How to Get Compensation for Delayed Flights?
Flight delays can be quite annoying, but you don’t necessarily have to just put up with them. You might be eligible for up to €600 in compensation if your flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last three years.
If you’re flying out of an EU airport on any airline, or arriving at an EU airport on an EU carrier (which also includes Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), you’re protected under EU Regulation 261/2004. This regulation covers flights that arrive more than two hours late. In such cases, the airline is required to provide you with food and drink suitable for the time of day (usually in the form of a voucher). They must also provide a way for you to communicate your delay, or reimburse you for essential calls.
If your flight is canceled, you have a right to claim compensation. If the airline offers to reroute your flight and the new arrival time is within two hours for short-haul flights, three hours for medium-haul flights, or four hours for long-haul flights, the compensation amount can be reduced by 50%.
The compensation can be paid in cash, via bank transfer, or by check. It can only be paid in travel vouchers or other services if you agree to it beforehand.
The distance of your flight, the length of the delay, and the reason for the delay all play a part in determining if you’re entitled to compensation. If your departure is delayed to the following day, you may qualify for hotel accommodation.
You can claim compensation if you reach your destination more than three hours later than the scheduled arrival time. The amount you can claim ranges from €250 to €600, depending on how long your flight is and how long the delay lasts.
There are also services like ClaimAir that can handle the paperwork and communication with the airlines for you. If the airlines refuse to pay, these services can even take them to court on your behalf. Typically, there is about a 25% administration fee for using such services.