Airlines these days for their own protection, provide
information regarding flight delays on their website and in other
documentation. Just because they do this, however, does not prevent a passenger
who has experienced a delay from making a claim for compensation. We here at
Flight Claims Online have a vast wealth of experience that has seen hundreds of
passengers receive compensation and the same may be true for you if you have
experienced a delay when travelling to/from a European airport over the past
few years.
As you may have already discovered, there is very little
information regarding flight delay compensation available…but we’re on a
mission to change this!
The main rule when dealing with a flight delay or
cancellation is Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, and by using this rule anybody who
has experienced a delay can submit a claim to receive the compensation they
deserve. We here at Flight Claims Online pride ourselves on making the process
incredibly easy because we know exactly how stressful and frustrating it can be
dealing with airlines in these situations. Our aim is to guide you through the
process effortlessly and with little fuss, making claims easy and, more
importantly, getting you the compensation that you deserve.
The biggest question people ask when they experience a
delay or cancellation is, “Will I receive compensation?” Well, the answer to
the question depends on the cause of your delay, the length of the delay,
flight distance, and the airports used on your journey. Over the next few pages
we are going to look at each individually:
1. Cause of Delay
Firstly, you will only be eligible for compensation if the
airline is directly accountable for the delay/cancellation. Common reasons where
an airline will be accountable include:
•
Lack of communication between the airline
and the airport
•
Technical or engineering issues
•
Airline staff strikes (NOT airport
staff)
•
Issues arising from cabin crew and
pilots
There are, however, situations where the airline will not be directly responsible, and as
a result you won’t be eligible for compensation, such as:
•
Air traffic controller issues
•
Extreme weather conditions
•
Security alerts
•
Political unrest that impacts on the
airport
•
Severe technical faults outside of
routine checks
•
Strikes by airport staff (NOT airline
staff which is covered)
2. Length of Delay
The second question we need to answer when assessing the
validity of a claim is, how long was the flight and how long was the delay. ‘Delay
time’ is defined as the difference between your expected can be used for 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
|
If you do experience a delay or cancellation then depending
on the airline, you may be given vouchers for refreshments, accommodation,
transport to that accommodation and any expenses required for communication as
a result of the delay/cancellation. Accommodation vouchers are only applicable if
you experience an overnight delay to your flight. Those with reduced mobility
should also receive extra help in line with their needs. If you don’t use the
vouchers provided then receipts of any out of pocket expenses can be submitted
to the airline to claim a subsequent refund, bearing in mind that any reimbursement
will only be for ‘reasonable’ costs incurred.
In some cases, the type of ticket you purchased will
prevent you making a claim regarding a delayed flight. For example, in the
following situations you will not be eligible for compensation:
•
Those with a multi-mode ticket for
travel on ferry, rail, or any other mode of transport.
•
Those who bought the ticket with a
holiday package.
•
Those travelling with a free/special
ticket, including staff discount tickets.
3. Departing and Destination Airports
The final criteria that determines your eligibility for
flight delay compensation is the location of your departure airport and the
destination of the flight. Only flights departing or arriving at European
airports or made by a European airline are covered by European Regulation (EC)
No. 261/2004.
At this moment in time, the regulation doesn’t cover
departures from the Channel Islands, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, or the Isle of
Man.
Contact Us Today
We here at Flight Claims Online hope the information above
has helped you understand more about flight delay compensation and, more
importantly, if you are eligible to make a claim.
If you think you may be eligible for compensation and feel
that your case qualifies after you have read the three considerations above,
then feel free to send us a message or drop us a line for further information. Our
friendly and helpful advisers are always willing to discuss the claims process
in more detail and set you on taking the first step towards getting the
compensation you deserve.
If you do choose us then not only will you benefit from our
friendly and experienced staff but our fee of only 25% of the final
compensation is lower than most other flight compensation companies. Furthermore,
we offer a flight delay claim calculator so you can see upfront exactly how
much compensation you are likely to receive.
So, what are you waiting for? Contact us
today.
