Compensation for delayed flight

Whether it is for a business trip, or to go on holidays, we all take flights.
Imagine, you are there, in the middle of the airport, impatient to get on your plane and you are being told that unfortunately your flight is delayed. Annoyed and disappointed, you are unsure on how to react or what should be done. This delayed flight completely changes your schedule and you would like that justice is served! Do not worry, you can claim a refund or a compensation on your delayed flight under certain conditions.
Indermniflight is here to remind you of your rights and to help you in the next steps to follow.

Your rights in case of a delayed flight

Since the 11th February and the entry into force of the European Union Regulation 261/264, the rights of air passengers in the event of flight delays, cancellations or restrictions of boarding a plane have become more straightforward. It is according to 2 judgments that the European Court of Justice specifies, that in case of a delayed flight of more than 3 hours, you are, under certain circumstances, eligible for a refund. The airline company must therefore refund you or compensate you.

However, if your flight has been delayed because of an exceptional circumstance, that is, a spontaneous circumstance that could not have been avoided by the company, you may not be eligible for a compensation. Additionally, if the carrier amends the flight schedule up to 2 weeks before departure, you also may not receive a compensation. In the opposite case, you may receive a compensation due to delayed flight. This is called a refund delayed flight. The airline may possibly offer you alternative flights.

However, the amount of your compensation regarding delayed flight varies depending on the distance of the journey. This is applicable for any flight that departs from or arrives at European Union zone. The compensation of passengers is up to:

• 250 euros for a flight less than 1500 Km
• 450 euros for a flight between 1500 and 3500 km
• 600 euros for a flight over 3500 Km

All passengers have rights when their flight is delayed, it is crucial to share this information so that 72% of the population that may not be aware of it are enlightened. It would be ideal to think “delayed flight compensation’’ as soon as you have a delayed flight. You have rights and it is important to know them in order to assert them.

European flights regulations

The rights of air passengers traveling within the European Union (EU) cover several aspects. These rights mainly concern delayed, cancelled flights, restrictions of boarding a plane or various issue with luggage. Depending on where a passenger is, rights do vary regarding the location. The criterion of used airspace adds to the total duration of the delay and the flight distance for the determination of compensation for delayed flights. It is Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, also called EC 261, which regulates all the rights of air passengers since 2004.

Your first right is to be informed on the European Regulation CE 261 content. European companies must make this information available on the check-in counters. If a flight is delayed more than 5 hours, the air passenger is entitled for a re-route on an alternative flight. There also may be a compensation for a delayed flight. This is applicable except for delays that involve spontaneous and exceptional events. Airplane delay and handling compensation standards apply to all European airspace indicated by European Regulation EC 261. This guideline also applies to Iceland, Switzerland, Norway and the outermost regions. In addition, this European regulation protects travellers who use European airlines to the EU. This is also legitimate for passengers on international flights departing from Europe to an international destination.

In the European Union, cancelled flights are also covered by EC Regulation 261 in the same way as delayed flights. Cancellation of covered flights are concern those notified less than 14 days before your trip. Nevertheless, there will not be compensation if you receive an offer for an alternative flight fulfilling all conditions. If you not wish to take another flight that the one originally planned, you can receive a full refund of your flight ticket. You also have the right to claim financial compensation. In case of an overbooking, you are entitled to a compensation for being denied boarding a plane identical to a delayed flight.

Compensation request for international flights

For a delayed domestic national flight in the United States, precautions must be taken in order to claim compensation. In practise, you must gather the necessary information to negotiate compensation directly with the airline for the inconveniences caused. It should be noted that however, the carrier is not obligate to indemnify you for the delayed flight in this context. For international flights which the countries concerned (including the US and Europe) are members of the Montreal Convention, it is important to be aware of the details of the incident. Moreover, carefully keep your receipts in case you have fees after the delayed flight. For international flights that need to stop over in the European Union, you may be able to claim additional compensation. By relying on Indemniflight, you put every chance on your side to receive the highest compensation possible.

A long and complex procedure

You are now aware of your rights, but you are still unsure on how to start your procedure. For a flight compensation claim delayed due to dissatisfaction, airlines will tell you that the steps to take are very simple. All you have to do is send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. However, airlines are still very reluctant to pay compensate their passengers.

That is why majority of the time, they drag the procedure by constantly requesting missing documents or even going to court by pretending that ‘’ a spontaneous and exceptional factor’’ occurred, which are still very vague and difficult to determine. Today, only 2% of passengers who are victims of a delayed flight obtain their compensation. The long, complex and sometimes very expensive process of applying for a compensation, is very difficult to obtain alone against a major airline company. That is why Indemniflight guides you in the procedure to get your delayed flight refund.

The delays maximum for claiming compensation in case of a delayed, overbooked… internationally

In Europe, your right in regards to a delayed flight varies from a country to another. Deadlines can range from 1 to 10 years. For example, you are eligible to apply for a delayed flight compensation 6 years after the incident in the United Kingdom. This delay does not exceed 5 years in France, 3 years in Germany and 2 years in Italy. When you use our services, you will not have to worry about the country where you will submit your claim. We take care of choosing for you the country where the legislation regarding delayed flights is the most favourable. In contrast to the regulation in the EU, the Montreal Convention sets a maximum delay of 2 years for international flights for air travel claims. Even if the maximum periods of compensation seem long, we advise you to act as soon as possible. Thus, you optimize your chances of winning.

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