Most experienced travelers, as well as occasional ones, have likely experienced a flight delay or even a cancellation at some point. If your vacation plans or an important business meeting have been ruined because of this, you would surely like to receive at least some compensation for the complications. When are you entitled to it? And how do you apply for compensation?
The basic rule is that every airline has slightly different terms and compensation amounts. So, when something goes wrong and the plane takes off several hours later, or not at all, the easiest solution is to visit the airline's website and click through to the information about compensation.
When can I claim compensation?
In 2004, the European Parliament issued a regulation establishing common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight delays, or cancellations. This regulation sets several common conditions for airlines in European Union member states.
The carrier is obliged to inform the passenger about a cancelled flight either at least two weeks in advance, or at least a week before departure, while also offering an alternative. If this does not happen, the airline should provide compensation. However, the form of this compensation depends on the specific company. Exceptions exist everywhere, and flying is no different. No compensation will be provided if the flight was cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, such as adverse weather, civil unrest, strikes, or even a bird strike.
| Delay | Compensation |
| 2 or more hours up to 1500 km | up to 250 EUR |
| 3 or more hours up to 3500 km | up to 400 EUR |
| 5 or more hours for flights over 3500 km | up to 600 EUR |
It happens quite often that you miss a connecting flight. If both flights are booked with the same airline, you are entitled to compensation. In the event that you take each flight with a different company, you will likely not be entitled to compensation. Similarly, you probably won't get a refund if you don't book through the official airline websites, but through search engines like Pelikan.cz, Kiwi.cz, or Letuska.
How to apply for compensation?
Travel complications are among the most unpleasant things, and applying for compensation is probably not the kind of experience you want to deal with while traveling. It always depends on the airline you planned to fly with, what their internal rules are, and how they handle the problems that have occurred.
With Czech Airlines, in case of a delay, you are entitled to refreshments, a hotel, and a refund for the ticket if the purpose of your trip could no longer be fulfilled. And if the flight is delayed by five hours, the passenger should get a refund for the ticket and, at the earliest opportunity, a return flight to the original point of departure. The airline offers those whose flight was completely cancelled either compensation in the form of a voucher or a bank transfer. Its value depends on the flight distance. On their website, you will find a form through which you can request a refund.
With British Airways, the conditions are the same. Passengers can again use an online form or send a written request stating personal details and specific flight information.
With Lufthansa, there is an option to request a refund for a cancelled flight online directly in your account. Most airlines have simple and clear links on their websites to all information regarding delayed or cancelled flights.
What about you? How have you handled claims for your delayed or cancelled flights? Share your experiences in the comments!
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