The Facts About Flight Delay Compensation

It’s inevitable these days with so many flights taking off every minute that delays and cancellations will happen. If you are unlucky enough to experience a delayed or cancelled flight, however, did you know that you may be eligible for compensation?

Well you may and sometimes the flight company will be forced to pay compensation that covers the entire cost of the flight.

Before we start though, we do need to say that there are many factors which will affect whether your claim will be successful and how much compensation you may receive. We will discuss these later.

There are a variety of reasons for a flight to be delayed, from technical faults to a flight leaving before it should. Ok, it is not very common for a flight to leave before its original departure time, but it does happen and if you experience this type of problem then you will still be entitled to compensation if you were notified less than 14 hours in advance.

The main law in place to ensure your rights as a passenger are protected is European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. This legislation sets out the rules dictating whether or not flight delay compensation is payable.

We get many questions from our clients about whether or not their claim will be successful, whether their claim is valid, or even why their plane was delayed in the first place. To help clarify the issue this article will cover some of the most common questions. If after reading this article you believe you are entitled to compensation then don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of our customer service team who will be happy to discuss the process with you and set your claim in motion.

But why do flights get delayed?

The most common reason that a flight will be delayed is due to poor scheduling by the airline. With tickets available up to twelve months in advance, but runway slots only bookable three months before departure, it’s not uncommon for issues to arise when it comes to runway availability.

If because of scheduling issues you are moved to another flight or even a different airline, you will still be entitled to flight delay compensation and may even be eligible for a full refund.

How do I calculate the amount of flight delay compensation I can get?

Every claim is different and the amount of compensation depends on multiple factors including the reason for the delay, the airline involved and how long the flight was delayed based on the arrival time at the destination airport not how late your take off time was.

If you want a quick and accurate estimate of how much compensation you may be entitled to, then head over to our website, www.flightclaimsonline.co.uk, and use our easy to use flight delay calculator.

Each airline uses a different measure for the amount of time they allow before a delayed flight will be eligible for compensation payments. Sometimes they will hide behind these figures but don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes, you are still covered by the European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 regardless of what they consider to be a delay. The airlines ‘suggested’ delay times are as follows:

British Airways 2+ hours
Ryanair 3+ hours
Easyjet 5+ hours
Thomson 5+ hours
Virgin 12+ hours

Are you ready to make a claim?

If you think you may be due flight delay compensation, have any questions or would like to actually start your claim, head over to our website at www.flightclaimsonline.co.uk, and start your claim now.

Complete Guide to Your Rights with Respect to Flight Delays and Cancellations

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!

Flight Delay Compensation

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.

Check if You’re Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation Today!

Has a flight you have been on been delayed recently? Are you looking for the best company to help you process a flight delay compensation claim? Then look no further than Flight Claims Online.

We are the fastest growing industry-leading specialists in the UK and have close working relationships with all of the major airlines across Europe in compliance with EU regulations.

How Does Flight Claims Online Work?

Here at Flight Claims Online we are completely transparent with all our fees, and we let all customers know up front exactly how much compensation they should expect to get if their claim is successful.

There are no hidden administration fees, unlike other claims handlers, and we only charge a modest 25% of the total flight delay compensation amount agreed with the airline.

If the claim is taken to small claims court, we do not charge any additional court costs or fees as all costs are recovered from the airline.

Here is our 4-step process to make a claim!

1.       Visit our website www.flightclaimsonline.co.uk and use our easy to use free flight           compensation calculator to see if you are eligible for a claim.

2.       Input the relevant details for your claim, including flight numbers, delay time, and, if you know it, the reason for the delay.

3.       Leave the hard work to us as Flight Claims Online contact the airline and retrieves the compensation owed to you.

4.       Receive your compensation minus our 25% fee.

If you do not know the cause of the delay don’t worry! Here at Flight Claims Online we have access to a vast library of flight data, like weather conditions, technical faults and other extraordinary circumstances, that will help us to identify the cause of the delay.

Will We Be Able to Help You with Your Claim?

Here at Flight Claims Online our success rate speaks volumes and we work with many clients who have turned to us after other solicitor firms have been unsuccessful.

By adhering with European Regulations most of our clients claim up to 600 Euros per person, for a delayed or cancelled flight. That’s around £530 (may vary due to fluctuating exchange rates). If you have been on a flight that has been delayed for more than three hours or even worse the flight was cancelled, then there is a good chance you will be entitled to compensation and we are here to help you get what you are entitled to.

Your claims eligibility is based on several factors, and the amount of compensation you will receive is determined by these factors. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of the questions below, then it is likely that you will be owed compensation from the airline.

Flight Delay Compensation: The Facts

You may not be aware that if you experience flight delays, cancellations, or even overbooking, you may be due to flight delay. The amount of flight compensation you’re entitled to may even cover the whole cost of the flight, but there are many different factors which affect the monetary amount that you will receive.

Flights that have left before their original departure time may be less common than if your flight is delayed, but you will still be entitled to flight delay compensation if this happens and you are notified less than 14 hours in advance. There are laws in place to ensure that your rights as a passenger are protected. We work with the European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 which outlines the grounds on which you are entitled to flight compensation.

This article will cover some of the most common questions we get asked in relation to flight delay compensation. If you believe you are entitled to compensation after reading the information, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with a member of our customer service team who will be happy to start your claim, or just have a free no-obligation chat.

Why do flights get delayed?

The most common reason for a flight to be delayed is due to scheduling errors, as plane tickets are bookable twelve months in advance, whereas the airline is only able to book their runway slotsthree months before the departure date. Therefore, it isn’t uncommon for there to be issues when it comes to runway availability or lack of staff.

You will still be entitled to flight delay compensation if you are moved to another flight or airline. In this instance, you may even be eligible for a full refund.

How to calculate the amount of flight delay compensation that you’re owed.

Every flight delay compensation claim is different, the amount of compensation which you are entitled to depends on multiple factors including which airline you booked with, the reason for the delay and how long your flight was delayed, which is based on how late you arrived at the destination airport.

For a quick and accurate idea of how much compensation you are entitled to, head over to our website, www.flightclaimsonline.co.uk, where you will find our easy to use flight delay calculator.

Each airline has a different amount of time which they will allow a flight to be delayed for before the passenger is entitled to compensation, but do not be fooled as your rights are covered by the European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. The ‘suggested’ delay times are as follows: 

British Airways 2+ hours
Ryanair 3+ hours
Easyjet 5+ hours
Thomson 5+ hours
Virgin 12+ hours

Ready to make a claim?

If you have any questions or would like to start your claim, head on over to our website www.flightclaimsonline.co.uk, and start your flight delay claim now.