Ethiopian Airlines: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim Ethiopian Airlines compensation?
Ethiopian Airlines is Ethiopia's flag carrier airline serving more than 100 international destinations. The airline is wholly owned by the Ethiopian government. Despite that, on its European flights, all passengers are protected by the EU. If the flight is departing from the EU, and there are some problems with it, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline.
How to claim Ethiopian Airlines flight delay compensation?
Ethiopian Airlines 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 Ethiopian Airlines flight delay compensation?
4. How to claim Ethiopian Airlines flight cancellation compensation?
5. How to claim Ethiopian Airlines denied boarding compensation?
1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
Your flight is delayed. What should you do?
Where and how have you learned of this delay?
1.1 If you are still at home
If you are at home or hotel, contact the airport.
You have to find out what’s happening with check in.
If check in is going to be delayed, wait for a while.
If check in isn't delayed, go to the airport as normally.
Do you have another flight you may miss?
Is this flight with Ethiopian Airlines? Ethiopian Airlines is a traditional, full service airline offering airline-protected connecting flights. If that’s your other flight, you are protected. If needed, airline will offer you a new flight for free. Is it a flight with other airline? A flight booked separately? Then this is your responsibility. Flights like the latter are called self transfer flights.
1.2 If you are already at the airport
Go and see what’s the situation with check in.
Do so, even if you have already checked in online.
If check in hasn’t started, for now just wait.
Even if you already have a boarding pass, better don’t go to your gate. Just in case, it’s a very long delay or the flight gets cancelled. Wait for a while.
If check has started, that’s a good sign.
Proceed to your gate.
- 3 hour flight delay
Ethiopian Airlines is not a European airline.
Despite that, on many flights you are protected by the EU.
If the flight departs from a EU airport, and if you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to care from the airline. It applies also to flights departing from the UK. If the delay is more than 3 hours, the airline must offer you two free phone calls or e-mails and also a free meal and drink.
This applies to all Ethiopian Airlines passengers.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
If the delay is longer, you may also get a hotel room.
The airline 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 Ethiopian Airlines
That includes things like technical problems and staff shortage.
In this case, you may also be entitled to EU flight delay compensation.
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 get a new flight? Will it be for free? In what situations can you ask for compensation from Ethiopian Airlines? First of all, where and how have you learned of this delay?
2.1 If you are still at home
You need to find out what’s happening next.
Contact Ethiopian Airlines to ask about that.
If you are flying from the EU or the UK, then it’s very easy. Here these things are well regulated. If a thing like this happens, an airline must give you a choice between a new flight and a full refund. You can choose what suits you the best. If this cancellation is due to fault of the airline, you may have a right to compensation. More on that further below.
2.2 If you are already at the airport
Let’s assume, you are already at the airport.
First of all, do not proceed to airport security.
If your flight is cancelled, your boarding pass isn’t valid anymore. You won’t be able to get on any plane with it anymore. There will be a new flight, a you will have to get a new boarding pass. Contact the airline to ask about the next steps.
In the EU, you can also request a refund.
- 3 hour flight delay
Ethiopian Airlines is an airline registered in Ethiopia.
Despite that, on many flights you are protected by the EU.
If you are flying from Europe, and if you have to wait at the airport, due to delay, cancellation or denied boarding, you have a right to care. What it means is that the airline has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails and a free meal and drink.
Cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances?
This applies to all Ethiopian Airlines cancellations.
As long as the flight departs from the EU/UK.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
In this case you have a right to free accommodation.
Free airport transfer also has to be offered. It is airline's responsibility to take care of its passengers. With Ethiopian Airlines, it applies to all fights departing from the EU/UK.
2.3 If it is fault of Ethiopian Airlines
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 Ethiopian Airlines flight delay compensation?
There are three conditions that should be met.
It must be fault of Ethiopian Airlines, the delay must be 3+ hours (not less), and you must be flying from the EU/UK. It doesn’t apply to other routes. Sounds like your flight? File a claim for compensation. You may be entitled to 600 euro delay compensation from Ethiopian Airlines.
1. You can do it all on your own.
It’s “for free,” but also more time consuming.
Contact the airline and request the compensation. Refer to the Regulation EC 261/2004. Prepare for the negotiations by learning more about some of the most popular ways how airlines try to avoid paying passengers the compensation. Many airlines use these tactics every once in a while.
Contact us for legal help with Ethiopian Airlines claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
It's the easiest option you have.
You will in a form, we will do the job.
We will be your legal representatives.
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?
With Ethiopian Airlines, it takes around 3 months.
That’s from the moment you submit a claim, until you get the money in your bank account. It will take longer if the airline doesn’t agree with your claim.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
It depends from the laws of the EU country your flight is from.
Generally speaking, you can get compensation for old flights as well. And mostly you can file a claim for flights that are up to 3 years old, sometimes — 2 years old.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, absolutely not, it applies to everyone.
These rules apply to all passengers of the same flight.
You don't have to be European to have these rights.
- How much can you claim?
The longer the flight, the more you can claim.
The compensation amounts are up to 600 euro per passenger. You can get 600 euro even if your ticket cost only 100 or 200 euro. The compensation amount is not affected by the price of the ticket. And you don’t need a travel insurance for that. Even infants can receive full flight compensation if a flight is 3 or more hours late due to fault of the airline.
4. How to claim Ethiopian Airlines flight cancellation compensation?
There are three conditions that should be met.
First of all, it must be a flight from the EU/UK. It must be a last-minute cancellation (up to 14 days before the departure). And it must have happened due to fault of the airline, not something unavoidable like extreme weather conditions. If all of these conditions are met, you are highly likely to be entitled to EU flight cancellation compensation. You now have to request it.
Here's how you can do it.
1. You can do it all on your own.
Submit the claim on the airline’s website.
And be prepared for the negotiations.
Contact us for legal help with Ethiopian Airlines claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
This is the by far easiest option you have.
In this case, you submit one form, we 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.
We will do the rest.
Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.
- How long does it take?
In Europe, claims like these take 2-3 months.
After 2020, there have been situations when it took significantly longer than that. However, as the market is recovering from the pandemic, these things are improving as well.
- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?
Up to 3 years, sometimes 2 years.
At the same time, as our experience shows, the sooner you do it, the better. The higher is your chance to successful outcome. Then it’s easier to work with the airline.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, the regulation protects everyone.
The rules are the same for all passengers.
When it comes to flight disruptions and overbookings, all passengers are equally protected. You don't have to be European to have these rights and to receive European flight compensation.
- How much can you claim?
These amounts are regulated by the mentioned regulation.
Here is how much you can claim for your 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 the same for adults, kids, first class passengers, economy / economy light class passengers, for everyone. No matter the nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Even infants can receive full flight compensation if a flight is cancelled, and if its’s airline’s fault.
5. How to claim Ethiopian Airlines denied boarding compensation?
You may get denied boarding even if you have a valid ticket.
Whenever that happens, and if you are flying from the EU/UK, you have a right to compensation from Ethiopian Airlines — EU denied boarding compensation.
It applies to all Ethiopian Airlines flights from Europe.
Compensation amounts are fixed — 250, 400 or 600 euro.
Mostly you can get both — a new flight and compensation.
It applies only to overbooking. That’s when airline sells too many tickets, and someone has to be denied boarding. If there are problems with your, let’s say, travel documents, your passport expires soon, or if you voluntarily give up your seat, in these situations you aren't entitled to overbooking compensation from Ethiopian Airlines.
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 Ethiopian Airlines 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!