When you’re all set to embark on a journey by air, the last thing you want to hear is that your flight has been cancelled. Flight cancellations can be incredibly frustrating and disruptive to your travel plans. However, if you’re flying within the European Union (EU), it’s essential to know that you have specific rights and may be entitled to compensation when your flight gets cancelled. In this blog post, we’ll explore your rights and the compensation you may receive when your flight is cancelled in the EU.
Understanding Flight Cancellations
Flight cancellations can occur for various reasons, including technical issues, weather conditions, and operational problems. While airlines strive to minimize cancellations, they are an unfortunate reality of air travel. When your flight is cancelled, it’s essential to know your options and the compensation you may be entitled to under EU law.
Your Options When Your Flight is Cancelled
When your flight is cancelled in the EU, you typically have three main options:
- Receive a Refund: You have the right to receive a full refund of the ticket cost within seven days if you choose not to travel.
- Re-routing to Your Destination: Airlines must offer you the option of being re-routed to your final destination at the earliest opportunity. This can be on another flight operated by the same airline or by an alternative carrier, depending on availability.
- Re-routing at a Later Date: If re-routing at the earliest opportunity doesn’t suit your plans, you have the right to choose re-routing at a later date that is convenient for you, subject to seat availability.
Compensation for Cancelled Flights
While the right to compensation for flight cancellations is subject to specific conditions, you may be entitled to compensation in the following situations:
When Compensation Is Not Payable
Compensation is generally not payable if:
- You receive at least two weeks’ notice of the cancellation.
- You receive between two weeks and seven days’ notice, and you are offered an alternative flight departing no more than two hours before your original departure time and arriving at your final destination less than four hours after your originally scheduled arrival time.
- You receive less than seven days’ notice, but you are offered an alternative flight departing no more than one hour before your original departure time and arriving at your final destination less than two hours after your originally scheduled arrival time.
No compensation is payable if the airline can prove that the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, even with all reasonable measures taken. Examples of extraordinary circumstances may include severe weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, security risks, or industrial disputes that affect flight operations.
Compensation Amounts for Cancelled Flights
If you are entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight, the amount you receive depends on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay past your originally planned arrival time at your final destination. The compensation amounts are as follows:
- Flights of 1,500 km or less: €250
- Flights of over 1,500 km within the EU and other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km: €400
- All other flights: €600
How to Claim Compensation for a Cancelled Flight
If your flight is cancelled, your first step should be to contact the airline and inquire about your options, including a refund, re-routing, and compensation if applicable. Airlines are generally required to provide you with written information outlining your rights and the rules for compensation and assistance.
If the airline does not resolve your complaint or you believe you are entitled to compensation that the airline refuses to pay, you can escalate your complaint to the appropriate national enforcement body. Each EU member state is responsible for departures from airports within its territory and arrivals into those airports from third countries on EU/EEA-licensed carriers.
In Ireland, the national enforcement body is the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). You can file a complaint with the IAA online. Here are the contact details:
Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)
- Address: The Times Building, 11-12 D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Phone: +353 1 671 8655
- Fax: +353 1 679 2934
- Homepage: iaa.ie
- Email: info@iaa.ie
Remember that understanding your rights as an air passenger is crucial, especially when your flight is cancelled. By knowing your options and the compensation you may be entitled to, you can navigate flight disruptions more confidently and make informed decisions about your travel plans. Safe travels!
Compensation for Cancelled Flights in the EU: Know Your Rights