Air Astana Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, 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 EU261/2004, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

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

Right to Compensation

EU Regulation 261 includes regulations regarding the compensation process, including aid to travelers affected by issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, depending on your specific case.

Compensation for Air Astana Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.

At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to 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 Air Astana Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger may receive 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 food, drinks, 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union 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 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services 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
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Upgrading and Downgrading

When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not 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 are entitled to obtain reimbursement. In this case, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is determined by 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 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 won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of 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).

Moreover, if the airline could hypothetically 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?

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 originates in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Nevertheless, Air Astana is not a European airline. Therefore, 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 Air Astana Compensation

Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should know exactly how 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 what went wrong.
2. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.

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