Dublin Airport passengers who missed their flights amid the chaos over recent days have been told to gather “as much documentation and proof as possible” before applying for a refund.
From taxi receipts to car park tickets and timecoded photos, passengers will likely need to show proof of what time they arrived at the airport to be considered eligible for their money back.
The issue many will face is that the planes they were meant to be on still took off and completed their trips and so it’s more complicated than resolving payment for a cancelled flight.
Read More: International tourists slam Dublin Airport as 'shameful' with '70 passengers missing one flight'
Travel expert, Eoghan Corry told RTE that passengers will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and so the more information you have the better.
He said: “The advice is to arrive two-and-a-half hours for a short-haul flight, the long haul is three-and-a-half. So, if you don’t make your flight on time, you have to be able to prove you followed the advice and joined the queue at the right time.
“When you present your case to the airport or airline, have as much documentation and proof as possible.
“Otherwise, you can’t prove your case.
“The companies deal with each person on a case-by-case basis.
“If you don’t make your plane on time, the airline will say it’s not their problem. But if it didn’t have enough people at check-in – then it is their problem.”
He went on to explain the reason it becomes “way more complicated,” saying: “In a separate checklist, the aviation contract is all very well if you have something like an aircraft going on time and you didn’t make it on time. But if passengers are left waiting, and the problem is related to check-in – it gets way more complicated.
“There is a huge discrepancy in the length of queues and what is being said on social media.
“I suspect what is happening is, people are being lumped together at the check-in and security queues.”
There will likely be a blame game going on between airlines and Dublin Airport amid the many missed flights and unhappy customers looking for their cash back.
However, Mr. Corry said: “Insurance doesn’t kick in for someone arriving late. They tend to be very unforgiving of that.
“It is your business to make yourself knowledgeable. But have the proof of your arrival. It is no good saying to passengers be on time but having nowhere for them to stand or wait.”
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