Who Should I Contact About a Bad Experience With an Airline?

Dear Jessica

Dear E.R.,

You have several options when it comes to reporting a

bad experience

with an airline.

First, you can always complain to the airline itself. Look for the "contact us" section of the airline's website, where you'll find the customer relations phone number, email address, and mailing address. If you're seeking compensation, written requests are often the most effective. Before firing off a letter, however, take a look at

tips for effective complaints

.



RELATED:

How to Complain at the Airport (and Actually Get What You Want)



The Department of Transportation's (DOT)

Aviation Consumer Protection Division

(ACPD) maintains a database for complaints against airlines. To contact the ACPD, you can call 202-366-2220 or fill out the

online web form

. If you prefer to write a letter, it should be addressed to:

Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.

Washington, D.C., 20590

Lastly, if you're primarily seeking a forum to vent your frustrations, you'll find plenty of travelers with whom to commiserate on websites devoted to

complaints about airlines

. You can also try directly tweeting your airline with your complaint.