Have you planned a plane trip but ultimately have to give it up? Is your flight canceled or delayed? Please note that you can recover all or part of the amount paid, under certain conditions. What are your eu air passenger rights? What exactly can you get? What steps should you take? Explanations.
What to Do If You Can No Longer Leave?
First, Check the Conditions of Your Plane Ticket
If considering canceling a plane trip, start by reviewing the terms of sale and transport outlined by the airline or travel agency. The ramifications of cancellation are governed by the contract you've agreed upon, not by legal statutes or international agreements. Consult these terms to grasp your choices and any potential fees or penalties.
Certain ticket types can therefore be modified, allowing you to postpone your trip, which may impact your eligibility for international flight delay compensation. Others are even refundable.
Consult the conditions of the cancellation insurance if you have taken out one, as it may include provisions for international flight delay compensation.
If you had taken out additional insurance, it is probably possible to have airfare compensation.
Of course, the cancellation must align with reasons covered by insurance, typically serious ones like accidents, economic dismissal, or specific illnesses. However, events such as strikes, pregnancies, or pre-existing health conditions are often not covered.
Is Reimbursement Possible Even If There Is No Cancellation Insurance?
If your ticket is neither modifiable nor refundable and you do not have insurance, you will not be able to benefit from a refund, including international flight delay compensation, not in full. However, you can still recover part of the ticket price.
It is possible to be reimbursed - under conditions - certain air taxes: the airport tax (also called “QW”) or the passenger fee (“QX”), which could be part of your international flight delay compensation. You must request this from the carrier or ticket seller.
European Union: Additional Rights for Passengers
For European flights, specific eu air passenger rights exist in the event of cancellation, overbooking, or significant delay, and provide in particular for assistance and financial compensation, in the application of Regulation EC 261/2004.
Assistance and financial flight compensation eligibility hinge on three factors:
- Departure country
- Arrival country
- Airline nationality
Flights Affected by the Right to Assistance and Compensation
Passenger airfare compensation varies based on departure and arrival locations and airline nationality.
- Within Europe, passengers are entitled to assistance and flight compensation, regardless of airline nationality.
- Outside Europe, entitlements differ: European airlines guarantee assistance and flight compensation for departures outside Europe but arrivals within, while non-European airlines do not.
- When both departure and arrival countries are outside Europe, regardless of airline nationality, passengers have no entitlements.
European Union countries, along with Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, constitute the relevant European territories for these regulations. These distinctions ensure clarity and fairness in eu air passenger rights across diverse travel scenarios.
If Your Flight Is Canceled, What Rights Do You Have?
Unlike a delay, a canceled flight is one that was originally scheduled but does not happen, usually resulting in a flight number change. Passengers are entitled to a ticket refund and possibly airfare compensation for any particular damages caused, regardless of the origin of the aircraft. Additional eu air passenger rights apply to trips inside Europe: airlines are required to provide lump-sum compensation depending on travel distance, as well as rerouting or airfare compensation within seven days.
According to the DGCCRF, airlines bear the lodging, transportation, and catering expenses if rerouting is selected, which might influence your entitlement to international flight delay compensation; however, if airfare compensation is decided, airlines are released from these responsibilities. In any case, passengers are allowed two phone calls.
Cancellation: In Which Cases Is There No Compensation?
Cancelled flight compensation does not apply under three conditions:
- When passengers receive notification of the cancellation at least two weeks before departure.
- If an alternative flight, with departure and arrival times close to the originally scheduled ones, is provided.
- In situations involving extraordinary circumstances like severe weather, natural disasters, or security threats.
What Are Your Rights in Case of Delayed Flight?
If your arrival experiences a delay exceeding three hours, excluding extraordinary circumstances, you're entitled to international flight delay compensation, namely:
- €250 for flights under 1,500 km
- €400 for intra-community flights or 1,500 to 3,500 km flights
- €600 for flights exceeding 3,500 km.
Additionally, the airline must provide necessary assistance, such as refreshments, accommodation, and transportation, based on specific delay durations, which could be related to international flight delay compensation claims. If departure delays exceed five hours, cancellation allows ticket refunds or support for return flights from connecting stopovers.
What Entitlements Do You Have If You Experience Overbooking?
Airlines are obligated to ask volunteers who are willing to give up their reservations in return for prearranged perks when overbooked. According to eu air passenger rights passengers have the option to accept or reject the offer presented by the airline.
If no volunteers step up and European laws are followed, flight compensation in the range of €250 to €600, dependent on flight duration and delay, is required.
The airline must assist, such as meals, drinks, lodging, and transportation, for customers unable to reach their accommodations from the airport.
How Do You Go About Getting Compensation?
Usually, according to eu air passenger rights, compensation for flight delays is neither automatic nor instantaneous. The procedure must be started by travelers contacting the airline's customer service department with a complaint or airfare compensation request.
To initiate your claim, use the airline's website or send registered mail, ensuring receipt. Include essential documents like electronic tickets, reservation confirmation, boarding passes, incident certificates, baggage tags, and expense receipts for the thorough processing of your flight compensation claim.
Filing a claim against Jet2 by yourself requires knowing your rights, being sure that the flight is eligible and back and forth communication with the airline.
However, claiming this can often be difficult as carriers try to avoid paying the compensation out.
If you would prefer not to waste your time, just let us know as we would be more than happy to assist you.Our team can access flight information for example the time in which the flight was delayed, the true reason for flight cancellations/delays, flight departure and arrival time, etc.
So if you have complaints regarding Jet2 flight delays or cancellations you are able to contact Flights Claim at any time.
In case you choose not to take the flight, you are still eligible for a full refund, refreshments, accommodation and phone calls or emails.
It's also wise to check whether flight delays or cancellations are covered under your travel insurance, as you may be able to claim compensation this way.If your flight was disrupted with Jet2 over the last 3 years, you do have a right to get about £540 compensation per passenger.
