Flight Delay Compensation – Some Commonly Asked Questions

Flight delays often create great chaos at the airport, with passengers shouting on the airline staff or over the phone and trying to get to their destination on time. However, by shouting over the airport staff or by creating a helter-skelter at the airport passengers actually get nothing. Whenever a flight gets delayed, the best way for the travelers is to stay calm and find out alternative ways to reach to their destination. To safeguard the rights of the air passengers, the European Union has passed a regulation; however, most passengers are unaware of their rights and thus face more difficulties to get into their destination. To create consciousness among the general air travelers, we have created a list of questions that lets one know what they can and can't expect when their flight gets delayed:

1. My flight got delayed. Am I entitled to any financial compensation?

According to EU Regulations, passengers are entitled to compensation if they reach their final destination 3 hours or later than the scheduled arrival time. However, the amount of compensation depends on the journey distance and time period of delay. The regulation has set certain timeframes, which are mentioned as follows:

i) For all short-haul flight, where the distance is less than 1500 kilometer, the passengers get compensation only if they experience a delay of more than 2 hours

ii) For all medium-haul flights, where the distance covered is between 1500 and 3500 kilometers, the delay must be greater than 3 hours to claim any flight delay compensation

iii) For all long-haul non-community flights where the distance covered is more than 3500 kilometers, the delay must be of 4 hours or more to file a compensation claim

2. Other than monetary compensation, what else I am entitled to if the flight gets delayed?

Other than financial compensations, the passengers are also entitled to meals and refreshments, free phone calls, e-mails, fax, hotel accommodation and airport transfers. However, this also depends on the nature of delay and hour of delay. For example, if your flight delay causes you an overnight stay at the airport, the air carrier must need to arrange a free hotel accommodation for you. Also, if your delay time is more than 5 hours and you no longer wish to travel, you can take a full refund of your ticket amount from the airline.

3. My flight got delayed by 9 hours and it's an overnight delay. But instead of arranging me meals and refreshments, the airline asked me to keep my receipts. What should I do now?

It is the duty of the air carrier to fulfil the basic requirements of the passengers if the scheduled flight gets delayed beyond a reasonable timeframe. The airline is responsible to arrange for the passengers' meals and refreshments, access to a telephone, computer or fax, hotel accommodation (in case of overnight delays) and both way transfers between the airport and the hotel. In case of air carrier failing to provide you the mentioned things and you are asked to make your own arrangements, you should keep the receipts of all the spends and submit those to airline as soon as possible to get the reimbursement. At times, many airlines ask for the original receipts; in such case, you should keep the photocopy of the receipts for your own records.

4. My airline suddenly did a schedule change and now I have to fly at a different time. Am I entitled to any compensation?

There is no particular law in EU Regulations dealing with schedule changes; however, the airline ticket terms & conditions generally cover this area. The passengers are only entitled to refund if the schedule change cause them a delay of more than 2 hours.

5. The airline canceled my flight and now offering me an alternative flight to a different airport in the same city. Will the airline bear my expenses to get into the original airport?

This is a case of re-routing. During some emergency situations or unavoidable circumstances, the airline re-route their flights; however, in such a case, the airline do bear all the transportation expenses from the alternative airport to the original one.

6. My flight has been canceled and the airline is offering me an alternative flight which is scheduled for the next morning. As the flight offered by the airline didn't suit me, I canceled the ticket and booked another flight with a different airline. What refund am I entitled to?

The passengers can cancel the ticket and take full refund of the flight ticket in case the alternative flight offered by the airline doesn't suit their requirements. In such a case, the original air carrier has no liability for any expenses the traveler incur whilst waiting for the next flight.

7. I have canceled my flight. How much refund I can expect from the airline?

Every flight ticket has some terms & conditions and the travelers are bound to obey those if they cancel their bookings by themselves. Some airline fares are refundable, where the passenger gets back the refund for the fare and the taxes (though some processing fee and other administration charges may be levied). On the other hand, low-cost fares are mostly non-refundable and passengers can get refund for some taxes only. If you canceled your ticket, you should consider checking your ticket terms & conditions to know more about the refund amount.

There is an endless list of questions that the passengers may raise when their flight gets delayed. However, a clear knowledge about delay compensation rights certainly helps passengers to get their compensation easily and without any hassle.