Flight delays can occur for a number of reasons, from a lack of available crew to mechanical problems. Compensation for delayed flights was established by European Regulation EC 261/04, guaranteeing up to €600 per passenger for flights delayed three hours or more.
Under which circumstances am I eligible to file a claim for delayed flight compensation?
Obviously an airline would prefer to avoid paying such a sum of money, as well as get bogged down by a lengthy, bureaucratic process. Airlines also wish to avoid a blow to their reputation. They therefore have several ways to evade paying:
Delayed flight compensation claims can be avoided if an airline can prove the flight delay was caused by exceptional circumstances beyond the airline’s control.
In many cases (but not all) a strike or extreme weather conditions occurred. What is considered an exceptional circumstance is stipulated by each country’s legal system.
You are eligible to claim compensation for delayed flights when…
… you had to wait on your flight for more than three hours! This happens a lot more frequently than one might assume.
It’s important to know a few basic facts:
Airline compensation ranges between 250 Euros and 600 Euros.
The exact amount is contingent on the distance flown.
As mentioned above, airlines can avoid paying delayed flight compensation under certain circumstances. However, since 2004, legislation stipulates that airline compensation must be provided under certain conditions. If a flight is delayed and the airline cannot produce solid evidence to prove exceptional circumstances, it must compensate all affected passengers.