All that passengers should know after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines – 03/12/2019

By Shannon Sims

The Ethiopian Airlines Plane Airplane Accident which resulted in the death of 157 people on Sunday, shocked travelers around the world. Just six months ago, the same model aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, operated by Lion Air, crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.

Although the cause of Sunday's tragedy is still unknown and the investigation into the Lion Air accident is continuing, there are several similar circumstances in these two plane accidents.

The 200-seat Boeing 737 Max 8 was a popular aircraft since its launch in 2017, with an order of more than 4,000 aircraft in the first six months of its launch. The plane was sold quickly, depending on the functions requested by the pbadengers: a quieter cabin, more space to stretch the legsand the benefits of results for airlines, such as fuel economy.

The entry of the aircraft on the market seemed to be a rare advantage, both for pbadengers and airlines. At the time of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines, nearly 350 Boeing 737 Max 8s were in operation worldwide, including the United States, on routes all over the country: from Miami to Los Angeles, from Houston to Denver , from San Francisco to Portland.

In the light of the Ethiopian crash, some countries and some airlines have announced that the Boeing 737 Max 8 would not fly. China and Indonesia were the first countries to do so almost immediately, while at least 22 airlines around the world have made similar announcements. But at least 12 other airlines, including American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, continued to fly these planes on Monday, and the Federal Aviation Administration he did not order his detention on land.

To help travelers understand what determines the time of a flight and their rights if they decide not to board a Boeing 737 Max 8, we discuss with companies airlines, lawyers specializing in the defense of pbadengers and expert lines. air:

How do I know if I'm traveling on a Boeing 737 Max 8?

For most travelers, information on the type of plane that they will be traveling It is available at the time of bookingeither during the seat selection process or at another point in the online connection.

Experienced travelers, especially those who often book longer flights, often consult FlightStats.com or SeatGuru.com to decide which aircraft to travel on.

Even though the pbadengers decide the type of plane they book, the airlines could change plane at the last moment, for logistical purposes or changing weather conditions.

On Monday, some turned to Twitter, saying they had canceled flights or asked airlines not to fly any Boeing 737 Max 8s into their fleet.

If I want to cancel a planned flight on this type of plane, What are my rights? Can I get a refund or a free flight elsewhere?

Henrik Zillmer, CEO of AirHelp, a Travelocity partner company to help travelers claim their rights to airlines, says pbadengers Bad luck.

"Travelers can cancel their flights, although they can not claim to no compensation if they decide to do so, "he said." They are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement for the tickets purchased because, technically, cancel is your decision. "

If, however, you have booked a flight with an airline that has decided not to fly your Boeing 737 Max 8, Zillmer thinks that your ticket will probably be refunded.

"This situation is the result of mechanical problems and, consequently, of the fault of the airline, travelers may be eligible to claim compensation"He said.

However, what is the corresponding compensation and what are the laws that protect pbadengers, depend on the departure airport and the country of origin of the airline.

If you are flying to or from the European Union, or a flight operated by an airline based in the European Union, Zillmer indicates that EU regulations may entitle you compensation up to and including "$ 700 per person".

However, if you are traveling to another destination in the world, you may not have another option; Many routes operate with limited hours and in some cases there is no option to change flights.

What about flight insurance?

Paul Hudson, president of Flyers Rights, a pbadenger advocacy group, says even insurance could do nothing in these circumstances.

"The insurance would probably protect against delays due to land detention by the government or an airline, but not by the choice of the pbadenger to change the flight," he said.

"If your airline cancels or delays your flight excessively, you can get an involuntary refund of what you paid for that flight, even if the ticket is marked" non-refundable, "he added.

Julie Loffredi, Media Relations Manager at InsureMyTrip.com, a travel insurance comparison site, said the "fear" was not usually enough reason to compensate travelers who cancel their trip. flights.

"With traditional standard travel insurance, you can not cancel and recover your money out of fear," he said.

However, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, more and more airline pbadengers have bought a cover that allows them to cancel, for whatever reason.

Which North American based airlines currently operate Boeing 737 Max 8s?

With 34 operational aircraft, Southwest Airlines It is the airline that has the largest number of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in the world. Air Canada and American Airlines, each with 24. United Airlines, do not operate a Boeing 737 Max 8, although it operates the 737 Max 9.

The US Federal Aviation Administration he tweeted on Sunday that he was "closely watching" the evolution of the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash, though, up to ############################################################################################ At Monday afternoon, the agency ordered none of the aircraft to be anchored to the ground.

What happens to exchange rates?

Southwest Airlines does not charge a change fee. Pbadengers can easily adjust their travel plans if they discover that their booking is in a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Southwest. However, it may be necessary to pay a difference in the price of the ticket. American Airlines charges a change fee.

Which airlines have stopped their Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft on the ground and which ones?

Cayman Airways in the Cayman Islands has immobilized its two Boeing 737 Max 8. Ethiopian Airlines has immobilized the other four. The Administration of Chinese Civil Aviation has immobilized the 97 Boeing 737 Max 8 for domestic cabotage flights. Indonesia followed the example. Britain, has also joined.

How do the airlines react?

Southwest Airlines representative Brian Parrish said by e-mail that the airline was in contact with Boeing and was continuing the investigation. "We remain confident in the safety and airworthiness of our entire fleet of more than 750 Boeing 737s," he added. "We have no changes planned in the operations of the 737 MAX. "

Rachael Rivas, representative of United Airlines, said that although United had no Max 8 aircraft in its fleet, it had other aircraft in the Boeing 737 Max series. "We have made it clear that the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is safe and that our pilots are properly trained to fly the MAX aircraft safely," he added.

American Airlines has not responded to a request for comment.

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