EU regulations on delayed flights have been in effect since 2004. It is a law that protects air passengers in the event of a flight disruption, which could be a flight delay, flight cancellation, or denied boarding due to overbooking. All these could cause great inconvenience to the passenger, which is why this law is in place, so they can get compensated. There's an increased number of flight delays today and while we may have normalised it to an extent, it shouldn't always be at the expense of the passenger's convenience. In this article, we will share all you need to know about claiming compensation when your flight has been delayed or cancelled.
Know the EU Regulation on Denied Boarding, Cancelled, Delayed Flights
The EU regulation 261/2004 applies to passengers in the EU with a valid ticket and booking information. It applies to you if your departure is from an EU airport or landing in one, provided the airline is headquartered in an EU member state. This is regardless of the price of the ticket or if you were travelling for business or leisure. As long as you have a valid ticket and not a free or discounted one unavailable to the public, you are entitled to compensation, even if it's a child.
If you do not meet these criteria, you may not be able to claim compensation for any flight disruption. In addition, if you are filing a claim for a flight delay, you must have checked in at least 45 minutes before the departure time. Checking in later than that could cost you your compensation. So, even if you think the flight will be delayed, you should still show up early, so nothing stops you from filing a claim.
What Are You Entitled to Under the EC 261 Law?
Under the EC regulation 261/2004, you may be entitled to compensation worth up to €600. The specific amount you get depends on the flight distance and not the cost of the airline.
The flight distance is calculated as:
Short distance - up to 1500km - €250 compensation
Medium distance - up to 3500km - €400 compensation
Long distance - 3500km - €600 compensation
Apart from the monetary compensation, you are also entitled to the right to care. This means if you have been delayed for more than two hours, you should get complimentary food and drinks and access to the internet. If your flight will be delayed overnight, you are entitled to a free hotel booking to spend the night. If your flight gets delayed for more than five hours or eventually gets cancelled, you get a free rescheduling option or get refunded.
In What Cases Are You Entitled to Compensation?
The monetary compensation only applies in the following cases:
Flight delays of at least three hours.
Flight cancellations that you were either not notified of or notified less than 14 days before departure.
Denied boarding due to overbooking from the airline.
A missed connecting flight as a result of the delay.
Bottom Line
Flight disruptions can be frustrating but with laws like this in place, you can get compensated for any inconvenience.
