The EU 261 Compensation Regulation protects passengers who have been delayed or denied boarding on flights departing from an EU airport and those arriving at an EU airport from a non-EU country. If your flight has arrived three or more hours late or was canceled less than 14 days before departure, this is the regulation that applies to your situation.
If you arrive at your final destination three hours or later and miss your connecting flight, as long as your ticket is good for both parts of the trip, even if the connected flights aren't operated by the same airline, you are also qualified to receive compensation under EU 261.
Some European countries, like Switzerland and Norway, have implemented the rule to improve compensation for their citizens. UK lawmakers adopted the legislation even after leaving the European Union.
The rights of British passengers have remained the same since the country's version of the rule was introduced. Yet, depending on their final destination, passengers may still reap the benefits of the EU's version.
For purposes of compensation, flight cancellations may mean any of the following circumstances:
Any claims you make can be retroactive for up to six years.
Under EU 261, which went into force in 2004, airlines must compensate customers for delays or cancellations due solely to the airline. The duration of the trip and the extent of the delay factor into the total amount of compensation that will be awarded.
A payment of €250 will be required in the event of a delay of up to three hours on a flight with a distance of up to 1,500 kilometers. Flights that cover a distance of 1,500 to 3,500 kilometers and experience delays of up to three hours will be compensated for €400. Flights with a distance of more than 3,500 kilometers will result in a payment of €600.
There are four steps to filing a claim for EU 261:
You should go on to the next stage of the compensation claim if they do not react within two months.
You have a legal right to know the reasoning behind the airline's decision to deny your claim. If the flight was canceled or delayed due to extraordinary circumstances, the airline might not be required to compensate the passengers for their inconvenience.
If the airline turned down your claim, you could appeal the decision to a higher authority. If you believe that the decision was incorrect, you have the option of doing this.
You can also use an alternative dispute resolution service, which is a form of mediation that employs mediators and arbitrators who are not directly involved in the case. The online dispute resolution portal provided by the EU offers several different choices to assist you in finding a solution to your problems.
If nothing else works, you can bring a claim against your airline in a European Small Claims Court.
If you have any problems concerning your claims with your airlines, feel free to contact us. We are willing to give you advice and assist you.
We know it can be very stressful and frustrating when something goes wrong with your flight, primarily due to something out of your control.
We are available at any time to assist you.
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