Today's Tip: Airline passenger rights

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Shocking video of a passenger being pulled off a United Airlines flight after refusing to give up his paid seat earlier this week has had many travelers wondering, "What if this happens to me?"

We told you about some of your rights earlier this week on Action News, but here are some more details, laid out by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).

If you are involuntarily bumped from a flight, you're entitled to compensation.

An airline might try to give you a free airline ticket or a voucher for a future flight, but if you prefer a check, that is your right - to get the money instead.

How much compensation you get depends on how long you're are delayed.

If your substitute flight is scheduled to arrive between one and two hours after your originally scheduled arrival time, the airline must pay you an amount equal to double the price of your one-way fare to your final destination, up to a $675 maximum.

If it is more than two hours later - four hours if you're flying internationally - or if the airline doesn't make any substitute travel arrangements for you, you are entitled to FOUR times the cost of the one-way ticket, up to a $1350 maximum.

Also, if you paid for optional services like checked luggage and seat selection, and those services didn't carry over to your substitute flight, the airline must refund you for those items.

If you run into problems on your flight, make sure you keep all of your travel documents as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred.

Here's a link to the full list of the USDOT's airline passenger rights: transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights

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