Alitalia: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim Alitalia compensation online?
Alitalia is the largest airline of Italy. As of March 2020 the airline is fully owned by the Government of Italy. How does it affect you as a traveller? What if your flight with Alitalia gets delayed or cancelled? Could you be entitled to flight compensation from the airline? In short - yes, if during the last 3 years you have experienced a long delay, last-minute cancellation or overbooking, you might be entitled to EU flight compensation up to €600.
How to claim Alitalia compensation for delayed flight? How to claim Alitalia flight cancellation compensation?
Check your compensation online!
Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.
Here are 6 main topics that we will focus on:
1. What to do if your Alitalia flight is delayed?
2. What to do if your Alitalia flight is cancelled?
3. How to claim Alitalia flight delay compensation?
4. How to claim Alitalia flight cancellation compensation?
5. How to claim Alitalia denied boarding compensation?
6. Connecting flights with Alitalia
1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
What should you do if your flight with Alitalia is delayed?
What if you have a connecting flight that you might miss?
Could you be entitled to Alitalia flight delay compensation?
1.1 If you are still at home
First of all, contact your airline or airport information desk.
Don’t go to the airport before you find out more.
You have to find out what is happening with check in for your flight. Even if you have already checked in online, it’s important to understand whether the check in is delayed or is it going to happen as scheduled. This way you will know if to wait or proceed to the airport as planned.
If check in is happening as scheduled, go to the airport.
If check in is delayed, it’s a better idea to stay at home or hotel for a while. You never know how long the delay is actually going to be. Your flight may as well get cancelled at some point. Wait and keep checking your flight status online, to stay up to date with the latest information about your flight.
Do you have a connecting flight?
If it’s a connecting flight with Alitalia, you are protected.
Alitalia is a 4-star traditional airline selling airline protected connecting flights. If you book a flight from Alitalia and it’s operated by Alitalia or one of its codeshare partners, you are protected against flight delays and cancellations. If one of your flights is late or cancelled and you miss the following flight, the airline takes care of that. In most of the situations you will be given a new flight completely for free.
If these are separately booked flights — it is your responsibility.
If you miss a self transfer flight, it is your responsibility.
1.2 If you are already at the airport
Go to the check in desk of your airline first.
It’s important to find out what is happening with check in.
Don’t proceed through airport security and immigration control before you see that check in is happening. It’s better to wait for that even if you have already checked in online. You never know how long is the delay going to be. A flight may also get cancelled at some point.
If check in has started, proceed as normally.
Continue checking your flight status occasionally.
- 3 hour flight delay
Alitalia is a European airline.
That means you, as a passenger, are protected.
If you are flying with Alitalia to or from Europe (that includes connecting flights), there is any kind of problem with your flight and you have to wait at the airport a few hours extra, the airline has to take care of you. If you have to wait more than 3 hours, Alitalia has to provide you with two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes and a free meal and drink.
Most likely it will be provided in the form of coupons.
Contact Alitalia if you haven’t yet received anything.
It applies to all Alitalia flight delays. All air passengers of all nationalities are entitled to this type of care. In this case it doesn’t even matter what is the reason behind your flight delay. All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261/2004, a set of rules created by the EU to protect rights of air travellers.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
Sometimes flight delays are 30 minutes, other times - 30 hours.
If you are flying with Finnair or any other airline registered in the EU, you are protected also against the worst of the situations. If you have to wait overnight, apart from the free meal and drink the airline has to provide you with free hotel accommodation.
According to the EC 261/2004, it is responsibility of Alitalia.
All passengers have the right to this type of care.
1.3 If it's fault of Alitalia
Flight delays happen a lot and due to number of reasons.
What if your flight is delayed due to mistake of Alitalia?
Then you might be entitled to EU flight delay compensation.
For example, technical problems mostly are considered airline’s fault.
It applies to flights that are delayed for 3 or more hours. If you have several flights or your flight is cancelled at some point, sometimes even a 2 hour flight delay (or less) is enough for you to be entitled to compensation in the end. See this article we have written to learn more about these situations.
Have you ever 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?
What if you have another flight that you will miss now?
Could you be entitled to flight cancellation compensation? Can you ask for a refund if you don’t want to take another flight? If yes — how soon are you going to receive it?
2.1 If you are still at home
If you are at home or hotel, don’t go anywhere yet.
Whenever there is a flight cancellation, your airline looks for solutions. To find out what is going to happen next, contact Alitalia or airport information desk.
From the legal point of view, in the European Union everything is very easy — if an airline cancels a flight, it must offer its customers a new flight or refund. So if your flight with Alitalia is cancelled, Alitalia must offer you a new flight or full refund, paid within 7 days to your bank account. The rules are the same if a flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances, if, for instance, the weather is very bad and it isn’t safe to fly. Even then you still must be given a choice between a new flight and refund.
It can be a flight with Alitalia, its partners or another airline.
If it’s their fault, you may also be entitled to compensation.
More on that further below.
2.2 If you are already at the airport
Where are you exactly? Are you already at the gate?
Have you gone through airport security or not?
If you have gone through airport security — see if you can go back to the landside of the airport. It must be possible without any problems if you are travelling with hand luggage only. Otherwise you will have to wait for your luggage first. No matter what is going to happen next, your flight is cancelled. Even if there will be a new flight (most likely there will), you will still have to check in for that new flight.
Wait for more information from your airline.
If you haven’t gone through airport security — just wait.
Just wait for more information from Alitalia.
In the EU the airline still has an obligation to take you to your destination or to give you a full refund. Most likely you will be give a choice between a new flight and refund.
Do you have a connecting flight?
If it is a connecting flight booked from Alitalia, you are protected.
If you will miss it, Alitalia will put you on another flight free of charge.
However, if it is a self transfer flight, it is your responsibility.
- 3 hour flight delay
You are at the airport and your flight is cancelled.
Alitalia has offered you to take another flight.
If you have to wait 3 or more hours extra, Alitalia, as an EU airline, has an obligation to take care of you. No matter the reason of the cancellation, it is their responsibility to offer you two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes and a free meal and drink.
All Alitalia passengers have the right to it.
All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
What if you have to wait longer than a few hours?
What if the new flight is departing only tomorrow?
In this case as well, you are protected by the EU. If otherwise you would have to stay at the airport, it’s airline’s responsibility to provide you with free hotel accommodation.
All passengers have the right to this type of care.
It doesn’t even matter if you have travel insurance or not.
2.3 If it's fault of Alitalia
What if your flight is cancelled due to airline’s mistake?
If the cancellation is their fault and you have been informed of it not more than 2 weeks before your flight, you are entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation.
The compensation amounts in the EU are 250-600 euro.
Don’t forget to make a claim to receive the compensation.
Have you ever 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 Alitalia flight delay compensation?
The 2 things that matter the most — time of arrival and reason of the delay.
If you have arrived to your destination airport 3 or more hours late, and if the delay was due to something that could be considered as airline’s fault (including technical problems), according to the Regulation EC 261/2004, now you are entitled to EU flight delay compensation up to €600.
How to claim Alitalia flight delay compensation?
Your two best options are:
1. You can do it all on your own. First of all go to the website of Alitalia, and look for the compensation form. Contact Alitalia, claim compensation. Refer to the Regulation EC 261/2004 when asking for compensation. Be prepared that Alitalia may try to avoid paying EU flight compensation.
Contact us, if you will need legal advice.
2. You can also take the easiest path — register your Alitalia compensation claim with us. You can do it online on our website. Fill in the form, sign it online and we will become your legal representatives. We will take care of all the bureaucracy.
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.
We will help you to get your Alitalia delayed flight compensation easier and faster. It’s a zero-risk deal for you, as we ask for no any upfront fees, and you will pay nothing if it turns out that you aren’t entitled to compensation after all. You pay only if you are getting compensation.
Our fee is fixed — €25 + 25% of the amount of the compensation.
Learn more about EU flight delay compensation.
- How long does it take?
On average this whole process takes around 2-3 months.
It’s from the moment you sign a compensation claim until you receive your Alitalia delay compensation in your bank account. It may take significantly longer if the airline isn’t cooperative.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
It depends from the local laws of the country a flight is from.
In most countries it is 2 to 3 years.
Yes, you can get compensation for old flights as well.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
The rules are the same for all paying passengers.
It applies to everyone, including also tourists from overseas.
You don't have to be European to be entitled to this EU compensation. All that matters is that your flight is from or to a country where Regulation EC 261/2004 is in effect, and that you have made a claim. That’s the most important part of the process — making a claim.
- What about codeshare flights?
What if it was a codeshare flight?
To put it simply, codeshare flight is a flight shared by two or more airlines. It’s a common practice nowadays. So it is possible that you have booked a flight from Alitalia, but you have to fly on a plane of Air France or Saudia. What does it mean for you? What if there is a problem with your flight?
Who will pay the flight delay compensation?
The airline operating the flight is gonna be responsible.
If a flight was operated by Air France, it’s their responsibility.
3.1 How much can you claim?
Compensation amounts in the EU are fixed - 250, 400 or 600 euro.
Generally speaking, the longer the flight, the bigger compensation.
These amounts are the same for all airlines operating in the EU, and they are the same for all passengers. It is obligation of Alitalia (EU261, Article 7) to follow this regulation. No matter the age, nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Even your under 2 years old kids can receive full flight compensation.
Here is how you can calculate it.
4. How to claim Alitalia flight cancellation compensation?
There are 2 things that matter the most.
It’s the reason of the cancellation and when it happened.
If it is fault of Alitalia and it has happened 14 days or less before the departure, you are entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation. If the reason of the cancellation is something that could be considered their fault — everything from technical problems with the aircraft to staff shortage — you could be entitled to flight cancellation compensation up to €600.
How to claim Alitalia flight cancellation compensation?
Your two best options are:
1. You can do it all on your own. Contact Alitalia and request the compensation. Be prepared that airlines, both big and small, use many different methods in order to avoid paying EU flight compensation. It’s annoying, but it’s happening nevertheless.
Contact us, when and if you will need legal advice.
2. You can also take the easiest path — register your claim with us, and let us be your legal representatives. We will help you to get your Alitalia flight cancellation compensation faster. Just fill in a single form and let us do the rest.
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.
One online form, and that’s it. We will do the rest.
No paperwork. No stress. No any upfront fees.
To make things easier for you, we ask for no upfront fees and you will pay only in the case of success. There are situations when it may turn out that you aren’t entitled to flight compensation, in these situations we don’t charge anything. No win, no fees. If, however, the claim is successful and you are getting your compensation, our fee is €25 + 25% of the amount of the compensation.
Remember that if you chose a refund instead of an alternative flight, you can get both the refund and compensation, both paid in cash or by bank transfer.
Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.
- How long does it take?
On average in the EU this process takes around 2 - 3 months.
From the moment you sign a claim until you receive money.
- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?
The number varies from country to country.
It depends from the local laws of the country you are flying from.
In most of the European Union you can claim flight cancellation compensation for flights that are also 2 to 3 years old. When in doubts, just make a claim and we will check the flight.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
It applies to all Alitalia passengers.
It applies to every flying to or from Europe.
No matter the nationality and age (for infants rules are the same). You don't have to be European to be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation. All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261/2004.
- What about codeshare flights?
What if it is a codeshare flight?
You may have noticed it already, or maybe you haven’t, but many airlines nowadays share some of their flights. You may book a flight from Alitalia, but it may be flight operated by Air France. What does it mean for passengers? What if there are problems with a flight? Who’s gonna be hold responsible?
Who is going to pay the flight compensation?
The airline operating the flight is gonna be responsible.
4.1 How much can you claim?
In most of situations you can claim up to 600 euro.
Because in the EU flight compensation amounts are fixed.
The only thing that matters in most situations is how far you are flying. At the same time it doesn’t matter how old you are, what is your nationality, what airline are you flying with, the price of your ticket, airline class or your travel insurance. The rules are the same for all passengers — your under 2 years old kid can receive full flight compensation even if you haven’t purchased a separate seat.
Here is how you can calculate it yourself:
- €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.
5. Alitalia denied boarding compensation
Flight delays, flight cancellations and denied boardings.
In the EU you are protected against all 3 of them.
And the rules are about the same, no matter if it’s a 3+ hour flight delay, last-minute flight cancellation or denied boarding due to overbooking. Whenever any of that happens due to airline’s fault, you may be entitled to EU denied boarding compensation.
With Alitalia it applies to all flights to and from Europe.
Compensation amounts are fixed — 250, 400 or 600 euro.
And you can get both — a new flight or full refund and a compensation.
Don’t forget that this applies only to overbookings.
If there is a problem with your passport, visa, insurance (when it’s mandatory) or any of your travel documents, and that is the reason you are denied boarding the aircraft, you will not be entitled to compensation. You also can’t get Alitalia overbooking compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat.
Learn more about EU denied boarding compensation.
6. Connecting flights with Alitalia
Alitalia, as the name suggests, is an airline from Italy. It’s the flag carrier and largest airline of the country, as of March 2020 fully owned by the Government of Italy. According to Skytrax, Alitalia is a 4-star airline. It is a full service traditional airline, and as a such it offers airline protected connecting flights.
For passengers that mean convenience and protection.
If you book a connecting flight with Alitalia, you are protected.
If, for example, your flight is heavily delayed or cancelled and because of that you miss another flight, the airline will take care of this problem. Most likely you will be offered another flight with Alitalia or other airline completely for free. You will neither have to look for that flight, nor pay for it.
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 Alitalia 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!