Is your flight delayed, overbooked or cancelled and did you arrive more than three hours delayed at your destination? According to Regulation 261/2004 you are possibly entitled to an allowance for the loss of time. These amounts vary from € 250,- up to even € 600,- per passenger!
Check if EU air passenger rights apply in your case
If your flight is within the EU and is operated either by an EU or a non-EU airline
If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline
If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline
EU means the 28 EU countries , including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion Island, Mayotte, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland
WHEN DOES AN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE APPLY?
We refer to an extraordinary circumstance when the airline isn’t at fault for a flight delay or cancellation. Here are some examples of circumstances that could be considered as extraordinary:
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Bad weather
Storms, thunderstorms, heavy rain but also thick clouds can disrupt air traffic. In the case of bad weather usually multiple flights departing from the same airport are affected by this.
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Strikes
Any strike, no matter if it’s by a third party or the airline’s own staff, is considered an extraordinary circumstance.
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Medical emergencies
If a passenger is taken ill during a flight and the flight has to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport, you are not entitled to compensation for the delay.
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Terrorism
In case of a terrorist attack we also speak of an extraordinary circumstance.
IN WHICH CASE CAN’T THE AIRLINE CLAIM AN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE?
Often confused with each other are ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and circumstances that are not the ‘fault’ of the airline. A technical defect can occur spontaneously. For example, a flat tyre. The airline is responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft and many technical faults can be prevented that way. Technical defects that cause delays over three hours are not considered extraordinary and in this case passengers are legally entitled to compensation. Below we give you some examples of situations where the airline cannot claim an extraordinary circumstance.
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Technical defect
Unfortunately technical defects are a common occurrence in daily aviation. The airlines are responsible for the maintenance of their aircraft and for rearranging flights at short notice. Passengers are entitled to compensation if a technical defect causes a delay of more than three hours.
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Delays or bad weather on previous flight
The word previous says it all. A delay on the previous flight due to bad weather (except in certain circumstances) has nothing to do with your flight. Is this the reason you were given for a long delay? Then you may be entitled to compensation.
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Sickness of crew
Crew sickness is a risk every operating business has to deal with. The airline is responsible for a standby crew. Again, this is not considered as an extraordinary circumstance.
HOW YOUR COMPENSATION IS CALCULATED
If the airline is responsible for the delay, you are legally entitled to claim compensation. The amount you are entitled to is calculated based on the flight route, rather than the price of the flight.
Flight destinations within the EU:
€ 250 compensation for a delayed flight with a distance up to 1,500 km
€ 400 compensation for a delayed flight with a distance over 1,500 km
Flight destinations outside the EU:
€ 250 compensation for a delayed flight with a distance up to 1,500 km
€ 400 compensation for a delayed flight with a distance over 1,500 km up to 3,500 km
€ 600 compensation for a delayed flight with a distance over 3,500 km
WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU
We offer a quick, easy and risk free way of claiming the compensation you are entitled to. We take care of every step of the process, saving you the near impossible task of collecting all the data and completing the complex paperwork on your own. Our process is easier and more efficient than claiming compensation directly from the airlines or through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yourself.
To assert your claim, both legal knowledge and a vast array of information are required. This is information that neither you nor your solicitor are likely to have access to. We have access to a detailed database which evaluates over 13 million items of data on flights, weather and sociopolitical issues every day. With the help of this data, we can accurately check whether you have a right to compensation, or whether an airline can indeed cite “extraordinary circumstances”.
We handle your claim on a no win-no-fee basis and represent your interests as an air passenger. Even if your case progresses to court, you will not bear any solicitor or court costs. There is no risk and you can only gain money by using our service. You only pay us commission if we win your case at a rate of 25% incl. VAT, and a flat-rate handling charge of € 25 incl. VAT per claim.
