If you have ever experienced it means to have your flight delayed or canceled, then you are probably happy that you can now claim compensation from the airlines.
It sounds so easy. The airline has inconvenienced you in some manner; there is a law that states exactly what kind of compensation you are entitled to, and when you submit your claim you should get your due compensation.
Well, allow me to kill your buzz for the time being. Things do not work that easy in practice. The Airlines are massively avoiding paying out compensations in spite of all the valid claims that have been submitted.
In order realize your claim, by mu experience, you must outsmart them. This is why you will now get a few tips on what to know and have in mind when dealing with airline claims.
Firstly be mindful that your flight must be from an EU Airport, or landing on a EU airport, by an EU carrier. Secondly, the claim can not be older than 6 years. Be mindful of the statue of limitation for these claims in your country. In UK it is six years (five in Scotland).
Do not let the Airline stall you, if your claim is valid, and the refuse to pay out, take them to court.
Most of the airlines would argue that the delay happened because of the extraordinary circumstances. By the recent court rulings extraordinary circumstances are natural catastrophes, airport crew strikes, or something like that. So, if there is anything short of a war suddenly braking out, the airline is accountable for that, and yes technical difficulties are their responsibility.
First you should submit the claim to the Airline itself. Don’t take them to court without trying to play nice. In the past year they have been forced to pay out more compensation so there is a good chance that your claim be accepted.
You should include as much information as possible. Let them see that you know what you are doing.
So when giving information about the case, you should try to include:
• Your full contact details – including address, email and phone number
• Full details of all passengers – including names and addresses
• Your booking reference and travel dates
• The flight number, departure and destination airports
• Details of where the disruption occurred
• Information about the length of delays
• The names of any staff you spoke to
• Copies of all relevant receipts, if you are claiming expenses
• Copies of all tickets, boarding cards and booking confirmations
If you are not getting the response you are satisfied you should go to the CAA, to try and force the Airline to pay put, and if this doesn’t work take them to the small claims court.
One more thing that you should be mindful is that the Airlines are obligated to provide you with assistance. They should provide refreshment, free phone calls, food or accommodation if needed. If you ended up paying for any of this yourself then you can claim expenses also.
Now you are prepared to claim your due compensation from the airline if needed. Do not let them get away with it if you had to suffer in any way due to your flight being canceled or delayed.
Tips for claiming compensation for canceled or delayed flights
- Check your eligibility. Not all flights are eligible for compensation, so it’s important to check your eligibility before you start the claims process. In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled, except in the case of overbooking. However, there are other countries that have stricter regulations, such as the European Union, which requires airlines to compensate passengers for delays of more than 3 hours.
- Gather your documentation. Before you contact the airline, gather all of your documentation, including your flight tickets, any receipts for expenses you incurred due to the delay or cancellation, and a copy of your boarding pass. This will help the airline process your claim more quickly.
- Be prepared to provide details. When you contact the airline, be prepared to provide them with details about your flight, including the date, time, and reason for the delay or cancellation. You should also be prepared to provide your contact information and a copy of your passport or other identification.
- Be persistent. If you don’t get a satisfactory response from the airline, don’t give up. You can try contacting the airline again, or you can file a complaint with the government agency that regulates air travel in your country.
Here are some additional tips:
- Start the claims process as soon as possible. The sooner you start the claims process, the more likely you are to be successful.
- Be polite and professional. Even if you’re frustrated, it’s important to be polite and professional when you’re dealing with the airline. This will help you get a better response.
- Use a claims service. There are a number of companies that can help you file a claim for compensation for a delayed or canceled flight. These companies typically charge a fee, but they can help you navigate the claims process and increase your chances of success.
