Rarely Discussed Facts About Claiming Compensation For Delayed/canceled Flights

By Author: Stephen Godden
Total Articles: 1
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Perhaps you are aware of the airlines’ legal compulsion to pay compensation for canceled flight. You should also be claiming compensation for delayed flights and that is if the flight has been delayed longer than three hours at the time of arrival at the destination airport. Delays shorter than three hours don’t get factored in and if the departure is delayed by longer than three hours yet you arrive at the destination before three hours delay eventually then there is no claiming for flight delays. All longer delays and canceled flights make it imperative for an airline to pay compensation.

The compensation would always depend on the duration of the delay and the route. There are stipulated compensation for canceled flight and delayed flight depending on the route, distance and actual delay. While these are common knowledge, especially among frequent flyers, some facts are rarely discussed and they are significant for claiming compensation for delayed flights or canceled flights.

• You are not legally bound to board an airplane if the delay is longer than five hours. This obviously applies to the departing ...
... flight. You have the right not to board the flight regardless of the reason for the delay. But be sure that the delay is longer than five hours. Once you choose not to take the flight, the airline must issue a full refund, an equivalent amount refunded towards any other booking you may have with the airline, a flight to the airport you had traveled from, accommodation if the delay is overnight and food, drink and other basic amenities including email access and phone calls.

• For flights delayed longer than five hours, you can take the flight and you would certainly qualify for claiming compensation. With the exception of weather and unforeseen events that are well beyond the control of the airline, all other technical and nontechnical faults are completely that of the airline. If the airline has overbooked and as a result has had to resort to delays, cancellations or some kind of adjustment, then it must pay you just compensation. It is acceptable though for an airline to offer you an alternative flight that is not delayed for three hours or more. If you choose to take the alternate flight arranged for by the airline and it doesn’t incur a delay longer than three hours, then obviously there is no rightful claim. This is regardless of how long the original flight is delayed.