The EU regulation EC 261/2004 has written airline passenger rights into law. Practically, this means that European passenger rights are protected from delays, cancelations, enforced class/seat downgrades and being denied boarding. If faced with any of these problems, passengers can claim compensation against the airline.
Any passenger is protected under this legislation if they board a flight in a European Union country. They are also protected if they board a flight outside of the European Union that is operated by a European airline and will land in the EU.
Thanks to European passenger rights, you can claim compensation in many instances, except in extraordinary circumstances. These include decisions by air traffic control, political instability, extreme weather and security threats. However, aircraft collisions and technical failures are not considered extraordinary circumstances. Most passengers file compensation claims when they return home from vacation.
However, in cases of cancelation and delay, passengers are entitled to what EC 261 describes as 'assistance and care'. Airlines must provide passengers with food and drink if they are stuck at the airport for more than 3 hours. If flights are delayed overnight or passengers are to be rescheduled on a flight the next morning, the airline must provide hotel accommodation. In that instance, airlines are required to provide adequate transport between the hotel and the airport so that passengers can make their flight. Passengers can claim compensation for all delays of over 3 hours. Claiming compensation for flight cancellation can be trickier; airlines do not have to compensate anyone if they warn you 14 days in advance of departure. However, if the flight is cancelled within 14 days of its departure, you are eligible to make a claim.
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AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.
We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.
We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.
How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:
Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.
We should note that if extraordinary circumstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.
Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:
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Distance | Compensation |
---|---|
All flights under 1,500 km | Up to €250 per person |
Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | Up to €400 per person |
Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km | Up to €400 per person |
Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | Up to €600 per person |
Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261
In some circumstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Calculator.
If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:
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Flight Cancellation Refund
Flight Delay Checker
Oversold Flight
Flyers Rights
US Flight Cancellations
Flight Delay Compensation US
Compensation Claim
Late Flights
Late Flight Compensation
Airline Refund
Flight Delay Money Back
Flight Delay Insurance
Flight Compensation
Compensation Letter
Flight Cancellations
Airline Compensation For Delayed Flights
Flight Cancellation Reimbursement
Eu Regulation 261 2004
EU Regulation Flight Delay
Flight Delay Rights
Airlines Cancelling Flights
EC 261
Travel Insurance Flight Delay
EU Flight Delay Compensation Form
US Flight Delays
Airline Compensation For Cancelled Flights
Flights Being Cancelled
Refund Delay
Flight Disruption
Flight Diverted Compensation
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AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers’ rights.
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