EL AL Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

EU Regulation 261 is the legislation that deals with the rights of air passengers. In particular, this regulation covers diverse cases, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. Furthermore, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

European Union Regulation 261 contains regulations regarding the process of compensation, including assistance to travelers affected by issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your specific case.

Compensation for EL AL Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.

At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on the length of the delay:

Under 2 hours	2-3 hours	3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Never arrived	Distance
€125	€250	€250	€250	€250	All flights 1,500 km or less
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Internal EU flights over 1,500 km
€200	€200	€400	€400	€400	Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km
€300	€300	€300	€600	€600	Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km

Compensation for EL AL Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, this is the case when the airline is also required to provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See key information on compensation in the table below:

Less than 3 hours	Between 3-4 hours	Over 4 hours	Distance
€0	€250	€250	All flights up to 1500 km
€0	€400	€400	All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km
€0	€400	€400	All intra-EU flights over 3500 km
€0	€300	€600	All non-EU flights over 3500 km

Right to Care

Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.

The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Meals and beverages appropriate for the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary
• Transport between the airport and the hotel
• Emails or faxes and two free phone calls

Upgrading and Downgrading

In situations where a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is important to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees for this upgrade.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning that the amount of compensation is entirely based on the distance of a flight:

• 30% of the flight tickets cost for a 1,500 km distance or less;
• 50% of the flight tickets cost (specifically, for intra-EU flights that are over 1,500 km and all other flights with a 1,500 km and 3,500 km distance;
• 75% of the ticket price for flights with a 3,500+ km distance.

Consider that these rights cover every flight within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union by airlines based in the EU.

When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation?

Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. Some of the examples are as follows:

• Bad weather conditions and natural disasters;
• Political circumstances (related security risks, terrorist attacks);
• A collision of the aircraft and foreign objects (birds, for instance);
• Unruly or very ill passengers;
• Strikes (that are not caused by the airline’s crew).

Moreover, if the airline potentially could have done something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also covers flights arriving in the EU if the airline originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, EL AL is not a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This applies even to their flights to the European Union if they start outside the EU.

Itinerary	Covered by EU 261
Flights departing from the EU airports	✔️ Yes
Flights arriving at the EU airports	❌ No

How to Claim EL AL Compensation

Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Those who are unlucky enough to face a flight cancellation or delay should understand the steps to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the problem you faced.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.

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