Can you get compensation for delayed flights (and flight cancellations)?
Can you get compensation for delayed flights?
In many situations you can. What you should know is that the rules differ from country to country, from one airline to another. Your chances are higher if you are travelling in Europe or with a European airline. All thanks to the EU regulations, which, by the way, apply to most of you (not only Europeans). Yes - you don’t have to be European to receive EU flight delay compensation. In some situations it applies also to flights with non-EU airlines.
Meaning that you may be eligible to European flight compensation.
And that’s what we are going to talk about - EU regulations.
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Can you get compensation for delayed flights?
Can you claim compensation for delayed flights?
What about flight cancellations? Can you get compensation for cancelled flight as well?
1) Yes, if your flight is delayed for 3 hours or more, and it’s the airline’s fault.
In this case you should be able to receive flight delay compensation from the airline you are flying with. Don't forget to file a compensation claim.
Depending from the distance you are entitled to up to €600 per passenger.
Note, that sometimes a 2-hour flight delay is enough.
2) Yes, if your flight is cancelled last minute.
It’s the airlines fault, and you are informed of it less than 2 weeks before the day of departure. In this situation as well you should be receiving a compensation.
Things are different, if your flight is cancelled more than 2 weeks before the trip.
- European and non-European airlines
If it’s a non-European airline, then it applies to all its flights in Europe* and from Europe. But it doesn't apply to flights from somewhere else to Europe. That is if you are flying with a non-EU airline.
If it’s a European airline, it applies to all its flights to, from or within Europe.
*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.
1. You don’t have to be European
You don’t have to be a citizen of the European Union to be eligible to EU flight compensation.
When it comes to flight compensations your rights in Europe are the same as anyone’s else.
Even if you are just a tourist from the US or Singapore travelling to Europe.
Your nationality doesn’t matter.
If your flight is delayed for 3 hours or more, and it’s the airline’s fault - you may receive flight delay compensation from the airline. If it’s a non-European airline, these rules apply to all its flights in Europe and from Europe. If it’s a European airline, it applies to all its flights to, from or within Europe.
2. You don’t have to have a travel insurance
In these situations it simply doesn’t matter.
It will not affect your chances of getting a compensation in any way. If your European flight is late, you arrive to your destionation 3, 4, 5, … hours late, it’s the airlines fault, then you are entitled to compensation.
One thing you should remember, though, is that you should file a compensation claim.
You should request the compensation.
If you do nothing, the airline will do the same. Nothing.
3. The price of your ticket doesn’t matter
Even if you bought it on sale.
Even if the ticket cost only €40. Even then you can get compensation, if your flight gets delayed or cancelled. Same like your nationality doesn’t matter, the price of your ticket doesn’t matter either.
The rules are the same for everyone, who has bought a ticket.
4. Your age doesn’t matter
Your child under 2 years old is entitled to compensation as well.
If you are travelling with a toddler, you can and you should file a claim for compensation for your child as well. Even if chose to travel with the child on your lap and didn’t have to pay full price for the infant ticket. Even then, in case of a flight disruption, you’ll be receiving a full compensation. The rules here are the same for all passengers.
The only difference is that in this case parents are responsible for filing a compensation claim. If you are under 18 years old you can’t do it on your own. Even though you are allowed to travel on your own without parents.
5. It applies to all airlines
You can get a compensation from a full service airline.
You can get a compensation from a low cost airline.
And you can get a compensation for a charter airline as well.
Read about all the main differences between full service and low cost airlines.
Your rights are the same with all types of airlines.
How to claim flight compensation?
How to claim these up to €600 in cash that the airline owes you?
How can you do it yourself, and how we can help you with this task?
First of all, yes, you can do it on your own. You can claim flight compensation on your own. You can contact the airline you were flying with, and try to get the compensation on your own. But be prepared, that mostly it’s a lengthy process.
Or, you can always take a shortcut - register your flight with us.
And we’ll do it on your behalf.
5 minutes of your time, and that’s it.
Click here to make a claim.
Flight delays suck.
The best thing you can do about them, is to travel prepared.
Check out these guides to learn more:
Bon voyage!