Swiss Airlines: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding
How to claim compensation from Swiss online?
Swiss International Air Lines is the flag carrier of Switzerland, with its hub in Zürich Airport. The airline operates scheduled flights in Europe, and to North America, South America, Africa and Asia. What does it mean for you as a passenger? What if there are problems with your flight? Are you protected under the EU law when you are flying with Swiss? The short answer is — yes. If your Swiss flight is disrupted, you might be entitled to EU flight compensation of up to €600.
How to claim Swiss flight delay compensation?
How to claim Swiss 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 Swiss flight delay compensation?
4. How to claim Swiss flight cancellation compensation?
5. How to claim Swiss denied boarding compensation?
1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?
Your flight is delayed. What now?
There are two most likely scenarios.
1.1 If you are still at home
You are still at home when you find out that your flight is delayed.
You have checked your flight status online or received an e-mail saying that your flight is late. What now? You have to find out, if check in is going to open as planned, or is it delayed.
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?
It depends on your connection type. If you have booked an airline-protected connecting flight, you are protected. The airline will take care of you in case of a missed connection. If necessary, you will be put on another flight completely for free. If you have booked two or more flights separately, you won’t be protected in case of a missed connection — flights like these are called self transfer flights.
1.2 If you are already at the airport
You have arrived at the airport.
But, unfortunately, looks like you aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Your flight is delayed, and it may be a long delay. What now? Find out what is the situation with check in.
If check in hasn’t started, for now just wait.
If it’s delayed, it may as well be a long delay. Or your flight might be even cancelled altogether. That’s why it’s better to just wait for a while. Until you see that the check in for your flight starts.
If check has started, that’s a good sign.
It won’t be a long delay after all (hopefully).
You can check in and proceed through airport security.
- 3 hour flight delay
Swiss International Air Lines is a European airline.
And that means you are protected by the EU.
If your flight has been delayed, you will have to wait at the airport until you can board your flight. In the EU, in these situations passengers are entitled to receive certain services for free from the airline. Swiss International Air Lines has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails (or internet access) and also a free meal and drink.
This applies to all Swiss delays and all passengers.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
If the delay is longer, you may also get a hotel room.
Swiss 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 Swiss International Air Lines
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 be there a new flight for free? In which situations can you ask for compensation from Swiss International Air Lines? What about Swiss Airlines refund for cancellation?
2.1 If you are still at home
You need to find out what’s happening next.
Contact Swiss, if they haven’t yet contacted you.
Generally speaking, in the EU you are protected under the EU law. If your flight has been cancelled, the airline must offer you a new flight or full refund. You can choose either. If your flight is cancelled due to the fault of the airline, you may receive compensation.
More on that further below.
2.2 If you are already at the airport
Don’t go through the airport security yet.
Swiss must offer you a new flight your destination as soon as possible. And you will have to check in for that new flight. And as you might already know, check in counters are located before the security. If you have already gone through airport security, try to get back to the landside area of the airport (area before the security check).
Try to get in touch with the representatives of Swiss Air Lines to learn what’s happening next. If you don’t wish to travel anymore, you can ask for a full refund.
- 3 hour flight delay
Swiss Air Lines is an airline registered in the EU.
And that means you are protected by the EU.
If you have to wait at the airport, due to delay, cancellation or denied boarding, you have a right to care from the airline. The airline has to provide you with two free phone calls or e-mails (or internet access) and also a free meal and drink.
Cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances?
This applies to all Swiss flight cancellations.
All thanks to Regulation EC 261/2004.
- Long delay (Overnight delay)
You have a right to free accommodation.
Normally, a free hotel stay and transfer would be offered to affected passengers. However, it’s assessed case by case, and the airline may decide not to provide that — if that, “Doesn’t make sense in the particular situation” or if that may make the whole delay even longer.
2.3 If it is fault of Swiss International Air Lines
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 Swiss flight delay compensation?
There are two conditions that should be met.
It must be due to the fault of Swiss, and the delay must be 3+ hours. If you have experienced that, you have a right to receive the EU flight delay compensation. Make a claim and receive 200, 400 or 600 euro for your delayed flight. There are two ways how to claim compensation.
1. You can do it all on your own.
Just as in case of cancellation, you can claim compensation yourself. Contact the airline and request the compensation, quoting the Regulation EC 261/2004. Keep in mind that the process takes time. Be prepared for a refusal. Here you can see some of the most popular ways how airlines avoid paying passengers the compensation they owe them.
Contact us for legal help with Swiss claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
This is the hassle-free option. Just fill in one form and the rest is done by us. In this case, we are your legal representatives. We will help you get your Swiss Air Lines compensation faster.
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?
Normally, it takes 2-3 months.
If the airline refuses to cooperate, it might be necessary to involve the NEB or take your case to court. It will add a couple of months (or more) to the case.
- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?
You can get compensation for old flights, too.
It depends on the laws of the country you are flying from. In most countries in the EU, you can file a claim for flights up to 2-3 years old. However, we would recommend you not to postpone anything, and to start the process right after you come home from a trip.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No.
You don't have to be European for this.
- How much can you claim?
The longer the flight, the more you can claim.
The amounts are: 200, 400 and 600 euro per passenger.
These amounts are the same for all passengers on the same flight. No matter the nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Even infants can receive full flight compensation if a flight is delayed for 3 or more hours due to the fault of the airline.
4. How to claim Swiss flight cancellation compensation?
There are two conditions that should be met.
Only then you may be entitled to compensation. First of all, flight cancellation must be due to the fault of the airline. Second of all, it must be a last-minute flight cancellation — not more than 14 days before the planned date of departure.If that’s what has happened to your flight, you may get compensation.
There are two ways you can apply for it.
1. You can do it all on your own.
You can apply for compensation yourself.
Contact customer service of Swiss International Air Lines. Refer to the Regulation EC 261/2004, and request a cancellation compensation. Be prepared to wait and to fight for your rights.
Contact us for legal help with Swiss Air Lines claims.
2. You can hand the case over to us.
If you don’t want to deal with it yourself, contact us.
We will help you get your Swiss compensation faster. It’s very easy — you will need to fill in only one form, and we will do the rest. It’s called legal representation. In this case, it’s us who do all the negotiations and prepare all the necessary paperwork.
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?
If you work with us, on average it takes 2-3 months.
If you do it yourself, it may take longer than that. Especially if you need to take your case to court. But if you work with us, we will take your case to court on your behalf. It's zero-risk for you - with us you pay only if you're getting the compensation from airline.
- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?
It depends on the country you are flying from.
But the laws of most EU countries state that you can claim compensation even if you had your flight cancelled 2 or even 3 years ago. However, we would not suggest waiting that long.
- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?
No, every passenger can claim EU flight compensation.
The nationality of the passenger doesn’t matter. So, you don't have to be European to be able to claim compensation.
- How much can you claim?
The Regulation EC 261/2004 states that you can receive up to 600 euro.
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.
The amounts listed above are per passenger. They are exactly the same for all passengers of the same flight. It doesn’t matter what is the nationality of the passenger, airline they are flying with, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Even infants can receive full flight compensation if a flight is cancelled due to the fault of the airline.
5. How to claim Swiss denied boarding compensation?
You may get denied boarding even if you have a valid ticket.
How is that possible? You see, airlines sell more tickets than there are seats. Because there is always a possibility that not all passengers will show up. If an airline sells more tickets than there are seats, they can ensure that plane will be full even if some people don’t show up for their flight. But sometimes there are situations when all the passengers show up.
If your flight is overbooked, you may be asked to give up your seat. You can agree to that, and take another flight offered by the airline, or you may refuse. But sometimes you don’t even have a choice. Whenever you aren’t even given a choice, you have a right to EU denied boarding compensation.
With Swiss it applies to all their flights to and from Europe.
Compensation amounts are fixed — 250, 400 or 600 euro.
And in most cases, you can get both — a flight or refund and compensation.
It only 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 denied boarding compensation from Swiss International Air Lines.
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 Swiss International Air Lines 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!