13.10.2020

Do you need travel insurance to claim EU flight compensation?

How to claim flight compensation in the EU?

What’s necessary to claim EU flight compensation? Do you need travel insurance to be eligible to do that?

Even though the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 has been around for more than 15 years, there are still a lot of people who haven’t even heard of it. As a result many still don’t know about their passenger rights, don’t know how it works, and what is the process of getting compensation from an airline like.

Check your compensation online!

Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.

Had an issue with a flight recently? You might be eligible for up to 600€ compensation Check your compensation

Doctor holding chocolates

Do you need travel insurance to get EU flight compensation?

The short answer is no.

You DON’T have to have a travel insurance in this case.

If your flight was with a European airline, the same rules apply to all of its flights to and from the EU. If it was a non-EU airline, these rules apply only to flights departing from the EU, not the other way around. 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.

If there was a problem with your flight.

If it was your airlines fault, not something unavoidable.

Then you might be entitled to EU flight compensation.

Even if you don’t have a travel insurance.

Learn more:

Calculate your flight compensation for free! It takes less than 2 minutes Calculate compensation

Woman sitting on a pink suitcase

Why should you get yourself travel insurance?

Yes, you don’t need travel insurance for the EU flight compensation.

But still travel insurance is a must whenever (and wherever) you travel.

Getting scammed or robbed while travelling sucks. Something else no one is looking forward to is health issues, even less anyone wants to pay hefty bills for a necessary visit to a doctor or hospital treatment abroad.

A good travel insurance will come in handy not only in case of medical emergencies, but also when your luggage gets lost or stolen, when you hire a car, and when you book a self transfer flight and a delay causes you to miss the second leg of your trip. Pay attention to the small print, though.

If there is an an airport staff strike, operations of the airport are paralysed or slowed down, and your flight gets delayed or cancelled because of that - mostly you’ll not be entitled to European flight compensation. Having a travel insurance may help, though. The same goes for bad weather and other extraordinary circumstances.

Your insurance will cover the expenses incurred if your trip is delayed. Insurance will cover accommodation and other travel expenses until travel becomes possible.

Many of the best credit and debit cards come with travel insurance benefits. Remember that when you’ll be thinking of getting yourself a new bank card.

Check if your existing credit card has travel insurance.

European Health Insurance Card

If you're a EU citizen travelling in Europe, you’re covered.

Get yourself European Health Insurance Card. You can get it in your home country for free.

With it you will have access to cheaper, state-provided healthcare during your travels. Just like any citizen of the EEA country you are travelling to would.

Safe travels!