Flight delays and cancellation can cause serious inconvenience. To some air passengers, a delayed flight may not mean much, but it might mean missing an event or meeting you wanted to attend.
Imagine waking up earlier than usual to show up at the airport on time and ready for the flight and then end up not departing on time. It is unfair. You will feel powerless as many air passengers experiencing the same feeling.
The EU Regulation 261/2004 is there to defend you and other EU air passengers’ rights. Air passengers can claim compensation of up to 600€ for your delayed flight, but you should not expect airlines to advertise this. Many air passengers don’t know about this regulation. 98% of eligible air passengers don’t seek compensation.
Has your flight been delayed or canceled? I’m here to help you know your rights and how to claim compensation for the inconvenience.
EU Regulations on Delayed or Canceled Flights
If the flight you’re waiting for has been delayed, the airline should offer you food and drinks for free. For flights that are delayed overnight, the airline should offer accommodation as well.
Everyone has the right to claim compensation for the delayed flight it the airline failed to inform you on time.
Unfortunately, these regulations apply to flights that are connected to Europe. You can only make a delayed flight compensation claim if your flight:
- Departs from Europe
- Arrives to Europe
- Managed by the EU airline
Who qualifies for these compensations?
Any air passenger can file a claim if his/her flight has been delayed for more than three hours and falls under any of the above three categories. The air carrier will compensate the passenger if:
he/she was at the check-in before or at the indicated timewas transferred by a tour operator or air carrier from a flight in which the airline held a reservation, no matter the reason for the transfer
How much is the compensation for delayed flights?
The compensation amount will depend on the distance of the flight. You will get a compensation amounting:
€250 for a flight shorter than 1,500 kilometers€400 for a flight distance between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers€600 for a flight distance over 3,500 kilometers
Reimbursement can either be in cash, bank cheques, electronic bank transfers, or travel voucher.
No air carrier compensates passengers that don’t ask for compensation. You can either claim for compensation yourself or use the flight compensation companies. Using the flight compensation companies increases the success rate and shortens the time you have to wait for the airline to compensate you.
The first step when seeking delayed flight compensation for yourself is to fill thecomplaint form and submit it to the airline.
If the airline fails to respond in two months after submitting the form or you ‘re not contented with their reply, you should complain to the national authorities. You can do this by forwarding the complaint you previously addressed to the airline and explain to them what happened via an email.
If you’re a European, you can resolve the dispute through:
- Online Dispute Resolution platforms: This option is for EU nationals that bought their ticket online.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): These are are out-of-court bodies that help resolve disputes. They include mediators, conciliators, arbitrators, and complain boards. They will analyze the case and propose a solution.
If all the above doesn’t work, you can go to court using the European Small Claim Procedures.
When will the airline not compensate you?
The airline will not compensate for delayed flight claims if it was due to an extraordinary circumstance. These circumstances include:
- Air control restrictions
- Political and civil disorder
- Bad weather
- Bird strikes
- Airport personnel strikes