top 20:<a name="bigger"></a>
#2 – American Airlines 
#18 – United Airlines 
#19 – Delta Air Lines
While U.S. airlines dominated the top of their ranking, EU airlines have some improving to do. Out of the last 10 spots, 7 airlines hail from the EU.
EU airports also have issues, holding 8 out of the 10 bottom spots, primarily plagued with poor marks in on-time performance.
<h2>Smaller airports win big</h2>
Despite not seeing as much traffic or having as many fancy features as other airports, several smaller airports have made their way to the top of this year’s AirHelp Score ranking.
While many airports average at least 35 million visitors a year, 8 out of the 20 top ranked airports serve less than 10 million passengers annually but still come out on top:
#5 – Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, Gdańsk, Poland – <a href="http://www.airport.gdansk.pl/airport/infrastructure/passenger-terminal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">3 million passengers</a> 
#9 – Tenerife North Airport, Tenerife, Spain – <a href="http://www.aena.es/en/tenerife-norte-airport/introduction.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">5.5 million passengers</a> 
#12 – Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador – <a href="https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/quitoairport/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6 million passengers</a> 
#19 – Pinto Martins–Fortaleza International Airport, Fortaleza, Brazil – <a href="https://www.aeroportofortaleza.net/en/fortaleza-airport-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">6.2 million passengers</a> 
#14 – Brussels South Charleroi Airport, Charleroi, Belgium – <a href="https://www.brussels-charleroi-airport.com/en/news/record-2018-plus-continuity-brussels-south-charleroi-airport-8029680-passengers-recorded-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">7.4 million passengers</a><a name="brazil"></a> 
#4 – Afonso Pena International Airport, Curitiba, Brazil – <a href="https://www.aeroportocuritiba.net/en/curitiba-airport-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">7.8 million passengers</a> 
#17 – Santos Dumont Airport Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – <a href="http://www.aeroportosantosdumont.net/en/santos-dumont-airport-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">8.5 million passengers</a> 
#10 – Viracopos/Campinas International Airport Afonso, Curitiba, Brazil – <a href="http://www.aeroportoviracopos.net/en/campinas-viracopos-airport-information" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">9.2 million passengers</a>
Generally, these airports fared well in on-time performance and quality of retail, but where they but really stood out was their quality of service.
It just goes to show, smaller airports can still make a big impact.
<h2>Brazil has more to celebrate than carnival</h2>
<figure id="attachment_226346" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-226346" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-226346 size-full" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/22080102/brazil-flag1.jpg" alt="Brazil flag in front of sunset" width="1600" height="1200"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-226346" class="wp-caption-text">Image by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/tncsQE63ENU?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Sergio Souza</a> via Unsplash</figcaption></figure>
<a name="brexit"></a> 
Not only is Brazil the place to be when it comes to great carnival celebrations and esteemed soccer teams, the country is also full of high-ranked airports. With 7 Brazil airports in the top 20, the country is a triple threat!
#4 – Afonso Pena International Airport, Curitiba 
#10 – Viracopos/Campinas International Airport, Campinas 
#11 – Recife International Airport, Recife 
#13 – Brasília International Airport, Brasília 
#15 – Tancredo Neves International Airport, Belo Horizonte 
#17 – Santos Dumont Airport Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 
#19 – Pinto Martins–Fortaleza International Airport, Fortaleza
What makes the airports in Brazil such a big draw? They all rank highly in on-time performance and quality of service. Proving once again that service and efficiency are key factors in providing an elevated experience for travelers.
<h2>British air industry in chaos?</h2>
A Brexit deal may be as yet undecided but the country’s airports and airlines status results have been tallied and it doesn’t bode well for the UK. UK airports and airlines dominated the bottom of both rankings in this year’s AirHelp Score.
Holding the bottom 2 spots of the airline rankings are the UK’s own:
#71 – easyJet 
#72 – Thomas Cook Airlines
The country’s airports didn’t fare much better. Out of the lowest ranked airports on the list, 3 of them are in the UK:
#123 – Edinburgh Airport 
#124 – London Gatwick 
#128 – Manchester Airport
In fact, the highest ranked airport representing the UK is Bristol Airport, which only made it to number 71. On-time performance seemed to be the biggest factor bringing down UK airport rankings.
After checking out the full ranking of airports and airlines to see how your country’s <a href="/airhelp-score/airline-ranking/">airlines</a> and <a href="/airhelp-score/airport-ranking/">airports</a> fared, take our AirHelp Score <a href="https://airhelpquiz.com/quiz-how-many-airlines-have-you-flown-with/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">airline</a> and <a href="https://airhelpquiz.com/quiz-how-well-traveled-are-you/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">airport</a> quizzes&nbsp;to find out how well-traveled you are!
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">entitled to a much as $700 in compensation</a> if your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.

Our annual ranking of airports and airlines is out and we're breaking down the data. See who topped the lists along with other surprising trends.

Should Babies and Children Be Banned From Planes? Have Your Say.

Стоит ли ввести запрет на полеты с детьми? Поделитесь своим мнением.

Should Babies and Children be Banned from Planes? Have Your Say.

<h2>Flying with Children</h2>
Before we even kick off this controversial topic, let’s get one thing clear – we are 100% behind flying with kids. We are in favor of children traveling on planes, just like we’re in favor of adults traveling on planes. In fact, we’re in favor of every age, race, and identity of human having equal access to air travel (being AirHelp – we’re also in favor of them having equal access to air passenger rights too).
The debate about whether kids should be banned from airlines is a topic that has been covered in newspapers and is often discussed on forums like <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-think-about-banning-babies-on-airplanes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quora</a>. Morning TV talk shows like <a href="https://www.today.com/parents/ban-babies-airplane-flights-yes-say-many-travelers-t38536" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Today in the US</a> and <a href="https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/should-children-be-banned-from-flights" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">This Morning in the UK</a> have featured women who’ve publicly spoken about their support of child-free flights to facilitate the comfort of air passengers.
Some low-cost carriers like IndiGo would seem to be in agreement as they’ve introduced child-free zones on their flights. Air carrier, Jetstar, even went as far as <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/family-holidays/screaming-toddler-banned-from-flying/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reportedly banning a family from flying</a> on their return flight due to their cranky toddler who disrupted others on the way out.
When these controversial views are aired, they are immediately rebuffed by people on the other side of the spectrum, saying that children of all ages have every right to be on a plane.
Airlines like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been keen to make it known that they support both adults and children. These airlines’ representatives have made it clear in the press that they <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1352779/BA-Virgin-Atlantic-Emirates-urged-ban-children-adult-flights.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">happily cater to their family customers</a>.
Because this topic continues to gain attention from the media, we thought it would be interesting to reach out to our travel community to share their opinion on the baby ban debate. What we found is that our travel insiders are overwhelmingly in favour of flying with children, but that this argument has many sides, and is far from straightforward.
Interestingly enough, a <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/major-airline-launches-child-free-9001605" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">survey</a> conducted in 2014 showed 70% of passengers backing child restrictions on flights and 35% being in favor of paying extra to travel on a childless service.
We’ll guide you through all sides of the argument, and share some opinions from our travel community.
<h2>Flying with Kids – The Case for a Ban</h2>
<h3>Children are disruptive</h3>
<figure id="attachment_186168" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186168" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18133404/marco-albuquerque-1353719-unsplash.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-186168" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18133404/marco-albuquerque-1353719-unsplash.jpg" alt="flying with children" width="600" height="400"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-186168" class="wp-caption-text">Image by Marco Albuquerque</figcaption></figure>
No-one who has spent a whole 3-hour flight having their chair kicked by a 5-year-old would dispute that children can be annoying. But some air travelers have gone further and argued that children should be banned all together.
Maybe some feel as Jessica Boulton, Mirror’s Deputy Features Editor does. She made an <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/major-airline-launches-child-free-9001605" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">argument</a> in favor of a baby ban, pointing out that holidays are important to her. So, kicking off a well-deserved trip with a bunch of kids causing chaos in a confined cabin is not the stuff dreams are made of.
<h3>Children should be restricted from exclusive flight cabins</h3>
Due to the confined space and lack of entertainment options in an airplane, children have a tendency to become rowdy and unruly on planes.
Pilot and blogger, <a href="http://www.askthepilot.com/kids-in-business-class/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patrick Smith,</a> shares his opinion on why children should perhaps be restricted from exclusive flights,
“When you’re flying in long-haul first or business class, you aren’t merely paying for transportation. You are paying for comfort. For luxury, even. … That includes not having your experience wrecked by disruptive passengers of any age. In premium class, there’s a higher standard and greater expectations. And while perhaps you have the right to bring your kids along with you, you do not have the right to ruin the experience of those around you.”
When the question was raised on <a href="https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-think-about-banning-babies-on-airplanes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Quora</a> some were in favor of no-babies flights. One reasoning was based on the fact that babies are already banned from certain public places like high-class restaurants and classical concerts. So it wouldn’t be unreasonable to ban babies from long-haul flights where passengers need a good rest.
 





<h3>Parents who air travel with their babies are selfish.</h3>
For some, the problem lies with the adults who don’t want to adjust their travel or lifestyle now that they are parents. We’ve seen this view represented by mother and writer, Kelly-Rose Bradford, who spoke out on UK talk show This Morning.
Proponents of this argument point out that you can’t expect a baby not to cry on a plane, or for a small child not to get frustrated. They suggest it’s selfish of the parents to continue trying to take children on flights – instead they should think of the comfort of their offspring, as well as their fellow passengers, and change their lifestyle.
<h2>Flying with Children – The Case Against a Ban</h2>
<h3>Traveling together as a family for important events is a necessity</h3>
For a lot of parents, banning kids from flying on planes is simply not feasible because situations can present themselves were traveling together as a family is a must.
Writer, <a href="https://housemethod.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kelia Reynolds</a>, explains that sometimes the distance involved in a family trip requires a family with young children to travel by plane. This is because there are times that families with children can’t choose to drive.
“Just think about if a parent was traveling with their kid who had a life-threatening disease and a plane was the fastest way to get to their destination. Or think about situations where the entire family has to fly to a funeral, wedding, or some other important occasion. This might just be the most affordable and easiest option for parents.”
<h3>Children are paying passengers, with equal right to be on a plane.</h3>
Travelers in favor of babies flying on planes are quick to point out that babies and children have a right to be on a plane alongside adults.
Avid traveler, mom and blogger, <a href="https://www.natashalh.com/tips-for-flying-with-older-infant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natasha</a>, admits that before she became a mother, she used to dread seeing a baby on a plane or a young infant at the check-in gate. However, since becoming a parent she has had a change of heart.
Now she believes “babies and children have just as much of a right to be on an airplane as anyone else. This is especially true for ticketed infants and children over the age of two who are ticketed passengers.”
<h3>Adults can also misbehave on planes</h3>
In response to travelers who are in favor of child-free flights, those in favor of bringing children of all ages on a plane are quick to point out that adults can rival kids in poor airplane etiquette.
Operating officer and family man, <a href="https://www.suddora.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Joe Flanagan</a>, is firmly of the opinion that children should be allowed to fly on a plane. He goes one step further to add,
“It’s not a child that makes a flight painful. It’s selfish and irresponsible people – and they exist in all age brackets and cannot be blanket banned. The screaming child is an all to obvious scene that appears on ‘horror flights’ but in reality – is a toddler worse to sit next to, than a group of rowdy men/women on a stag/hen do? I’d suggest not. Equally, I’d take a child on an on-time flight over a child-free delayed on any day.”
Blogger, <a href="https://www.natashalh.com/tips-for-flying-with-older-infant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Natasha</a>, recalls a flight experience where the adults created more of a ruckus than the babies onboard.
“I remember being on a flight when our daughter was three months old, a loud, drunk passenger disturbed the entire cabin for most of the flight while multiple babies onboard barely made a peep. Assuming that a passenger will or will not disrupt the flight based on their age is unfair.”
<h3>Travel creates special memories for children that last a lifetime</h3>
Despite the challenge of flying with kids, CEO and mother of 3, <a href="https://globalsecureresources.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie</a> is convinced that,
“My children really appreciated all the great places they’ve seen and the memories we have made.”
CEO and avid traveler, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/upparent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandra Fung</a>, heartily agrees with Carrie and told us that “air travel enables my three children to know their relatives living on the opposite coast and gives my family the opportunity to create memories together on vacation.”
<h2>Kids On A Plane – What’s The Way Forward?</h2>
<figure id="attachment_186172" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-186172" style="width: 599px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18134222/scream-1819736-1920.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-186172" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/18134222/scream-1819736-1920.jpg" alt="flying with kids" width="599" height="393"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-186172" class="wp-caption-text">Image from Pixaby</figcaption></figure>
The topic of whether flights should be child-free is always bound to attract an abundance of strong opinions.
From reading the different points of view raised, we believe that there are ways for all passengers to travel in comfort when there are young children onboard a flight.
For instance, passengers should strive to be more open to helping travelers with young children.
Secondly, there are various pre-flight practices that can increase the chance of a smooth flight with a baby or toddler.
Finally, airlines should do more to support families that travel by providing more suitable entertainment for kids.
Let’s tackle these points separately.
<h3>Getting a little support from passengers goes a long way</h3>
Home organization expert, <a href="https://www.lkhomeorganization.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kim</a>, is one of the many parents who believes that getting support from passengers helps.
She shared the experience she had traveling with her husband and 9-month old twins (one of which had a medical issue).
As can be imagined, when she entered the carrier with her husband and their twins, they felt flustered. She recollects the trip saying,
“No one would make eye contact with us on the plane. However, one couple did. They walked up and told us they had twins as well and offered to hold them for us while my husband and I got settled. That instantly calmed our nerves and the flight was beyond smooth from there.”
<h3>Parents with children should prepare before a flight</h3>
Like many parents who bring babies and toddlers on planes, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/upparent" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandra Fung</a>, does her best to prepare before a flight so that her family and passengers have a positive flight experience. Alexandra’s pre-flight regime includes avoiding night-time flights when other passengers are likely to want to sleep, coming prepared with plenty of new plane activities for her kids, and setting boundaries and correct behavior in the air, just as she does on the ground.
CEO and mother of 3, <a href="https://globalsecureresources.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carrie</a>, began to travel with her daughter when she was just 3 months old. She also believes that parents will likely find the trip goes smoother if they prepare as much as possible beforehand.
Her travel advice for families flying with kids is to take quiet activities that will occupy them. If you want to bring your baby on a plane, Carrie believes it’s a good idea to feed your baby on take off and landing. She did this with all her babies and it helped with the pressure in their ears.
Family blogger and travel advice expert, <a href="https://www.bebevoyage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianne</a>, also believes that to minimize the tantrums and breakdowns young children have on planes, parents should be well prepared before a flight. 
Marianne advises that pre-flight, parents should create a checklist where they ask themselves questions like –
• Does the flight work well (as much as possible) with their little one’s routine? 
• Have you packed good travel toys? 
• If traveling with a baby or toddler – is everything set up so the baby can be fed at take off and landing?
If you would like to read more in-depth <a href="https://www.airhelp.com/en/blog/air-travel-with-kids/">air travel tips</a>, this article shares a definitive list of tried-and-tested recommendations to help parents with kids get the best flight experience.
<h3>Airlines should do more to cater to young children</h3>
Travel lover, Francesca Lormeus, is in favor of flying with children. She believes that airlines can be more supportive and help to prevent children from throwing tantrums on planes. In her opinion, the reason behind young children being disruptive on a flight is connected to boredom and restlessness.
Her advice to airlines is to provide more entertainment for children. She explains,
“Most airplanes cater to adults by providing entertainment like magazines and movies. However – often – there are no gadgets appealing to children such as games, kid-friendly age-appropriate colorful books, children themed movies and toys.”
<h2>Taking a Baby on a Plane – Rounding Off The Baby Ban Debate</h2>
At the heart of this debate is not whether babies should be restricted from planes – that would simplify the topic entirely.
Instead, this debate raises more complex questions like – should young children be restricted to certain types of flights or sections of a plane? What can airlines do to provide more entertainment for young children to keep them entertained?
On one hand, we can empathize with disgruntled travelers because they believe that the minute they leave their homes to embark on their trip their relaxation should start. So if taking a baby on a plane results in blood-curdling screams – this does not align with a traveler’s vision of an enjoyable flight.
That being said, as long as the parent/s are doing their best to pacify their child, as passengers (and human beings), we ought to sympathize with them. After all, we were all babies once and as travel expert, <a href="https://www.bebevoyage.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marianne</a> points out, “a little compassion will go a long way for families traveling with children.”
Sometimes, it’s just not possible to have the perfect flight and you may need to put on your noise-blocking headphones to get some shut-eye or calm your nerves when there are disruptive children on your flight.
Remember, parents don’t want to experience their kids having a meltdown in public either.
We were also interested to learn from Marianne that according to Amadeus (the software that runs many of the online ticketing sites), family travel is the demographic that is going to see some of the largest growth in the coming years. So like it or not, you’re probably going to be seeing more babies and kids on your flights.
What are your thoughts on this topic – do you believe airlines banning babies and children from flights is the way forward for comfortable and enjoyable air travel? Or do you believe that airlines need to do more to keep young children entertained?
Share your thoughts in our comments section below, we would love to know your opinion.
Flight delays happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. You may be entitled to <a href="https://app.airhelp.com/claims/new/trip-details">as much as $700 </a>in compensation if your flight has been delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.

Flying with children - should young children be banned from planes to ensure comfort? Or do you believe that kids have every right to be on a plane?

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The Frequent Flyer Hacks To Red-Eye Flights

By Iona Brannon, AirportParkingReservations.com &amp; ParkSleepFly.com
<a href="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/15081251/frequentflyerredeye-final-resized.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-184927" src="https://static.airhelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/15081251/frequentflyerredeye-final-resized.jpg" alt="Red-eye flight tips" width="600" height="328"></a>
Oh, that dreaded red-eye flight. We’ve all been there. If you’re in the air often, you’ve most definitely experienced a late-night flight or two. These flights – often referred to as red-eye flights – typically leave late at night or early in the morning and land in the destination city in the morning. Although red-eye flights have their benefits, from more seating availability to lower prices and less day time spent in the air, these flights can take a toll on our bodies.
So why do we dread red-eye flights? And how do we make them (a little) better?
The biggest reason we dread red-eye flights is the way they interrupt our routines. The hustle and bustle before a flight, the nighttime driving, stressful delays, and parking issues — all of this completely disrupts our regular schedule. Dreading your flight isn’t just mental. It’s physical. The cortisol production can shoot up with all the stress going on, and the disruption of our circadian rhythm can take <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/aircrew/jetlag.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">up to 2 weeks</a> to recover from.
So what’s one way to make a red-eye flight easier? Sleep. While there’s no way to get around your flight’s actual hours, booking a hotel close to the airport to sleep at the night before can help significantly reduce your sleep disruption, giving you a place to go through your regular nightly routines for a few hours of sleep before a flight. You’ll be surprised at how a few extra hours of sleep can change the way you feel the rest of your trip.
Traveling stress, especially when it comes to parking, can also be lessened when you book a package that includes parking and airport shuttle service. You won’t have to fight through the grogginess to find parking. You can simply get into your shuttle and step out at your terminal entrance. Our <a href="https://www.parksleepfly.com/?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AirHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ParkSleepFly.com</a> website can come in handy here for finding the best airport hotel deals that include parking and shuttle service to the airport, and it sorts through the options based on your preferences and budget.
What if you don’t have the luxury to park and sleep at an airport hotel? The key is to reduce as much stress and wasted time as possible, so look into finding a reservable parking lot close to the airport, so you don’t have to battle out airport traffic. Using our parking aggregator <a href="https://www.airportparkingreservations.com/?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Affiliate&amp;utm_campaign=AirHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AirportParkingReservations.com</a> travelers can help ease the stress of flying late at night by ensuring your parking spot is available, accessible and affordable. Off-airport parking lots have shuttles that will take you straight to your terminal so your transition onto the plane can be just a bit smoother.
Once you’re on the plane, you’ll want to pick up where you left off with your dreams. If you’ve booked a window seat, you can use the window as a headrest. Packing the right essentials can bring a little extra comfort to your journey. A comfortable eye mask and snug earplugs won’t give you a spa experience, but they’ll drown out the crying infants and reading lights. Need a little more help to fall asleep? Moisturize and use a relaxing essential oil to help ground you and set your mind to snooze.
Get enough rest in a manner as close to your usual routine as possible, and you’ll find yourself recovering quicker from your flight in the morning. Flying on red-eye is rarely a pleasant experience, but with these tips, you can make it less miserable. Who knows, you may even step off the plane refreshed!
Based out of Los Angeles, Iona Brannon is the Content and Affiliate Marketing Strategist for AirportParkingReservations.com and ParkSleepFly.com. Her hobbies include looking at airplane tickets, sitting in LA traffic, and occasionally yelling at other drivers.

Got a red-eye flight coming up? From how to nail a parking spot to how to have a comfortable flight - our essential guide tells you what you need to know.

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