r/Flights 18h ago

Discussion Airport lounges changed the way I think about long layovers

65 Upvotes

I used to think airport lounges were only for frequent business travelers, but after trying one during a long layover, I realized how much more relaxed traveling can be. Having a quiet place to sit, recharge my devices, and grab something to eat made a huge difference.
Has anyone else had a travel experience that completely changed their opinion about something?


r/Flights 8h ago

Complaint EzyJet gaslighting

4 Upvotes

I’m dealing with two ongoing EasyJet cases (compensation + expenses) and I’m honestly at the point where I feel like they’re gaslighting me.

Flight EZY817 on 30 June 2026 (EDI>LGW) was cancelled. EasyJet keeps telling me it was due to “air traffic control restrictions across Europe” and “adverse weather”. But that’s simply not true.

  • The original aircraft (G‑EZUL) arrived in Edinburgh and we boarded it after a delay and with no communication as to why.
  • Ground staff told us the initial delay was due to a technical issue that had “that was noted on the inbound flight but had now been fixed”.
  • The captain stood in the cabin and announced a technical fault was still present but that engineers were trying a repair.
  • Repairs failed, and the captain told us the aircraft was unserviceable BUT a replacement aircraft (G‑EZWZ) from Birmingham was due in later and would take us to LGW.
  • Flight‑tracking shows all aircraft movements with no ATC or weather issues.
  • EZY817 was the only flight cancelled at Edinburgh that evening (weather related right?)
  • Weather data for Edinburgh, Birmingham, London and Amsterdam (G-EZUL's departure location before arriving into Edinburgh) shows no adverse conditions.
  • I checked with ground crew that our existing crew, or a new crew would be available and appropriately rostered to operate the new plane later on, and was told "Yes, they've only flown one sector today and are way under their limit before rest".
  • After more delays, staff told us the flight was cancelled because they “didn’t have a crew” to operate the replacement aircraft.

So from my perspective nothing to do with ATC or weather.

I’ve explained all of this to EasyJet multiple times, with evidence (weather, plane numbers, documentation I made on the day etc), and they just keep repeating a variation of the same template about ATC restrictions. They won’t acknowledge the captain’s announcements, the aircraft swap, or the actual timeline.

I’m trying to get compensation under UK261 and reimbursement for the car hire we had to arrange (on the direct instruction of EasyJet ground staff - we had to make a LGW-SIN flight). But they keep shutting it down with the ATC excuse.

Has anyone dealt with this before? I feel like the email responses are AI variations of the same thing. Is ADR (AviationADR / CEDR) the next step, or is there anything else I should do before escalating? I have responded to them again today in one last attempt to attract an intelligble response...

Any advice appreciated this has been incredibly frustrating. To be honest, I'd be happy with a public admission of them lying over receiving the money at this point... But I do want what is owed..


r/Flights 1h ago

Delays/Cancellations/Compensation Ryanair - 3h14m late due to technical fault. Worth claiming UK261?

Upvotes

STN → BCN today.
Aircraft taxied, returned to stand due to a technical fault, then we were transferred to a replacement aircraft.
Scheduled arrival: 17:00 CEST
First door opened: 20:14 CEST (3h14m late)
We also weren’t offered any food, water or vouchers despite the delay exceeding two hours.
Am I right in thinking I should claim both:
£220 UK261 compensation (unless Ryanair can prove extraordinary circumstances), and
failure to provide duty of care?
Thanks!


r/Flights 11h ago

Question Solo flying as a 17 year old

1 Upvotes

I will be solo flying for the first time as a 17 year old, is there anything I should know or keep in mind? I'm in the U.S. and just flying to another state, and I'm flying delta. I've flown before, but that was with my family. I'm pretty nervous but also very excited, and I mainly know what to pack and how to pack it and everything, but is there anything else I should know?


r/Flights 5h ago

Help Needed BudgetAir Didn't Give Out "Confirmation Number" - Please Help

1 Upvotes

I booked a flight from California to Taiwan from BudgetAir, the two airlines that were booked from BudgetAir were "ZipAir" Tokyo" and "Thai Lion Air".

ZipAir is looking for this "confirmation number" to find my booking, I looked through my emails from BudgetAir and even viewed the E-ticket PDF they sent, I don't see it. I tried entering the Online Check-in number, nope, didn't work. Currently in contact but I am wondering if anybody else had experienced this issue, what happened?


r/Flights 5h ago

Question EasyJet reversed transaction, flights still active

1 Upvotes

Booked a package holiday with EasyJet but we had to change the flight to an earlier time - I did this via online chat with a rep and I paid for it using their portal, everything went through and I checked in the new flight however my transaction has been reversed, but everything is still active?

Not sure what to do here, have I just got lucky and been given a free flight change?😂


r/Flights 5h ago

Question ¿Podrían darme consejos sobre las escalas de un viaje ida y vuelta?

1 Upvotes

Hola. Espero que estén muy bien. Mi nombre es Iván Julio, soy de Costa Rica.

Resulta que es mi primer viaje y tengo 2 escalas, una de ellas es en el aeropuerto de LIM (Lima Perú) y es de 2 horas 45 minutos. La otra escala es en BSB (Brasilia) y es de 1 hora 30 minutos para ir a Foz do Iguaçu.

Mi consulta es:

·¿Cómo se la arregla uno con los tiempos?

·¿Son muy grandes esos aeropuertos y se puede uno perder o son muy predictivos con rótulos y guías?

·¿Hay que pasar de nuevo a revisar el equipaje de mano?

·¿Es muy frío en septiembre, en Lima durante las escalas?

Otra cosa es que mis asientos son aleatorios en todos los vuelos, ahí me han dicho que debo hacer el check-in apenas se active la opción y llegar temprano al aeropuerto.

La aerolínea es LATAM, dicen que son muy puntuales, o por lo menos eso he leído.

Cualquier otra recomendación es bienvenida.

Gracias.


r/Flights 7h ago

Delays/Cancellations/Compensation AA misinformed me of Flight Credit expiration multiple times. Refuses to refund or extend. What are my options?

1 Upvotes

For a year and a half, American Airlines (AA) has been misinforming me about the expiration date for a flight credit (\~$500). I feel I've done my due diligence in verifying it along the way. When finally I try to use the credit to book a ticket, though, AA changes their information and says the credits are already expired and there's nothing they can do. I've filed two DOT/OACP complaints. What else can I do?

This just can't be right ... right? Am I crazy?

More details:

1/31/2025 - I booked a flight with a 3rd party for a changeable ticket.

7/11/2025 - I pay AA $50 to take over the ticket and partially use the credit, leaving ~$500 in credits. On the phone, the AA agent verifies the ~$500 credit expires 7/11/2026.

Phone calls on 8/17/2025 and 3/18/2026, AA agent also verifies the credit is valid through to 7/11/2026.

6/14/2026 - I check on the credit status. The mobile app shows a date of 8/24/2025 for the Flight Credit, with a message that says "Don’t worry, the value of your ticket is safe. You can apply the value of your unused flights towards a future trip." And AA's Flight credit status tool shows a date of 7/11/2025. With the confusing conflicting info from AA, I use AA's chat channel and an agent verifies the credits to be valid through to 7/11/2026.

6/17/2026, I tried to book using the Flight Credits when I encountered an error. I reached out to AA for help with the booking when they told me the ticket expired on 1/31/2026. They told me to reach out to the refunds department.

6/18/2026 - I submit a refund request. I also reach out and express the urgency given the 7/11/2026 date that they told me, in case that was a mistake.

6/29/2026 - AA denies my refund request with no explanation. I reach out for follow-up, but receive no follow-up.

7/9/2026 - I submit a DOT OACP complaint.

7/11/2026 - AA emails in response to DOT OACP complaint. Shifts responsibility to 3rd party travel agency and emphasizes the original issue date of 1/31/2025. Does not acknowledge the multiple accounts of AA misleading me.

7/14/2026 - AA customer service calls me and they confirm that the credit actually expired on 7/11/2026 and that I should've been able to book on 6/17/2026, but now "there's nothing they can do". They said they would escalate the issue and that I will hear back by the end of the week.

7/19/2026 - I submit another DOT OACP complaint.

7/21/2026 - AA responds by copy-pasting their 7/11 response. I call the 3rd party travel agency, and they confirm that managing the ticket is AA's responsibility since they took it over on 7/11/2025.


r/Flights 21h ago

Help Needed Budget air passenger info

1 Upvotes

I’m trying to double check that some passenger info that I entered when buying my ticket but I’m unable to see what I entered. Do I need to contact customer service? It’s passport information, so I need to make sure it’s 100% correct before the issue tickets.


r/Flights 1h ago

Help Needed Please help me figure this out

Upvotes

I am supposed to fly alone for the first time to Zurich start of August from Europe. But the ticket is expensive and way out of my budget. So i was thinking of layover. From my country to Istanbul, then wait 5 hours at the airport ang go from there to Zurich. Does anyone have tips?? I'm thinking about doing this but I'm scared I'd get lost or lose my stuff. Do I have to recheck my bags etc


r/Flights 11h ago

Question Thai Airways A350-900 v1, seat 50k?

Post image
0 Upvotes

Has anyone tried sitting in these seats before? Are they comfortable? Apart from no floor storage are there any other trade offs?
I want to be able to move freely in front of me when I go to the bathroom so I don’t disturb people but also would like the leg space.
I assume the tv monitor is also in the arm rest?


r/Flights 13h ago

Question Is it best to book through the operating airline?

0 Upvotes

I am looking at flights from Frankfurt to Los Angeles, and there are direct flights on Lufthansa. I can book online through United but would have to call Lufthansa, as one of the tickets is a seat for an <2 year old.

Is it fine to book with United? Any big disadvantages?


r/Flights 13h ago

Help Needed PEGASUS

0 Upvotes

Flights ATH/IST/STN - first flight delayed 2 hours twenty minutes, meaning an eight hour delay in Istanbul. Arrived London Stansted at 21.30 instead of 1530. Missing suitcase took time to report and all trains finished and just dumped. Same PRN for both flights but Pegasus will not acknowledge despite captain on first flight advising initial delay was technical problems. We went to great expense to get to our final destination. Any help please!


r/Flights 20h ago

Delays/Cancellations/Compensation Am I entitled to compensation under UK261?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I’ll try to keep this straightforward as possible. I was flying LHR-SIN-MEL on a single ticket.

My initial flight SQ319 out of LHR to SIN was cancelled on June 24th due to the aero bridge catching fire. This is an extraordinary situation and Singapore Airlines have denied the claim based on this.

SQ rescheduled the flight as SQ9305 to the next day at 2pm. This flight ended up taking off 1.5 hours late. My connecting flight was rebooked to take off an hour after initial landing. Naturally I would have missed this and they rebooked me before I even landed to a flight 11 hours later.

SQ9305 was delayed because of the aircraft being prepared. SQ are claiming they are treating SQ319 and SQ9305 as the same flight and that the situation was fluid and definite time of departure was not confirmed until very last moment. However the departure time was on the boards, my boarding passes, and in the emails and texts regarding the rescheduling. Can SQ claim this or can I fight it?

As the delay to the flight out of LHR had a knock on effect to my flight out of SIN, I believe I am entitled to compensation.

Thanks in advance.

ETA: I got a flight disruption letter from their website and it says that SQ319 was renumbered as SQ9305. Does this affect it?


r/Flights 22h ago

Help Needed EasyJet lost my bag after manual check-in and I can’t even report it – any advice?

0 Upvotes

We flew from Santorini to Gatwick with EasyJet today. At check-in, staff couldn’t find our checked baggage on the system even though we’d paid for it. We showed our booking confirmation, and because their system wouldn’t print a normal baggage tag, they manually checked the suitcase using an airport-issued tag. We asked several times if this would be okay, and they assured us the bag would arrive at Gatwick.
It didn’t.
The problem now is the baggage tag they gave us isn’t recognised by EasyJet’s online system, so we can’t even submit a delayed baggage report. We’ve also spent hours trying to call EasyJet, but the AI phone system doesn’t understand the issue and keeps hanging up, so we can’t speak to a real person.
The suitcase contains all my belongings, including essential medication.
Has anyone dealt with this before or know how to actually get hold of someone who can help? We’re completely stuck.


r/Flights 36m ago

Question Flying ANA with Minor - Seat Selection Fee?

Upvotes

We booked an international ticket via ANA Airlines and they want to charge a seat selection fee so that our 3yr old can sit next to one of us (an adult). I called customer service and the agent advised that we could talk to someone at the counter and they will move seats around to ensure one of us will sit next to our child.

The flight is fairly full at the moment and only middle seats remain. My question is that whether there is a real risk our child ends up alone in the middle seat for a 14hr flight?

Thanks


r/Flights 13h ago

Question SHGM complaint status against Pegasus airlines.

Post image
0 Upvotes

Our flight with Pegasus was delayed because of which we missed our connection, which was also with Pegasus, and we had to spend 2 nights in Istanbul. Even after promising to compensate for the visa fee they later denied any compensation. I filed a complaint with SHGM and got a decision after almost 2 months but I don't understand if it was in my favour or not. Can someone please explain what it means and what I should do next?

Edit: I am not sure if there was a decision or not but the application status says closed and there is no explanation and I didn't get any email either. When I click on services from the options I see what is in the attached screenshot.


r/Flights 22h ago

Question Turkish Airlines via Istanbul: 2h10 vs 10hr layover, Sunday night flight?

0 Upvotes

Booking VLC to IST to Phuket with Turkish Airlines for late August. Two options, same price.

Option A: Depart VLC 18:55 Sunday, arrive IST 23:40, connect to a 01:50 flight to Phuket. 2h10 layover, landing HKT 15:20 next day.

Option B: Depart VLC around 11am, arrive IST early afternoon, sit through a 10 hour layover, then catch the same 01:50 flight to Phuket.

There’s only one Turkish flight a day from Istanbul to Phuket. So if we missed the connection on Option A, we’re not looking at a small delay, we’re looking at 24 hours lost and our first night’s hotel and island ferry plans thrown off at the start of the holiday.

Is 2h10 realistic for an evening connection at IST, especially since it’s late at night when things are quieter? Or is that too tight?

Also worth mentioning: since May I’ve been travelling for work to the US and nearly every flight has been delayed. Different route, but it’s made me nervous that even a 30 minute delay out of Valencia could eat the whole buffer.

On the other hand, is a 10 hour layover just overkill, especially when we’d then be getting on a 2am flight after being awake all day already?

Booking direct with Turkish Airlines.

Cheers in advance!


r/Flights 18h ago

Question Emirates A380-800 - best seats?

0 Upvotes

Flying on A380 for the first time. Trying to min-max my seat lol

Main considerations

- Engine noise, idk why but I hate seating on seats close to the wing due to 'excessive' engine noise

- Distance from WC

My question to you is: is the engine noise on A380 better away from the wings or idk due to some random physics better closer to it?


r/Flights 20h ago

Question Will I have enough time for plans by flying allegiant

0 Upvotes

Hi, I am flying allegiant for the first time, and I am flying out of Fort Lauder dale. I have plans at 7:00pm, my flight lands at 2:00pm. Will there be a high risk of me not making those plans or do flights usually operate on time?


r/Flights 16h ago

Question Delta vs Iberia for BOS-MAD

0 Upvotes

Flying BOS to MAD, deciding between flights DL62 and IB348. They both leave at the same time and cost exactly the same. What are the pros and cons for each? Thanks in advance!


r/Flights 20h ago

Question Are there any legit discount flight websites?

0 Upvotes

I'm buying plane tickets for my and my husbands first vacation together. We're actually just going to a wedding, but its a destination wedding so we're making the most of it! We're trying to fly from Kansas City, MO to Houston, TX. Airports: Kansas City (MCI), Houston (HOU, IAH). We'll be leaving Sept. 18th and returning Sept. 27th. We're looking at flying with Southwest, but we really aren't picky on airline.

I'm wondering if someone could tell me if any of those discount websites are real? It would be so much cheaper to drive, but we're driving 12 hours to drop our kids off with one of our parents, and It's another 12 hours to the port (it's also a cruise!). We really don't want to be driving for 24 hours after we get back from our vacation. I will if i have too, but I really don't want to.

If not, does anyone know any promo codes? TYIA!


r/Flights 14h ago

Help Needed A legitimate flight compensation company

0 Upvotes

Frequent fliers I need your help, I'm about to submit my flight claim with a debt-collection company for my delayed flight and have been looking at a few services as i dont want to deal with it myself.

So far ClaimFlights seems okay tho and the rest of the companies feels like a dealbreaker due to high service fees i compared it on AI so dont quote me on this. Honestly I really dont wanna fall into any online scam trap. Probably they charge less compared to others, which honestly makes me wonder if there's any catch to it.

Has anyone here actually used them? Were they reliable enough? Many write these companies are scam, I'm really sceptical. I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience before proceed with my claim. Thanks.


r/Flights 5h ago

Question Cheapest flights to Japan have a layover in Middle East airports (DXB, DOH, AUH) - will I be safe as a queer person?

0 Upvotes

Hi guys,

I am travelling from Manchester Airport to Japan (either Narita or Haneda Airport) in late August for a year studying abroad. Unfortunately, the cheapest flights (by about £200-£300) have a layover in the Middle East. I am trans non-binary and visibly androgynous/queer. I obviously would not step outside the airport and just wait for my connecting flight, but I am terrified of something happening to me during that time, even just in the airport.

Can anyone let me know if this is safe, or should I spend the extra money to not be in the Middle East? Is there anything else I should do?

Thanks :)