Aerolíneas Argentinas Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, 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. More precisely, this law covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

The EU 261 includes regulations regarding the compensation process, including assistance for passengers who suffered from air travel disruptions. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, depending on your specific case.

Compensation for Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.

At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger may also be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the duration 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 Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger may receive a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination.

Furthermore, this is the case when the airline also must provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information about 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on compensation and assistance 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 assistance and services to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:

• Snacks and beverages appropriate to 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 a higher class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged additional fees for this service.

Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can obtain reimbursement. Here, you should be aware that the amount of compensation fully depends 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 all flights 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 cases, when passengers will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the airline’s control. A few 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).

Furthermore, if the airline potentially could have done something to prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.

Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?

EU 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

However, Aerolíneas Argentinas isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have 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 Aerolíneas Argentinas Compensation

Flight cancellation or delay 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 delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in our 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 comprehensively and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

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