Not everyone is aware of the EU regulations on delayed flights and as a result, they just go through the inconvenience of flight disruptions and do not get compensated. Flight delays and cancellations happen often but they shouldn’t be normalised or ever cause severe inconvenience to the passengers. Before you can fight back and claim compensation for a disrupted flight, you need to be aware of your rights under this law.
What is the EU Regulation 261/2004 About?
The EU regulation 261/2004 protects air passengers against severe flight disruption. This includes long flight delays, flight cancellations, missed connections, denied boarding due to overbooking, and flight re-bookings. The law confirms that any of these situations cause great inconvenience to the passenger and as a result, they should be compensated.
How Do I Know I am Eligible?
You must meet the eligibility criteria to be able to claim compensation under the 261 law. Check the questions below to know whether or not you fit the box:
- Do you have a valid ticket and booking confirmation?
- Is your trip starting from an EU member state or landing in one, with an airline headquartered in the EU?
- Were you notified of the flight disruption less than 14 days before the original departure date?
- In the case of a flight delay, did you check-in at least 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time?
- Did you get to your destination more than three hours late as a result of a delay?
- Is this about a flight operated in the last six years?
If you answered YES to these questions, then you are eligible for compensation under this law.
What Am I Entitled to Under the EC 261 Regulation?
Under the EC regulation 261/2004, each affected passenger is entitled to compensation between €250 and €600. This is calculated based on the flight distance and not the price of the ticket. A short distance flight attracts €250; a medium distance flight attracts €450; a long distance flight attracts €600.
In addition, you are also entitled to the right to care. This includes access to basic services such as a pass to the airport lounge, complimentary food and drinks, and a free hotel booking for overnight delays. All of these are not substitutes for monetary compensation, so you should be careful not to waive your rights after being offered those or other perks like vouchers.
If your flight has been delayed for more than 5 hours or eventually cancelled, you have the right to request a seat on another flight or withdraw. Finally, airlines are obliged under this law to inform you of your rights regarding flight disruptions.
Bottom Line
It is not enough to know your rights, you should also take extra steps to ensure you get compensated. Contact the airline and find out the reason for the disruption and you can take further steps. Preferably, hire a lawyer or go through agencies like Flightright to make the process easier.
