Latest news with #AlternativeDisputeResolution
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Six million air travellers denied boarding annually as airlines overbook
With summer travel reaching its peak, a rising number of airline passengers are finding themselves stranded at airports despite holding confirmed tickets. As per law, the airlines have to provide the full assistance to the passengers who were denied boarding the aircraft.(Pexels) New research cited by the Daily Mail reveals that more than 6 million travellers are denied boarding each year due to overbooking, a practice where airlines sell more tickets than available seats, anticipating that some passengers will not show up. When that gamble fails, it's the passengers who pay the price. Also Read: Flight mode: How to stay sane on long plane rides 20 million travelers are affected by overbooked flights looked at data from the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and found that over 20 million travelers are affected by overbooked flights each year. Of those, nearly a third—about 6.6 million—are completely denied boarding. As per law, the airlines have to provide the full assistance to the passengers who were denied boarding the aircraft. The assistance includes booking another, providing compensation or providing coverage for meals and accommodation. As per reports, 84% of passengers were provided alternative flights while 1 in 6 did not—leaving close to 1 million travelers stranded without backup. Of those, 71% reported financial losses as a result. Only 44% of passengers claim their travel insurance Only 44% of passengers affected tried to claim money back using their travel insurance. Rhys Jones, a travel insurance expert at said people need to be prepared. He said, 'Flight overbooking happens more than we'd like to think, and it can make for an extremely stressful start to any trip for the passengers affected." He added, 'If it happens to you, and you're not allowed to board a plane, the first thing you should do is confirm with the airline that you were denied boarding because of overbooking. Get this in writing if possible.' Jones advises asking the airline what they're going to do to help—whether it's rebooking your flight, covering your expenses, or giving you compensation. Also Read: Albuquerque Airport ground stop: What caused fire alarm at ATC Center; here's flight status Keep all relevant document He also suggests holding on to any paperwork, "Remember to keep all relevant documents like boarding passes, communications from your airline and receipts for accommodation or meal costs. Your airline should compensate these expenses.' And if you're not getting help? 'Know that you can complain to your airline if necessary, and even, if it isn't being resolved, take your complaint to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme,' Jones said. Regular travel insurance usually doesn't cover overbooking, but Jones said some plans offer 'travel disruption' coverage. It's a good idea to read the fine print before you fly.
North Wales Live
3 days ago
- North Wales Live
6.6million passengers denied boarding flights despite having passports and tickets
A staggering 6.6 million air passengers are denied boarding each year despite having a valid ticket and passport, according to survey results combined with Civil Aviation Authority data. This is due to airlines "bumping" passengers from flights because of overbooking. Overbooking is a common practice where airlines sell more tickets for a flight than there are seats on the plane. They do this assuming some travellers won't show up for the flight, but it can sometimes result in too many passengers arriving to board, causing significant delays for some flyers. A recent study by analysed Civil Aviation Authority figures and survey data to estimate the number of passengers affected by this practice each year. In total, around 20.9 million passengers annually are estimated to have felt the impact of overbooking over the past decade. About one-third of affected passengers told the insurance comparison site that they were unable to board their plane as a result. This equates to around 6.6 million travellers denied boarding per year during this period. When a flight is overbooked, airlines are legally required to manage any affected travellers by providing alternative flights, compensation and assistance. Among the travellers surveyed, most (84%) of those who had been denied boarding were booked onto another flight. That equals around one million passengers each year whose journey is not rearranged, reports the Liverpool Echo. Out of these passengers, almost two-thirds said they lost money as a result. However, just under half of these decided to claim on their travel insurance. The insurance comparison site is urging passengers to know their rights in case this happens to them while travelling this year. Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at said: "Flight overbooking happens more than we'd like to think, and it can make for an extremely stressful start to any trip for the passengers affected. If it happens to you, and you're not allowed to board a plane, the first thing you should do is confirm with the airline that you were denied boarding because of overbooking. Get this in writing if possible. "Next, you'll want to discuss what your airline intends to do to get your trip back on course, how they plan to assist you and what compensation they're offering. They should try to book you onto another flight when possible. "Remember to keep all relevant documents like boarding passes, communications from your airline and receipts for accommodation or meal costs. Your airline should compensate these expenses. Know that you can complain to your airline if necessary, and even, if it isn't being resolved, take your complaint to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. "While travel insurance likely won't cover you for overbooking, you should be able to claim compensation from your airline for certain costs incurred as a result, like if you missed your connection or have to cancel part of your trip. And, some insurance policies do offer optional travel disruption cover, which can protect you if your airline fails to provide a suitable alternative flight. So it's worth checking if your provider offers this, and the details of what's included."
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Nearly seven million passengers denied plane boarding despite having ticket and passport
One strict airline policy is leaving millions stranded at the airport after being denied boarding to their flight. Nearly seven million air passengers are being denied boarding every year even though they have a valid ticket and passport, according to Civil Aviation Authority data and new research. A whopping 6.6 million people are being knocked back from flights because of overbooking by airlines. Airlines often sell more tickets for a flight than the number of seats on the plane, because they assume some travellers won't turn up for boarding. However, this can sometimes result in too many passengers arriving to board, causing significant delays for some flyers. recently analysed Civil Aviation Authority figures and survey data to estimate the number of passengers affected by the practice each year. Their study found that in total, around 20.9 million passengers annually are estimated to have felt the impact of overbooking over the past decade. Around one-third of affected passengers told that they were unable to board their plane as a result of the overbooking. This is equal to around 6.6 million travellers being denied boarding per year, reported the Liverpool Echo. Airlines are legally required to manage any travellers affected by overbooking by providing alternative flights, compensation and assistance. Among the travellers surveyed by 84 per cent of those who had been denied boarding were booked onto another flight. This leaves around one million passengers each year whose journey is not rearranged. Out of these few passengers, almost two-thirds said they lost money as a result. However, just under half of these decided to claim on their travel insurance. The insurance comparison site is now urging passengers to know their rights in case this happens to them while travelling this year. Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at said: 'Flight overbooking happens more than we'd like to think, and it can make for an extremely stressful start to any trip for the passengers affected. "If it happens to you, and you're not allowed to board a plane, the first thing you should do is confirm with the airline that you were denied boarding because of overbooking. Get this in writing if possible. 'Next, you'll want to discuss what your airline intends to do to get your trip back on course, how they plan to assist you and what compensation they're offering. They should try to book you onto another flight when possible. 'Remember to keep all relevant documents like boarding passes, communications from your airline and receipts for accommodation or meal costs. "Your airline should compensate these expenses. Know that you can complain to your airline if necessary, and even, if it isn't being resolved, take your complaint to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. 'While travel insurance likely won't cover you for overbooking, you should be able to claim compensation from your airline for certain costs incurred as a result, like if you missed your connection or have to cancel part of your trip. "And, some insurance policies do offer optional travel disruption cover, which can protect you if your airline fails to provide a suitable alternative flight. So it's worth checking if your provider offers this, and the details of what's included.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Three Mobile network down with customers unable to make or receive calls
We've explained if you'll be entitled to compensation PHONE FAIL Three Mobile network down with customers unable to make or receive calls Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THOUSANDS of Three mobile customers have been left unable to make or receive phone calls. Problems started on Wednesday morning, with more than 9,300 issues logged by customers on the outage detection site Down Detector. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Issues started at 8am on Wednesday morning More than 79% of the customers on the website report that they are having issues with their voice call services. One customer said on X (formally Twitter): "What's going on with the network guys? "I can't receive or make calls." Another customer said: "No incoming or outgoing calls are becoming regular occurrences now. Time to switch." A third added: "It honestly feels like the network is down more than it's up. "I have to rely on WhatsApp calling most of the time." The network provider has more than ten million mobile customers across the UK. It's understood that iD Mobile and Smarty, which both run on the Three network, are also impacted by the outage. A spokesperson for Three told The Sun: "We are aware of an issue affecting a small percentage of voice services and are working hard to fix it. "Data services are working normally. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused." Are you owed cash from an outage? If you're suffering issues with your internet, call or mobile services then you may be entitled to compensation. Internet firms usually pay out £8 for each say that broadband and phone service is not repaired after two full days of no service. If you're a mobile customer and you suffer from a lack of service then depending on the circumstance you may be entitled to a refund or account credit. If you're without service for a sustained period of time then you may have the right to leave without incurring a fee. If you still want to complain to Three Mobile about an issue, you can contact the firm via phone, online or pop by a branch. You can also speak to Three Mobile via its live chat service on the app. If your problem is still unresolved after eight weeks, you can complain to an independent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Used by foreign missions: No additional duties on resale of locally purchased vehicles: FTO
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat (FTO) on Wednesday conveyed to embassies and foreign missions that vehicles purchased from the local market and subsequently used by Foreign Missions are not subject to further duties upon resale. The Federal Tax Ombudsman Secretariat (FTO) held the second session of the Diplomatic Grievances Redressal Cell (DGRC) at FTO Head office. This session brought together representatives from the embassies of South Africa, Philippines, United States of America, Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Qatar, Romania, and Kuwait. Representatives from the United Nations World Food Programme were also in attendance. This event was chaired by Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan, Dr Asif Mahmood Jah and featured briefings by senior officials of FTO Secretariat including Almas Ali Jovindah (Head of DGRC), Dr Arslan Subuctageen (Advisor Customs), and Khalid Javaid (Registrar). Addressing a query from the representative of US Embassy, Dr Arslan confirmed that vehicles purchased in the local market and used by Foreign Missions are not subject to further duties upon resale, as taxes are already paid at the point of sale. In response to concerns from the Jordanian Embassy about challenges faced by outgoing officers in selling their vehicles, he advised contacting the 'International Customs' section of FBR. If the matter remains unresolved, he assured, the DGRC would assist further. Dr Asif Mahmood Jah placed emphasis on FTO's mandate to provide a cost-free and efficacious forum for addressing tax-related issues, particularly those affecting foreign missions. He remarked that the DGRC was created in response to repeated concerns from the diplomatic community, pertaining to procedural delays and bottlenecks faced with FBR and Customs Authorities. With a 30-day resolution target, DGRC is designed to streamline communication and promote institutional accountability. During his presentation, Almas Jovindah stated that the DGRC was established to formalize a consistent and responsive interface between taxation authorities of Pakistan and the diplomatic corps. Its mandate goes beyond administrative support as it aims to function as a dedicated mechanism to ensure that grievances of the diplomats are addressed with transparency and urgency. Jovindah also shed light on the recent accomplishments of DGRC in which complaints from the embassies of Poland, Kuwait, Türkiye, and Belgium were resolved on a priority basis by FTO after facing considerable inaction. While presenting performance statistics of FTO, Jovindah reported that as of May 2025, the FTO had received over 15,000 complaints, with an average resolution time of 34 days and a 96% implementation rate. In 2024 alone, 13,500 cases were handled, including 1,700 through informal Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). He also remarked that FTO is an autonomous body and works as a watchdog of FBR who intervenes in case of overreach or inaction of their officers. Advisor (Customs), Dr Arslan Subuctageen provided a detailed briefing on the legal framework governing customs privileges for diplomats. Referring to SRO 578(I)/2006 and its amendment S.R.O. 649(I)/2017, he explained the duty-free import of vehicles by diplomatic missions under reciprocity, and the graduated duties applicable upon resale based on the vehicle's age and category. He also clarified that diplomats may shop at the designated duty-free diplomatic warehouse in Islamabad. Dr Subuctageen also elaborated the distinction between diplomatic bags and diplomatic cargo. While diplomatic bags which are certified by the Sending State are exempt from inspection, cargo exceeding 500 kg is subject to scanning and requires documentation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In exceptional cases involving credible risk, inspections may be conducted in the presence of the mission and MOFA representatives. FTO Secretariat's Registrar Khalid Javaid briefed participants on the legal framework governing zero-rated supplies and tax refunds for diplomats under Rules 51, 52, and 52A of the Sales Tax Rules, 2006 and S.R.O. 918(I)/2019. Javaid noted that exemption certificates from MOFA enable both pre-supply and post-supply zero-rating within a 180-day window. Refunds, processed manually via the STARR system under Section 66 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Rule 38(5), are credited directly to mission accounts. He added that delays beyond one year can now be condoned up to three years per SRO 1444(I)/2024. On Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), refunds are granted under Rule 36 of the Federal Excise Rules, 2005, subject to MOFA certification and original receipts. He stressed the importance of proper documentation and clarified that while diplomats are exempt from certain taxes under Article 34 of the Diplomatic and Consular Privileges Act, 1972, Pakistan extends refunds as a reciprocal goodwill gesture, not as a blanket legal obligation. Towards the end, an interactive Q&A session took place which provided an opportunity for diplomats to raise their concerns. A number of questions focused on procedural challenges, including confusion around the responsibility for verifying tax compliance when making purchases, especially from retailers who fail to deposit taxes with the national exchequer. In response, Khalid Javaid clarified that the obligation lies with the supplier, not the mission, and assured that diplomats retain the right to refunds even if the supplier is non-compliant. He added that FBR is empowered to take action against such retailers independently. A participant from Embassy of Kuwait raised a query regarding delays in refund processing, particularly when documents are lost, rerouted, or caught between MOFA and FBR. Khalid Javaid acknowledged the bureaucratic gaps and clarified that once MOFA issues an exemption certificate, the responsibility to process the refund lies squarely with FBR. He encouraged missions to submit pending summaries directly to his office for coordinated follow-up and escalation. Regarding older claims and refund eligibility, the participant from UN World Food Programme noted that UNWFP had accumulated unpaid refunds since 2016. Javaid explained that while there is a statutory one-year limit under Section 66 of the Sales Tax Act, condonation up to three years is now possible under SRO 1444(I)/2024. He invited missions to submit full case details to explore possible facilitation within legal bounds. Diplomatic representatives expressed their appreciation to Federal Tax Ombudsman HE Dr Asif Mahmood Jah and his team for convening a solution-oriented seminar that directly addressed long-standing operational challenges. They acknowledged the objective of DGRC in providing sustained institutional support to the foreign missions in Pakistan. As a gesture of acknowledgment, certificates of participation were distributed by the Honorable FTO, Dr Asif Mahmood Jah at the end of the seminar. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
