Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU 261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 The EU 261 is the law that covers air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this regulation covers diverse cases, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. Furthermore, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 contains regulations concerning the process of compensation, including aid for passengers affected by air travel disruptions. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your specific case. Compensation for Air Algerie Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. If the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide 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 offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on the duration of the delay: Under 2 hours2-3 hours3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursNever arrivedDistance€125€250€250€250€250All flights 1,500 km or less€200€200€400€400€400Internal EU flights over 1,500 km€200€200€400€400€400Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km€300€300€300€600€600Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km Compensation for Air Algerie Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to provide 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 also must provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See essential details on compensation in the table below: Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursOver 4 hoursDistance€0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km€0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km€0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km€0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km Right to Care Right to Care relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include: Food and drinks appropriate to the waiting time Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation Emails or faxes and two free phone calls Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is helpful to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning 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. Be aware that these rights apply to 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 talk about extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from European Union 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, Air Algerie isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they aren’t required 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim Air Algerie 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 know exactly how to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.