There is nothing worse than gearing up for your overseas holiday or business trip, only to reach the airport and find out your flight has been delayed. Not only does it eat up quality beach-lazing/sightseeing/meeting-going time, but can also make you miss connecting flights and face the not-so-exciting prospect of being laid up in a nearby airport hotel overnight until the airline is ready to transport you.
So, what are your rights when your flight has been delayed? And how can you Claim compensation?
According to the Denied Boarding Regulation:
- if your flight departs from an EU destination or from a non-EU airport but is flying into an EU airport on an EU airline;
- you have a confirmed flight reservation, and;
- you checked in on time;
then you have legal protection and may qualify for compensation.
What level of compensation you receive will depend on how far you are travelling and for how long your flight is delayed. The airline is obligated to provide you with free refreshments, two phone calls (or faxes or emails) and, should you need to stay overnight, free accommodation (and transfers between the airport and this accommodation):
- If you are travelling less than 932 miles (from London to Paris, for example) and have been delayed for over two hours.
- If you are travelling between EU destinations that are greater than 932 miles apart (such as from London to Madrid) and have been delayed for three hours.
- If you are travelling to any other destination and have been delayed by more than four hours.
If your delay exceeds five hours, you will be able to Claim the benefits above plus full reimbursement of the ticket cost, and a return flight to the first point of departure, provided you choose not to travel on the delayed flight.
How much you can claim again depends on the distance you were travelling and for how long you have been delayed.
- For distances up to 1,500km that have been delayed by more than 3 hours, you can claim compensation of €250.
- For distances between 1,500km and 3,500km that have been delayed by more than 3 hours, you can claim compensation of €400.
- For distances over 3,500km that have been delayed between 3 and 4 hours, you can claim compensation of €300.
- For distances over 3,500km that have been delayed for more than 4 hours, you can claim compensation of €600.
To claim compensation, you must contact the airline directly. However, be aware that if a delay is due to ‘extraordinary circumstances’ (such as extreme weather conditions, worker strikes or an increased security risk) then the airline will be exempt from paying out compensation.
