The Alaska Airlines Customer Service Commitment (CSC) is incorporated by reference in this Contract of Carriage. The Carrier's CSC further explains, augments and expands upon Carrier's policies, procedures, methods of operation, obligation and dedication to customer safety, service and satisfaction.
Exception 1: We cannot provide the amenities outlined in this section if air traffic control, a weather situation, or another extraordinary circumstance beyond our control occurs at any city within your intended flight routing. We will do all possible to advise you of weather problems before departure, but it is always advisable to check weather conditions along your route and plan accordingly.
When AS is unable to provide previously confirmed space due to more passengers holding confirmed reservations and tickets than there are available seats on a flight, AS will take the actions specified in the provisions of this rule.
Our apology at this moment may seem immaterial and secondary to your concerns, but we are genuinely sorry that you have been involuntarily denied boarding on our flight. Our foremost concern is to reaccommodate and compensate you as quickly as possible. While this form describes your rights in regulatory terms as required by the Department of Transportation, we also feel it is equally important to answer any questions you may have at this time.
Compensation for Denied Boarding
If you have been denied a reserved seat on Alaska Airlines, you
are probably entitled to monetary compensation. This notice explains
the airline's obligation and the passenger's rights in the case
of an oversold flight, in accordance with regulations of the U.S.
Department of Transportation (D.O.T.).
Volunteers and Boarding Priorities
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations
than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding
against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers
who will give up their reservation willingly, in exchange for a
payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers,
other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in
accordance with the following boarding priority of Alaska Airlines.
When it becomes necessary to involuntarily deny boarding to confirmed
travelers, customers will be boarded in the following order
until all available seats are occupied:
All customers holding confirmed seat assignments will be
boarded.
Customers who are not holding confirmed seat assignments
will be boarded in order of the time they check in with any
Alaska Airlines' customer service agent. The computer records
the time of check-in when seat requests cannot be immediately
accommodated.
Possible exceptions may be made in the case of unaccompanied
minors, qualified handicapped individuals, or any other
passenger, who in the carrier's opinion, may suffer severe hardship.
Business commitments will not of themselves constitute
a severe hardship.
Compensation of Involuntary Denied Boarding
If you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to a payment of
"denied boarding compensation" from the airline UNLESS one of the following situations apply:
Amount of Denied Boarding Compensation
Passengers who are eligible for denied boarding compensation
must be offered a payment equal to the sum of the face values of
their ticket coupons, with a USD $400 maximum. However, if the airline
cannot arrange "alternate transportation" (see below) for the passenger,
the compensation is doubled (USD $800 maximum). The "value"
of a ticket coupon is the one-way fare for the flight shown on the
coupon including any surcharge and air transportation tax, minus
any applicable discount. All flight coupons, including connecting
flights, to the passenger's final destination or first 4-hour stopover
are used to compute the compensation.
"Alternate transportation" is air transportation (by an airline licensed
by the D.O.T.) or other transportation used by the passenger which,
at the time the arrangement is made, is planned to arrive at the
passenger's next scheduled stopover (of 4 hours or longer) or final
destination no later than 2 hours (for flights within U.S. points, including
territories and possessions) or 4 hours (for international
flights) after the passenger's originally scheduled arrival time.
Method of Payment
The airline must give each passenger who qualifies for denied boarding
compensation a payment by cash or check for the amount specified
above, on the day and place the involuntary denied boarding
occurs. However, if the airline arranges alternate transportation for
the passenger's convenience that departs before the payment can
be made, the payment will be sent to the passenger within 24 hours.
The air carrier may offer free tickets in place of the cash payment.
The passenger may, however, insist on the cash payment, or refuse
all compensation and bring private legal action.
Passenger's Options
Acceptance of the compensation may relieve Alaska Airlines from
any further liability to the passenger caused by its failure to honor
the confirmed reservation. However, the passenger may decline
the payment and seek to recover damages in a court of law or in
some other manner.
The amount AS will refund upon surrender of the unused portion of the passenger's ticket, pursuant to Rule 35 (Refusal to Transport), Rule 50 (Acceptance of Children), or Rule 240 (Failure to Operate on Schedule or Failure to Carry), will be:
The destination airport designated on the passenger ticket is:
And the Flight Terminated at (or Vice Versa):
AS reserves the right to refuse to make any refund in a currency other than that used in the purchase or at a place other than that at which payment was made.