Compensation For Flight Delays And Cancelations

7/19/2024

Have you ever been stuck at the airport because a flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked? Well, there's good news! You may be eligible for compensation up to $650 even for flights from the past 3 years!

That's right - get paid for your flight frustration! It takes less than 2 minutes to check your flight, see how much you might be owed, and submit your claim. No payments up front are required. AirHelp, a global leader in flight compensation, operates on a No-Win, No-Fee basis.

Airport Picture: Guide To Claiming Compensation For Delayed Or Canceled Flights

AirHelp Compensation Calculation Bar Picture

Know Your Rights! Flight Compensation

Millions of air passengers travel each year, but many are unaware that they have rights that protect them while they are in transit. Most airlines have pledged to provide additional services or amenities to customers affected by disrupted flights. The situation varies from country to country.

For example, regulations in the United States address concerns such as overbooking and tarmac delays. Or the Montreal Convention, which is a multilateral treaty adopted by more than 130 countries throughout the world, aims to determine airline liability in the event of flight delays as well as baggage damage or loss.

Passengers, on the other hand, often find more protection under the regulations of the countries they travel to. Europe's EC 261 laws, in particular, are comprehensive and provide passengers with compensation in a variety of situations. EC 261/2004 is a regulation that holds airlines financially responsible when air travel takes an unexpected turn, as long as the disruption was not caused by circumstances beyond the airline's control.

For instance, if a passenger has been rerouted due to cancelation or denied boarding, the compensation amount is payable if the passenger's actual arrival time is delayed beyond the scheduled arrival of their originally booked flights. As under UK and EU regulations, Japan's All Nippon Airways should compensate passengers up to $650 per person when they cancel flights at short notice—that is, less than 14 days before the flight's scheduled departure date. Also, if All Nippon Airways is responsible for the delay, EU regulations provide that passengers are entitled to up to $650 per person for delays of three hours or longer.

Bear in mind that even if your flight disruption happened earlier (within the last three years, depending on the operating airline and your route), you are still eligible for compensation up to $650.

AirHelp assists people who experience flight delays, flight cancelations, denied boarding, baggage problems, and missed connections. AirHelp operates on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means that they will not charge you unless they win your case, even if they have to go to court. That means there is no risk to you, and no upfront payments are required.

If you have suffered in any of these situations, why not use the free flight compensation calculator to check how much the airline owes you for your inconvenience?

Which Flights Are Covered By EC261?

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
If you have not already received benefits (compensation, re-routing, assistance from the airline) for flight-related problems for this journey under the relevant law of a non-EU country
The same applies for Turkish airlines and flight routes

If you’re confused, here’s a simple chart to help:

Which Flights Are Covered By EC261? Chart

Compensation Conditions

If your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours
If your flight is canceled
If your flight is delayed for less than 3 hours but you miss a connection flight and arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late
If you were denied boarding because of a lack of vacant seats (overbooking)
Your flight must not be delayed due to weather or other extraordinary conditions

Compensation Amount

250 euros for all flights of 1,500 kilometers or less
400 euros for flights within the EU of more than 1,500 kilometers and for all other flights in or out of the EU between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers
600 euros for all flights in or out of the EU over 3,500 kilometers

Is There A Time Limit To File A Claim?

Under most laws, the right to compensation does eventually expire, but the time limit varies from one country to the next. You have a few months in some countries to file a claim; in others, you have up to ten years. The time limit is determined by the location of the airline's headquarters and the flight's route.

Airlines Compensation Claim Process

No one likes to experience waiting in the airport because of a flight delay, much less a flight cancelation. But there is something that, in some ways, could remedy the frustration if it happens: claiming compensation.

The general difficulties of claiming compensation from airlines directly by the passengers can be solved by AirHelp online services that operate on a "no win, no fee" contingency fee basis. All you have to do is fill out a form, enter your flight details, and write a short description; AirHelp will do the rest.

AirHelp prepares all the necessary documents, submits the claim to the airline, and takes care of all further communication with the airline to settle a case, including going to court if necessary. In the event that the airline refuses to pay the compensation, AirHelp will initiate a legal process bearing all the legal fees. Customers are not charged any fees until they get compensation from the airline. If the customers receive compensation for the claim, AirHelp will charge 35% of the compensation amount, or 50% if your case goes to court. Example: Imagine AirHelp winning you $600 in compensation.

Standard: [(You receive: $390 | 65%) - (AirHelp fee: $210 | 35%)]
With Legal Action: [(You receive: $300 | 50%) - (AirHelp fee: $300 | 50%)]

Note that travelers have the right to file a claim for potential compensation on their own. But be aware that airlines make it difficult for passengers to understand their rights and claim compensation. The claiming process, depending on the airline, can take weeks, months, or even years for some airlines. This is out of AirHelp's control, but the company invests in the lengthy and expensive process without upfront fees.

AirHelp+ Membership Program

AirHelp+ is a AirHelp membership program that helps travelers deal with flight disruptions and also get a range of additional benefits:

24/7 live chat support from a team of experts
There are no fees to pay when AirHelp wins you compensation
Access to a comfortable airport lounge when your flight’s delayed
Air-Payout insurance: an extra €100 paid within 12 hours of your flight problem
Air-Luggage insurance: Get €100 for a lost or delayed bag
Luggage claims: AirHelp will check eligibility and help you claim money from the airline when they damage, delay, or lose your bag
Expense claims: AirHelp will check eligibility and get you back money you lost due to disruption (e.g., extra hotel nights or missed excursions)

There are two plans to pick from: the Smart plan, which provides protection for three trips, and the Pro plan, which is ideal for frequent fliers and covers nine trips. AirHelp+ is available worldwide and assists all air passengers, regardless of where they are flying or where they call home. Note that AirHelp+ membership must be purchased before flight disruption.