What happens when an operating air carrier goes bankrupt for a flight that was ticketed through another carrier?

7/10/2016 2:27:05 PM

It is the responsibility of the airline issuing the Ticket to reaccommodate you.

For an alliance carrier, this really isn’t a problem and certainly nothing I would worry about.

To issuing carrier, this isn’t any different than a schedule change or the operating carrier ceasing just that one flight. This happens all the time. It’s common for an itinerary issued >3 months in advance to have some change.

Actually, the ticketing carrier is only obligated to get you to your destination, not at a specific time and not on specific flights.

7/10/2016 10:12:44 AM

Your contract is between you and the ticketing carrier (see first three digits of e-ticket). If you paid with a credit card, on your statement, you will see this airline as the recipient of the funds for your flights. Subsequently, the ticketing airline will consult the various agreements with the other airlines to distribute any fees due.

If the operating carrier has schedule changes, you will be rebooked on other carriers potentially including the ticketing carrier’s flights or its other airline partners. Similarly, if the operating carrier goes bankrupt your ticketing carrier is still obligated to arrange alternative transport for you.

Since the operating carrier has various responsibilities such as providing EU261/2004 compensation where applicable, this is not something you would likely be able attempt to claim from your ticketing carrier should flights be cancelled due to bankruptcy.

There’s a great article on FT explaining the various parties involved in your ticket. I’ll just extract one small part:

There are four (!) different basic ways that an airline can be
involved in a ticket:

  • As ticketing carrier (sometimes called "validating" or "plating" carrier). In the end, a ticket must be
    issued by a single airline, on that airline’s virtual (or physical
    paper) ticket "stock". This airline gets the money and distributes it
    to the other airlines on the ticket.
  • As fare owning carrier. This is
    the airline whose fare is used and who sets the price for the flights
    the fare covers.
  • As marketing carrier of a flight. This is the airline
    whose flight number is used; they’re the ones offering the flight for
    sale.
  • As operating carrier of a flight, the ones who own and operate
    the plane and supply the crew.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

Search Posts

Latest posts

Popular posts