Airline Delay Reimbursement

Airline Delay Reimbursement

Passengers suffering air delays within the European Union are entitled to compensation for the damage suffered. EU law states that in the event of delays of more than three hours, airlines are obliged to pay compensation to the passenger. The compensation varies depending on the length of the air route and can be between EUR 250 and EUR 600. However, it is important to note that to be entitled to compensation, the cause of the delay must be directly attributable to the airline.

Your rights if your flight is delayed: compensation and ground handling

As a passenger, you have specific rights if your flight is delayed, regardless of the ticket price. In the event of a delay of at least 3 hours, you are entitled to compensation of between EUR 250 and EUR 600. In addition, after a 2-hour delay, the airline must provide you with snacks and drinks free of charge. If your flight is delayed until the next day, the airline is also obliged to provide you with accommodation for the night. It is important to know your rights in the event of a flight delay so that you can act accordingly and obtain the compensation to which you are entitled.

How to proceed in the event of a flight delay: steps to follow to obtain a refund

In the event of a flight delay, it is important to follow certain steps to ensure that you get the compensation to which you are entitled. Here is what you need to do:

Ask the airline to provide you with written documentation justifying the flight delay.

Keep all receipts and receipts for expenses incurred due to the delay, such as meals or vouchers.

Request ground assistance from the airline.

Use our online tool to calculate the compensation you are entitled to based on the length of the route and the time of the flight delay.

When to receive compensation for a delayed flight: what to know about EU Regulation 261/2004

In the event of air delays of at least three hours within the European Union, passengers are entitled to compensation of between EUR 250 and EUR 600, depending on the length of the flight. According to EU legislation on air passenger rights, airlines are liable to pay compensation if the delay is directly attributable to them. In addition, passengers are entitled to assistance such as snacks and drinks after a 2-hour delay and hotel accommodation in the event of a flight delay until the next day. It is important to keep track of written communications from the airline regarding the reason for the delay and to keep receipts and receipts for any extra expenses. You can assert your rights within 1.5 years from the date of the flight.

If a flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, passengers are entitled to compensation based on the length of the flight: €250 for short flights (up to 1500 kilometres), €400 for medium flights (up to 3500 kilometres) and €600 for long flights (over 3500 kilometres). You may file a claim for compensation within 1.5 years from the date of the delay and regardless of the ticket price or purpose of travel. To be eligible for compensation, the flight must have departed from or stopped within the European Union and the airline must be based in the EU.

What compensation is due in the event of a delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection?

In the event of a delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection, passengers are entitled to compensation according to the length of the air route. For short routes up to 1500 km, the compensation is EUR 250, for medium routes up to 3500 km the compensation is EUR 400, and for long routes over 3500 km the compensation is EUR 600. For example, for a flight from Rome to Berlin the compensation would be EUR 250, for a flight from Rome to Lisbon the compensation would be EUR 400, and for a flight from Rome to Abu Dhabi the compensation would be EUR 600.

What is arrival time and how flight delay is calculated

Flight delay calculation is based on the time of arrival at the destination airport, not the time of take-off. Arrival time is considered to be the moment when the aircraft touches down and one of the doors is opened, allowing passengers to leave the aircraft. The EU Regulation takes this criterion into account when determining compensation.

Business travel: right to compensation for flight delays

In the event of an airline delay during a business trip, you are still entitled to compensation, regardless of whether your employer paid for the ticket. Compensation is always due to the person who directly suffered the damage, no matter whether they are an employee or not.

To receive the compensation you are entitled to if your flight is delayed, it is important to first check whether you are entitled to it. For many private passengers, it can be complex to understand whether they are entitled to compensation without access to flight databases, without knowledge of similar cases of delays and without legal knowledge. However, there are tools and services available to help you check whether you are entitled to compensation and to obtain it from the airline.

How to get compensation for flight delays

With our verification tool, you can find out within minutes whether you are entitled to compensation for the delay of your flight. With years of experience in air passenger rights and millions of users who rely on our services, we will help you assert your rights easily, quickly and at no cost to you. Enter your flight data into our specially designed verification tool to analyse thousands of aircraft movements and weather data and check the applicability of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation. You will immediately get a free evaluation. Try it now.

If our tool indicates that you are entitled to compensation, you can hire us to enforce your rights. Choosing our services means having a partner that has been successfully promoting the rights of air passengers for years. We know how to deal with airlines and what strategies to implement. We will get you compensation, even if it means going to court and assuming the entire economic risk. If we lose a case, all costs are borne by us. If we are successful, we charge a commission of between 20 and 30 per cent (plus VAT). With us, you always have the certainty of not incurring unnecessary additional costs. We can boast a 99% success rate for cases brought to court.

Check now if you are entitled to compensation for the delay of your flight with our tool

With our verification tool, you can find out within minutes whether you are entitled to compensation for the delay of your flight. With years of experience in air passenger rights and millions of users who rely on our services, we will help you assert your rights easily, quickly and at no cost to you. Enter your flight data into our specially designed verification tool to analyse thousands of aircraft movements and weather data and check the applicability of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation. You will immediately get a free evaluation. Try it now.

If our tool indicates that you are entitled to compensation, you can hire us to enforce your rights. Choosing our services means having a partner that has been successfully promoting the rights of air passengers for years. We know how to deal with airlines and what strategies to implement. We will get you compensation, even if it means going to court and assuming the entire economic risk. If we lose a case, all costs are borne by us. With us, you are always assured of not incurring unnecessary additional costs. We can boast a 99% success rate for cases taken to court.

How to get the right compensation for your delayed flight: let us help you

If your flight has been delayed and you are struggling to get the compensation you deserve, you are not alone. Many airlines do not meet their payment obligations and may ignore passenger requests or offer inadequate solutions. But you don't have to give up.

With the help of Flightright, you can easily check whether you are entitled to compensation and let us take care of the correspondence with the airline. We are experts in the field of air passenger rights and have helped millions of people get the right compensation. If necessary, we can also represent you in court. Don't waste time in an exhausting bureaucratic war, trust us to get you the compensation you are legally entitled to.

Ground assistance in case of long waiting times

In the event of an extended wait at the airport due to a delayed flight, you are entitled to certain forms of ground assistance. These services vary depending on the length of the flight route.

For short flights of up to 1500 km, you are entitled to free drinks and snacks, access to e-mail, faxes, and two telephone calls if you have to wait for at least 2 hours. For medium routes between 1500 and 3500 km, in the event of a wait of at least 3 hours, you are entitled to free drinks and meals, access to e-mail or fax, and two telephone calls. For long distances over 3500 km, in the event of a wait of at least 4 hours, you are entitled to drinks, free meals, access to e-mail or fax, and two telephone calls.

Right of cancellation in the event of a delay of more than 5 hours

In the event of a delay of more than 5 hours, you have the right to cancel your booked flight and receive a full refund of the costs. Furthermore, the airline must offer you acceptable alternative solutions to reach your destination and, if you decide not to fly any more, also transfer from the airport to your initial location.

Overnight stay in a hotel if your flight departs the next day

If your flight does not depart until the day after the scheduled departure date, you are entitled to an overnight stay in a hotel with transfer to and from the airport. To obtain this assistance, you can contact the airline company directly and ask for written confirmation for room and transport.

What are exceptional circumstances in the event of a delayed flight?

If the airline is not responsible for the flight delay, it is not obliged to pay any compensation under the Air Passenger Rights Regulation. This applies to so-called 'extraordinary circumstances', which include:

fires in the vicinity of the airport bomb scares unforeseeable natural events strikes by ground staff a medical emergency on board

The only exception: cases where the airline could have avoided the problem. For example, if the airline failed to maintain the aircraft, it is liable for the flight delay under certain circumstances, especially if other airlines' aircraft took off regularly.

Your rights in case of fly delay

In conclusion, if your flight has been delayed for three hours or more, you may be entitled to compensation of between EUR 250 and EUR 600. It is important to check whether you meet the requirements listed, such as that the airline is responsible for the delay and that the flight departed or landed in the EU. Furthermore, it is important to note that even if you are at the airport waiting for your flight, you are entitled to receive assistance from the airline, such as drinks and snacks, depending on the route of the flight. It is important to be informed about your rights in the event of a flight delay so that you can assert them.