EU 261 Flight Delay Compensation, if you have delayed or cancelled flight
Posted by sky on September 25th, 2019
Every frequent traveler has experienced at least one long flight delay, which may have caused him or her serious trouble and inconvenience.
To some, a delayed or cancelled flight may mean less hours of vacating, but to others it may be missing an important meeting, an event you were looking forward to or even the last hours in life of a loved one.
In order to protect travelers and respect their rights, the European Union has established the EU Regulation 261/2004. The regulation specifies what airlines should do in order to ensure that a person receives all the attention and care in case of a delayed, cancelled, overbooked or downgraded flight and other similar cases.
If you have been in such a situation, this article will help you to figure out easily if you qualify to ask for compensation. If yes, how much the airline owes you and how you can claim compensation.
EU Regulation on Denied Boarding, Cancelled, Delayed Flights
The EU Regulation 261/2004 establishes minimum rights for passengers when they are denied boarding against their will, their flight is cancelled, or their flight is delayed.
Passengers whose flight is delayed should be offered with food and drinks. If the flight is delayed overnight, the passenger should be offered accommodation as well.
Every passenger has the right to claim compensation if the air carrier did not inform them on time for the delay.
Which Flights Fall Under the EU Regulation?
As the EU Regulation applies only to flights that are in one way or another connected to the EU, only the passengers of the following flights can make a compensation claim:
- The flight is within the EU and is operated by either an EU or a non-EU airline.
- The flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline.
- The flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline.
Every person whose flight, which falls under the EU Regulation, was delayed for more than three hours has the right to claim compensation.
If your flight has recently been delayed, you will have the right to ask the air carrier for the compensation if you have a confirmed reservation on the flight concerned and one of the following applies to you:
- You presented yourself for check-in, at the time indicated in advance and in writing by the air carrier, the tour operator or an authorized travel agent (if no time is indicated not later than 45 minutes before the published departure time)
- You were transferred by an air carrier or tour operator from the flight for which they held a reservation to another flight, irrespective of the reason.
How Much Can I Claim in Compensation for my Delayed Flight?
The compensation for a flight delay ranges between €250 and €600 per passenger. How much you will be compensated depends on the distance of the journey, as follows:
- €250 for flights shorter than 1500 km.
- €400 for flights between 1500 km and 3500 km. If your flight took off and arrived in the EU, this is the amount of flight compensation even for flights over 3500 km.
- €600 for distances over 3500 km. If the delay lasts between three and four hours, your reimbursement could be reduced in half in this case.
Note that the reimbursement shall be paid in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank orders or bank cheques or, with your signed agreement, in travel vouchers and/or other services.
How to Make a Compensation Claim for a Delayed Flight?
If you believe that, you are entitled to a flight delay compensation you will need to claim it. No one will compensate you, if you do not ask for it. You have several options on how to make a compensation claim, depending on how you see it reasonable.
