EU delay compensation

From 17 February 2005, the EU introduced "Air Passengers Rights". These rights cover a number of issues, and apply to all flights commencing within the EU.

The main points are as follows:

Denied boarding or cancellation

  • Flight cancellation or denied boarding (including charter flights) you are entitled to financial compensation
  • From an EU airport, or from an airport outside the EU provided it is operated by an EU airline.
  • If you are denied boarding due to overselling or insufficient seats, you have a number of rights, including a refund (with a free flight back to your initial point of departure, when relevant) or alternative transport to your final destination.
  • Compensation if you do not volunteer from €250 for a flight less than 1500 km to €600 for flights over 3500 km outside the EU.

Delays

  • Delays over two hours under 1500 km, or 3 hours and between 1500km-3500km within the EU or four hours delay and over 3500 km outside the EU you are entitled to meals and refreshments and hotel accommodation where necessary.
  • Over five hours you are entitled to a refund of your ticket (with a free flight back to your initial point of departure, when relevant)

Baggage

  • You may claim up to 1000 SDR * (SDR = €1.18 on 30/09/04) if your baggage is damaged, destroyed or delayed on a flight by an EU airline anywhere in the world.
  • Claims must be put in writing within 7 days of its return for damaged baggage and 21 days for delayed baggage after its return.

Injury or death

  • There are also rights for damages caused by injury or death resulting from an accident on a flight by an EU airline anywhere in the world.

Package Holidays

  • In addition to the above you may claim for damages from your tour operator if it fails to provide you with services you have booked within the EU, whatever the destination, including them failing to provide a flight included in the package.