Am i elligible for compensation from my airline?

If both airlines were continental, i dont see why they shouldnt compensate you. Try calling their customer service and ask for a supervisor if needed. I used to work in an online travel agency and from what i remember, for any delays of more than 4 hours there should be some form of compensation to the passengers. (and it always help if you make a big deal out of it. like you missed something really important because of the delay, etc)

They might ask for the receipt from the hotel, etc so have those handy. im not sure if they will refund you thw whole thing so its better to call them.

Good luck!

hey i just found this on continental website:

RIGHT TO COMPENSATION

If you are involuntarily denied boarding or your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to receive 600 in compensation from us. If, however, we offer you re-routing on an alternative flight that will arrive within four hours of the arrival time of the flight on which you were originally booked, your compensation can be reduced to 300. We will offer you with written agreement compensation via a travel voucher and/or other service, or otherwise pay you compensation in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank order or bank cheque.

Flight Delay

a) If your flight is delayed more than four hours beyond its scheduled time of departure, we will offer you the following free of charge:

i) meals and refreshments in a reasonable relation to the waiting time; and

ii) two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mail messages.

b) If the reasonably expected time of departure of your flight is at least the day after the time of departure previously announced, we will offer

you the following free of charge:

i) hotel accommodations where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary or a stay additional to that intended by the

passenger becomes necessary; and

ii) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other).

c) If your flight is delayed more than five hours, please see above Right to Reimbursement or Re-Routing

Currently there is no legal obligation for an airline to provide any sort of Compensation. The US Congress is debating a passengers "Bill of Rights" as it affects US air travel, but that won't happen anytime soon. The airlines provide compensation as a customer service/PR move.

That being said, what was the (given) reason that the London-NYC flight was 1 hour late? I assume you checked in on time in London?

If it was weather related (thunderstorms rolled in over the London airport) there is no compensation, as the airlines cannot control the weather. Sometimes they lump ATC (Air Traffic Control- i.e. too many planes in the air trying to land/take off) in the same category.

However if it was a maintenance or something under Continental's control they should compensate you, even partially. Your best bet would be to write a letter or e-mail to the Customer Service Department. There are a lot of examples of good and badly phrased letters on this subject out on the web.

I didn't deal with Continental but British Airways when I traveled to Morocco and my luggage was delayed. My original plan was to stay with friends and not rent a hotel room. The airport and airlines kept saying my luggage was located and on it's way to the airport, each evening I would go to the airport and check and it wasn't there. After 4 days we went on to the home where I would stay. British Airways reimbursed me for the 4 nights at the hotel plus travel expenses back and forth to the airport and toiletries and a few clothing pieces. I didn't know that they would pay for the hotel stay until one of the flight attendants told me to put it in on my list of expenses due to delayed luggage.

It won't hurt to file for the night you stayed in the hotel due to missing your flight. It was their fault the flight was delayed wasn't it?

The airline would have no responsibility for costs associated wih missed connections unless the delay was avoidable without jeopardizing safety. In other words, if the delay was mechanical or weather, or air traffic-related (which accounts for most delays) then they are not responsible.

The only reason they would pay for a hotel would be customer relations. Are you a customer they would find it worth shelling out some cash to keep? If so, ask. Otherwise, move on.

If it was both Continental, I dont see why you couldn't be compensated. Afterall, it was THEIR fault for your stay. File a complaint and see what happens

Good luck

You should have asked for compensation immediately..........like as soon as it happened.........you may be trying to beat a dead horse now........