Travel Disruptions? Get Compensated!
Ever been stuck at the airport thanks to a delayed flight? It’s a common scenario, and it can seriously mess up your travel plans. But here’s the good news: in many cases, you can get cash compensation for the trouble!
European regulations protect air passengers experiencing delays caused by the airline, including technical issues. This means you could be entitled to up to €600 for a delayed flight! This applies to most flights traveling to or from Europe. Checking and submitting claims is completely free.
Your Rights
EU regulations (EC 261/2004) and Turkish passenger rights laws allow you to claim cash if your flight was delayed or canceled due to the airline’s fault (not including weather or emergencies). The amount you can receive depends on the distance flown and the delay time, ranging from €125 to €600.
You can receive compensation if the following conditions occur:
- Your flight is delayed more than 3 hours.
- Your flight is canceled.
- Your flight has a shorter delay, but you miss a connection and arrive at your final destination over 3 hours late.
- You’re denied boarding due to overbooking.
Other conditions:
- The flight must be within the last 2-6 years (depending on the operating airline and your route). Even if your flight disruption happened long ago, you can also claim compensation. I think you should check all your past flights, maybe there are compensations you deserve but have not been paid.
- The flight must not be delayed or canceled due to weather or other extraordinary conditions.
In order to receive compensation, the flight route and airline must meet certain criteria.
Compensation under Turkish law
For domestic flights within Turkey, which were canceled, delayed or if boarding was denied, each passenger is entitled to a flat compensation of €100.
When international flights are canceled, each passenger is entitled to compensation in the amount of €125 to €600, depending on the distance of the flight and the delay time.
In order to receive compensation, the flight route and airline must meet certain criteria.
Passenger Rights
You are entitled to the assistance that airlines provide to passengers with delayed flights:
- Refreshments
- Free meals appropriate to the delay;
- Free hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required hotel transfers if an overnight stay is required;
- Two free phone calls, faxes or emails;
In addition, you are entitled to compensation.
Delayed Flights
The exact amount of flight delay compensation varies.
It mostly just depends on the distance of your flight. The longer the trip, the greater your flight compensation.
€250 – the distance is < 1500 km,
€400 – the distance is 1500 – 3500 km,
€600 – the distance is > 3500 km,
The rules are the same for all passengers. Regardless of age, nationality, airline, ticket price or travel insurance. Even your child under the age of 2 can receive full flight compensation.
The amount of compensation is not affected by the price of the flight or airline you flew. Even if the ticket prices are different, like Ryanair and Lufthansa, the compensation is the same.
You don’t need travel insurance for compensation.
Compensation for Business Travel
Even if your company buys your ticket, compensation is the right of the person flying. I think you should also check the flights of your past business trips.
Canceled Flights
If notified within 7-14 days
If you are notified of the cancellation between 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation, you are not entitled to compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensate €250-€600.
If you reach your destination 4+ hours late, you are entitled to compensation. Moreover, you will reach your destination for free.
If notified less than 7 days
If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensate €250-€600.
If you reach your destination 2+ hours late, you are entitled to compensation. Moreover, you will reach your destination for free..
Denied Boarding (Overbooking)
In case of overbooking the airline must first look for volunteers who wish to abandon their booking in exchange for particular benefits. The airline must provide these volunteers with two options:
- Full refund of your ticket price;
- Route change.
If the passengers opts for route change, the airline must provide him further support. It may include meals and refreshments, telephone communications, accommodation and transportation from the airport.
If you are not willing to abandon your booking and you are denied of boarding, you are entitled to compensation of €250-€600 for every passenger in addition to the full price of your ticket.
Connection Flights
The rules of obtaining a compensation apply to connection flights exactly the same way. The thing you should consider is your departure and arrival points in your itinerary.
If one or more flights were delayed or canceled, the total delay to our final destination point determines your right for compensation. If you book several flights under different booking codes, each will be regarded as a separate flight with own starting and final points. Therefore, it would be advantageous to make your connecting flights in the same reservation.
Check Compensation
Note: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For detailed information about your flight rights and compensation claims, please visit the Compensair website: www.compensair.com
