3 Easy Steps to Follow When Your Flight is Delayed

Any frequent traveller must have experienced at least one flight delay in the past year and this tells you how common it is. On average, about 16,000 flights are delayed in a day, as airlines report that roughly 24.3% of their flights are delayed annually. This means you are likely to run into a flight delay at some point and you must be prepared on what to do, should it ever happen. Many people are clueless about the steps to take when their flight gets delayed but do you know you can get compensated? This article shows some easy steps to follow if you find yourself in such a situation.

Step 1: Know Your Rights

Before you can actively take any step toward getting properly compensated, you must know your rights regarding a flight delay. Being informed increases your chances of taking good advantage of the situation. There are regulations in place guiding air travel to protect the rights of air passengers on a national and international level. The European Regulation EC 261/2004 covers the European Union and EU-based carriers.

Under the EC 261/2004 regulation, your rights when a flight is delayed includes the following:

• You are entitled to compensation after 3 or more hours of delay
• Compensation ranges between €250 and €600
• Food and drinks should be provided by the airline after a delay of more than 2 hours
• You should have access to Hotel accommodation if your flight is delayed overnight

Keep in mind that the right to care, such as complimentary food and drinks and hotel accommodation, is not a substitute for monetary compensation.

Step 2: Know the Cause of the Delay

Operating a flight can be quite challenging and delays often happen due to several reasons, which may or may not be within the airline’s control. Some of these reasons include bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, aircraft preparations, strikes, connecting passengers, mechanical issues, and knock-on effects, among others. Every air passenger is entitled to know the reason behind the delay. This reason can also support your right to claim compensation. Under the EC 261 regulation for flight disruptions, you are only entitled to compensation if the reason behind the delay was within the airline’s control.

Step 3: Take Actionable Steps

Once you’ve understood your rights and known the reason for the delay, you can take further steps towards getting compensated. Get in touch with the airline to provide you with steps on how to apply for compensation or visit their website and fill out any available form regarding flight delay compensation. Gather all relevant documents, including receipts and vouchers while you help yourself with complimentary food and drinks. Then, you can go ahead and file a claim.

Bottom Line

Filing a compensation claim for a delayed flight isn’t always that straightforward. This is why agencies like Skycop are working hard to ensure every affected air passenger gets compensated properly. You can also hire a lawyer to help you through the process.