Protect passengers from flight cancellations

There ought to be a law giving more protection to airline passengers who are so helpless whenever their flights are cancelled.

Last March 28, I booked a flight for Cebu for my family’s August 27 trip. When I printed my e-ticket on July 30, I was surprised to find out that our 4:15 a.m. flight (2P 0922) had been moved to 7:35 a.m. (Flight 2P 0930). I called up the concerned airline’s hotline and was given “operational requirement” as reason for the change in schedule. I asked the female customer service representative what it meant. After about five minutes on hold, she said the 4:15 a.m. schedule had been cancelled for good. So that’s how this domestic airline defines operational requirement?

And what can the passengers of that flight do? Nothing! What if we have to be in Cebu by 6 a.m. on that day? Would I be entitled to a full refund so we can book our trip with another airline? Promo fares are almost always non-refundable.

I hope our lawmakers and new Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas can look into this.
—CLARITA AUSTRIA, Hagonoy, Bulacan