Flight delays and cancellations can ruin a holiday, but you can reclaim compensation, although studies suggest you may have to work to get what you’re due.
According to a recent survey, flight delays and cancellations of flights are the main complaint when it comes to holidays for people in the UK.
The EU directive EC261/2004 means that if your flight is cancelled or seriously delayed, then you could reclaim compensation of up to €600, depending on the length of the flight and the length of the delay.
However, some airlines fare better than others when it comes to actually accepting claims. You can take the hassle and time out of this process by providing us with the flight details and we will do the rest of the work on a no win no fee basis.
The rule applies to any passengers that depart from an airport within an EU member state, or travelling to an EU member state on an airline that is itself based in an EU member state. The regulations also apply to flights to and from Switzerland and Norway although they are not members of the EU.
Prior to any financial compensation, if your flight is cancelled or delayed by two to three hours (depending on the actual distance of the flight), you’re entitled to free phone calls and free meals and accommodation if it’s the appropriate to the timing of the delay. If you’re flight is delayed by more than five hours you could be due a refund if you choose not to travel. The same applies if you are denied boarding for any reason out of your control – if the flight was overbooked, for example.
Importantly, so long as the delay or cancellation is not caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances’, then you could be due between €250 and €600 compensation. The amount of compensation due increases with the distance that you were meant to fly, and the length of the delay. If the flight distance is more than 3,500km, and it’s delayed by more than four hours, you’ll be due the maximum €600.
Major airlines like EasyJet and Virgin didn’t fare particularly well in the rankings, although an EasyJet spokesperson disputed the results, saying that the airline “has been commended by the UK’s regulator, the CAA, for its handling of EU261 claims”.
RyanAir was caught up in a dispute with the CAA in the latter stages of 2015 over “attempting to impose a contractual two-year time limit, from the date of the flight, for passengers to issue compensation claims at court”.
The CAA’s chief executive Andrew Haines said: “The law is clear that compensation must be paid if a flight is delayed for more than three hours by a routine technical fault. It is also clear that air passengers have up to six years to issue a compensation claim at court. This position was reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal last year. The CAA is committed to protecting the rights of air passengers and we are determined to ensure all airlines comply with this regulation.”
Contact us today – we will do everything in our power to ensure that passengers are receiving the support they need
If you’re unsure about what you can do speak to our dedicated team who’ll be able to help you with your case.
