Complete Guide to Your Rights with Flight Delays and Cancellations

For their own protection, you may find that airlines provide information regarding flight delays on their website, or in documentation which may explain that you not entitle to compensation. However, this isn't to say that flight delay compensation can’t be retrieved. In the past, we’ve seen hundreds of passengers receive flight delay compensation using Flight Claims Online, and the same may be true for you if you were travelling to/from a European airport.

As you’ve probably discovered yourself, there’s very little information available regarding this topic…but we’re on a mission to change this!

Flight Delay Compensation 

In conjunction with Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, we help passengers claim the compensation they deserve after experiencing a cancellation (or even a delay). Not only is this possible, the process is incredibly easy with Flight Claims Online because we know you’re already stressed and frustrated with the airline. Rather than frustrating you even further, we aim to guide you through the process effortlessly.

Will you receive compensation? This all depends on the cause of your delay, the length of the delay and flight distance between the two airports.

1. Cause of Delay

Firstly, we should note that compensation will only be achievable when the airline is directly accountable for the delay, cancellation or overbooking. Common reasons include;

•    Lack of communication between airline and airport

•    Technical or engineering issues

•    Staff strikes (airline ONLY)

•    Issues with cabin crew or pilots

Since the airline isn't directly responsible, you won’t be eligible for compensation for;

•    Air traffic controller clearance (or lack of!)

•    Extreme weather

•    Security alerts (threats of terrorism)

•    Political unrest

•    Severe technical faults (aside of routine checks)

•    Strikes from airport staff

2. Length of Delay

Secondly, how long was your flight and how long were you kept waiting? In terms of ‘delay time’ this is the difference between your expected and actual arrival time. The following table should give you some guidance;

Destination	Distance	Delay	Compensation (EUR)
All	Under 1,500km	3+ hours	250
Inside EU	Over 1,500km	3+ hours	400
Between EU & Non-EU	1,500-3,500km	3+ Hours	400
Between EU & Non-EU	Over 3,500km	4+ Hours	600

Depending on the airline, you may be given vouchers for refreshments, accommodation, transport (to accommodation), and expenses for communication (phone calls or WiFi). Of course, the accommodation vouchers will only be applicable where overnight delays or cancellations apply. Also, we should note that help should be provided for those with reduced mobility. For those who don’t use vouchers, you’ll be asked to keep receipts and claim a refund later.

Furthermore, any reimbursed expenses will be for purchases considered ‘reasonable’ (i.e. you can’t have a five course meal and expect the airline to pay for it!). Before heading into the third consideration, not everybody will be entitled to compensation. The following customers will be ineligible;

•    Those with a multi-mode ticket (planning to travel on ferry, rail, or another mode of transport).

•    Those who bought the ticket with a holiday package.

•    Those travelling with a free/special ticket (this includes staff discount tickets).

3. Departing and Destination Airports

Finally, what airport did you leave and where were you heading? To be protected under the regulations, you either need to be departing/arriving in Europe or the flight needs to be with a European airline. Unfortunately, the regulation doesn’t currently cover departures from the Channel Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man.

Contact Us Today

With this, you should have everything you need to know regarding flight delay compensation. Using the table above and our three considerations, feel free to send a message if you feel that you’re owed compensation. With a quick phone call, we can discuss the process in more detail and take the first step towards the money you deserve.

Thanks to our advanced policies, you won’t pay a penny if you don’t win and our fees are much lower than others in the industry at 25%. Furthermore, we offer a flight delay claim calculator so you can see how much you’re likely to receive.

Why not try it today? We’ve made the process simple so your days of frustration can come to an end!

Flight Schedule Changes - Can I Get Compensation?

When planning our trips away, whether business or pleasure, we don’t account for delays, cancellations, and changes to the flight schedules. Unfortunately, they do happen with airlines…and there’s something you can do about it. Although it’s not widely advertised, some passengers will be eligible for flight delay compensation and we’ve made the claiming process easier than ever before.

In many cases, a delay (or even an advance) to the flight time will allow for compensation since you bought the ticket with the promise of a specific flight time. Today, we want to cover your rights with pre-arranged cancellations and changes rather than delays caused by strikes, weather, or engineering/technical problems.

If you don’t see your question answered here, please feel free to get in touch with us directly. Not only will you get the answers, we’ll tell you how we can help (no-obligation support, of course!).

Compensation Eligibility and Airline Notifications

Firstly, there will be restrictions depending on the extent to which your flight has been brought forward or delayed. However, in many cases, you’re eligible for compensation if the flight schedule was altered after buying the ticket thanks to European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.

Why only ‘many cases’? Well, the airline is within their rights to make adjustments to the flight schedule as long as they make passengers aware more than two weeks before the flight. If you didn't get two weeks’ notice, get in touch with us today!

Why Do Schedule Changes Occur?

In truth, these sorts of changes actually happen because airlines sell their tickets before they even know if a runway is available for the flight. While we can all buy tickets a year before flying, runway slots can only be booked three months in advance. Only once the runway is booked can the airline confirm the actual schedule, get correct staff in, etc.

Moved to Another Flight Altogether

What if you get moved to another flight rather than a simple time change? In this scenario, you’ll be entitled to either a partial or full refund through flight delay compensation because they would have cancelled your original flight (it therefore counts as a cancellation!).

Importance of Delayed/Advanced Times and Potential Compensation

With most airlines, they’ll say that significant delays deserve compensation. The problem? Unfortunately, every airline has a different definition of ‘significant’ as you’ll see below;

•    Virgin - 12+ hours

•    Easyjet - 5+ hours

•    Thomson - 5+ hours

•    Ryanair - 3+ hours

•    British Airways - 2+ hours

With this in mind, each case is normally unique depending on the delay/advance and the specific airline. If you want to see how much compensation you could be entitled to, feel free to use our brilliant flight claim calculator.

For more information, you’re welcome to ask one of our brilliant team members directly!