If you take regular international flights, you'll definitely be familiar with delays. Delayed flights feel like a fact of life for frequent fliers, causing annoyance and stress whenever they occur. But did you know that it's possible to claim compensation when these delays occur? If you are flying into or out of the European Union (EU), there are some flight delay rights that all travelers should know about. Let's look at them in more detail.
These flight delay rights have been laid down in a key regulation called EU 261/2004. This document was passed by the EU in an attempt to regulate the behavior of all airlines operating within the European region. It applies to the 28 EU nations (such as Sweden, Spain, France, or Belgium), as well as the UK, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. And it's a very useful tool to know about when delays take place. That's because EC 261/2004 sets out a clear range of flight delay rights, which can result in significant compensation. Basically, the regulation states that if flights from the EU, or into the EU on a European airline, reach their destination more than 3 hours late, passengers are entitled to up to $700 in compensation.
The amount isn't fixed and will vary depending on how far passengers had to fly, and how late the flight was. But even moderate delays usually result in payouts of $200-$300. Flights must have been taken in the past 3 years (so there may be scope to claim for last year's vacation), and the delays need to be the fault of the airline. This covers staffing and technical issues and has very wide applicability. To find out more and make a claim, contact AirHelp, and get compensated for aviation errors.
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:
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:
Eu Flight Cancellation Compensation
Plane Cancellations
EU Airline Compensation
Flight Delay Compensation Letter Template
Airline Passenger Bill Of Rights
Oversold Flight
Flight Delays And Cancellations
How To Get Compensation For Delayed Flight
Flight Cancellation Reimbursement
Late Flights
Airline Compensation For Delayed Flights
Late Flight Compensation
Flight Delay Refund
Passenger Rights Flight Delay
European Passenger Rights
Airline Refund
Flight Cancellation Rights
Flight Delays
EC 261 Compensation
Flights Cancelled Due To Weather
Flight Delay Insurance
Airline Delay Compensation
Flight Cancellations
EU Flight Delay Compensation Form
Flight Cancellation Refund
Flyers Rights
Flight Delay Compensation United States
Passenger Rights Cancelled Flight
Airline Cancellations
What To Do When Flight Is Cancelled
AirHelp has been featured in:
AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers’ rights.
Copyright © 2023 AirHelp