Air India: Compensation for delayed flights, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim Air India flight delay compensation?
Air India is the flag carrier of India, with its headquarters in New Delhi. The airline operates flights to 102 destinations in India, and Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania. Are you flying with Air India? What if there are problems with your flight? Will you be entitled to the same things as if flying with a European airline? The short answer is — if your flight departs from the EU, you are protected under the EU law.
How to claim Air India compensation for delayed flights?
Air India flight cancellation compensation?
Check your compensation online!
Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.
Here are 5 main topics that we will focus on:
1. What to do if your flight is delayed?
2. What to do if your flight is cancelled?
3. How to claim Air India flight delay compensation?
4. How to claim Air India flight cancellation compensation?
5. How to claim Air India denied boarding compensation?
1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
Your flight is delayed. What should you do?
In what situations can you request compensation from Air India? Air India flight delay compensation? Are the rules the same like with European airlines?
There are two most likely scenarios.
1.1 If you are still at home
You are getting ready to leave for the airport.
But you have found out that your flight is going to be late. Either you have received an e-mail from the airline, or you have checked the flight status online. What now? Now you have to find out if check in will be delayed too. Find this out even if you have already checked in online. Thus you will know when to leave for the airport.
If check in is going to be delayed, wait for a while.
Wait at home or hotel for a while.
If check in isn't delayed, go to the airport as normally.
Do you have another flight you may miss?
It depends on the type of your connection.
If you have booked an airline-protected connecting flight, you don’t have to worry about your connection. The airline will put you on another flight, if you miss your connection.
If you have booked your flights separately, this is your responsibility. Flights like these are called self transfer flights. The airline/airlines you are flying with don’t have to issue you a new ticket, if you miss any of your flights due to delay of another flight.
1.2 If you are already at the airport
You have found out that your flight is going to be late.
The first thing you should do is to find out if check in for your flight has started. Or is it postponed too? This is the most important thing right now.
If check in hasn’t started, for now just wait.
If check in is postponed, it might be a very long delay. Or your flight may even get cancelled. That’s why it’s better to just wait for a while. At the landside area of the airport. Until you see that check in for your flight has started. Then you can proceed.
If check has started, that’s a good sign.
Check in and proceed through airport security.
Do everything as you would normally do.
- 3 hour flight delay
Air India is an Indian airline.
Despite that, on some flights you are protected by the EU.
If your Air India flight is departing from the EU, and it is delayed, you may be entitled to some services for free. If you have to wait at the airport 3+ hours due to delay or cancellation, you have a right to care from the airline. Air India has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails and also a free meal and drink.
This applies to all Air India flights departing from the EU.
All passengers travelling on these flights are protected.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
If the delay is longer, you may also get a hotel room.
Air India has to offer you free hotel room and free transfer.
Everyone has the right to this type of care.
1.3 If it is fault of Air India
That includes things like technical problems and staff shortage.
In this case, you may also be entitled to EU flight delay compensation.
More on Air India flight delay compensation further below.
Have you experienced a flight delay?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
1.4 Why do flights get delayed?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get delayed.
2. What to do if your flight is CANCELLED?
Your flight is cancelled. What should you do?
Will you be offered a new flight for free? What are the rules? In what situations can you ask for compensation from Air India? Air India cancelled flight compensation?
2.1 If you are still at home
You need to find out what’s happening next.
Contact Air India, if they haven’t yet contacted you.
Generally speaking, if you have an Air India flight departing from the EU, you are protected under the EU law. If this flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a new flight or refund, and you can make a choice. You have a right to request a refund if you don’t want to take the alternative flight offered by Air India. If, for example, it doesn’t fit your travel plans.
If your flight is cancelled due to the fault of the airline, you may also have a right to compensation. More on that further below.
2.2 If you are already at the airport
You are at the airport, and your flight is cancelled.
Unfortunately, flight cancellations happen often. You can’t do anything about it. What should you do if your flight has been cancelled, and you have found out about it only after arriving to the airport? The most important thing — don’t go through the airport security yet.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline must provide you with a new ticket for the next available flight. You will need to check in for that flight. As you may already know — check in counters are located at the landside (public access) area of the airport, before the security. That’s why it’s important to stay at the landside area of the airport.
Try to get in touch with the representatives of Air India.
Ask them what’s happening next.
Ask for a refund, if you don’t want to take any other flight.
- 3 hour flight delay
Air India is an airline registered in India.
Despite that, on some flights you are protected by the EU.
If you have to wait at the airport, because of delay, cancellation or overbooking, you have a right to receive care from Air India. The airline has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails and also a free meal and drink.
Cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances?
This applies to all Air India cancelled flights.
The only condition — flight must be departing from the EU.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
In this case you have a right to free accommodation.
Free hotel stay and free transfer to the hotel (and back to the airport) has to be offered. It is the airline's responsibility, and every passenger has a right to this.
2.3 If it is fault of Air India
That includes things like technical problems and bad planning.
If that causes a cancellation, it is considered fault of the airline.
And you may also be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation.
Have you experienced a flight cancellation?
If you have — file a compensation claim.
2.4 Why do flights get cancelled?
Here are some of the top reasons why flights get cancelled.
3. How to claim Air India flight delay compensation?
There are 3 conditions that should be met.
The delay must be due to the fault of Air India. It should be at least 3 hours. And in addition to that, the flight must depart from the EU. If your Air India flight meets these conditions, you may receive compensation of up to 600 euro per passenger. How to get compensation? You must make a claim! There are two ways how to claim Air India flight delay compensation.
1. You can do it all on your own.
You can make a claim yourself.
Just be prepared that it will take some time. Sometimes it takes months just to get any reply from the airline. You may be denied compensation, even if you are entitled to it. In this case, you will need to involve the National Enforcement Body (NEB) or take your case to court.
Contact us for legal help with Air India claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
This is the easiest way.
You need to fill in one form, and we do the rest — start a case against the airline and do all the paperwork. We are your legal representatives. We can help you to get your Air India compensation faster and so much easier.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
That’s all from you. We will do the rest.
Learn more about EU flight delay compensation.
- How long does it take?
Usually it’s 2 to 3 months.
However, it will take longer if you claim Air India delayed flight compensation yourself. Especially if the airline refuses to pay compensation, and because of that you need to take your case to court.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
Depends on the situation.
But often you can also get compensation also for old flights (2-3 years). However, we would recommend you not to postpone that, and file a claim as soon as possible.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No. It applies to everyone.
You don't have to be European to be protected by the EU law.
- How much can you claim?
The longer the flight, the more you can claim.
You will get 250 euro for short flights, and 400 euro for longer flights. And for long-haul flights, it’s 600 euro per passenger. These amounts are the same for all passengers travelling on the same flight. Passenger's nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance doesn't matter. Even infants can receive full flight compensation if a flight is delayed for 3 or more hours due to fault of the airline.
4. How to claim Air India flight cancellation compensation?
There are 3 conditions that should be met.
First of all, the flight must be cancelled due to the fault of the airline. Second of all, it must be a last-minute cancellation, not more than 14 days before the planned date of departure. And third of all, the flight must depart from the EU. If your flight meets all these conditions, you have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation. You just need to make a claim.
There are two ways how to do it.
1. You can do it all on your own.
You can make a claim yourself. Contact customer service of Air India. Refer to the Regulation EC 261/2004, and request a cancellation compensation. Be prepared to wait and fight for your rights.
Contact us for legal help with Air India claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
This is the easiest option you have.
Legally it’s called legal representation. In this case, it’s us who do all the negotiations and prepare all the necessary paperwork. You just fill in a single form with us.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
We will do the rest.
Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.
- How long does it take?
Usually it takes 2-3 months.
2-3 months from the moment you submit your claim until you get your money. It may take less if you’re very, very lucky. But in most cases it will take more time, especially if the airline doesn’t want to cooperate and your case has to be taken to court. If you work with us, we take your case to court on your behalf. Anyway, you pay only if you are receiving the compensation.
- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country you are travelling from.
In most cases, you can claim flight cancellation compensation even if you had your flight cancelled 2 or 3 years ago. However, as you can imagine, the sooner you do it, the better. Another reason to do it sooner — you don’t forget about this flight cancellation.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, you don’t have to be European for that.
European law protects also tourists from overseas. The rules are the same for everyone. When it comes to flight delays, flight cancellations and overbookings, you don't have to be European to have these rights and to receive EU flight compensation.
- How much can you claim?
The amounts are regulated by the EU law.
Here is how much you can claim, depending on the distance of the flight:
- €250 — if the distance of your flight is up to 1500 kilometres;
- €400 — if the distance is between 1500 to 3500 kilometres;
- €600 — if the distance is more than 3500 kilometres.
These amounts are per passenger. They are exactly the same for all passengers travelling on the same flight. Nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance doesn’t matter in this case. Even infants can receive full flight compensation.
5. How to claim Air India denied boarding compensation?
You may get denied boarding even if you have a valid ticket.
It can happen when your airline sells more tickets than there are seats. It helps airlines to earn more. Because mostly there are at least a few passengers who don’t show up. But there are situations when everyone shows up for their flight. And that’s when someone gets denied boarding. Whenever you are denied boarding against your will, you have a right to EU denied boarding compensation.
With Air India it applies to flights departing from Europe.
Compensation amounts are fixed — 250, 400 or 600 euro.
And mostly you can get both — a new flight or refund and compensation.
It applies only to overbooking. If there are problems with your travel documents, your passport expires soon, or if you voluntarily give up your seat, then you won’t be entitled to any compensation from Air India.
Check your compensation online!
Learn more about EU denied boarding compensation.
By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Remember, whenever your Air India flight is delayed, cancelled or you have been denied boarding - you might be entitled to flight compensation. File a claim to get it sorted out right away!