Dealing with flight problems can be quite upsetting. However, the positive thing is that the European Union has regulations to support travelers when things don’t go as planned. If you’re traveling by air in the EU, it’s a good idea to know about these protections. They can be useful if your flight is disrupted.
Knowing what you’re entitled to can make dealing with travel issues a lot simpler. While it won’t make your flight go any faster, it can reduce your anxiety when things go wrong.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
If your flight encounters issues in the EU, you’ll get aid. EU laws make sure airlines take care of their passengers when things go wrong.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must offer you:
- Food and drinks
- A hotel room if you’re stranded overnight
- Transportation to and from the hotel
- Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
If you’re delayed for a long time or your flight is cancelled, you might also be entitled to:
- A refund
- An alternative flight
- Compensation to make up for the trouble
Don’t forget to inquire with airline staff about these entitlements if your plans change. They must tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
Air France Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from Air France can be really annoying. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re stuck waiting for more than three hours because of the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation.
Regulations in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could get up to €600 per person. What matters is when you reach your destination, not when you depart. So monitor your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
How much you get depends on your flight distance. A short flight won’t get you as much money as a long one, even if they’re both delayed equally.
Interested in learning exactly how much you could get? Check out the table below to see the potential reimbursement amounts:
| 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 |
Air France Flight Cancellation Compensation
Europe has regulations to protect you if your flight gets cancelled. Here’s the important information:
If your flight gets cancelled less than two weeks before your scheduled departure, you could be eligible for compensation as much as €600. But there’s a catch – the airline can avoid paying if they can get you on another flight that doesn’t mess up your plans too much.
The airline may not need to compensate you if they provide an alternative flight that meets the following conditions:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
If you agree to take another flight from the airline, you can still get compensation. What matters most is when you reach your final destination.
The amount you could receive depends on a couple of points:
- How far you’re flying
- How late you arrive
Therefore, even if you arrive later than planned, you might still get some compensation.
Refer to the following table to see more details:
| 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 |
The airline might not be required to compensate you if they can provide a transfer to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from Air France
It’s essential to know the process of claiming the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details including your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Keep in mind that you have the right as a passenger to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. Regardless of whether your flight was delayed as a result of operational issues or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances like inclement weather or air traffic control decisions, you are entitled to compensation.
Which Air France Flights are Covered by EU261?
The European Union’s laws for protecting air passengers are comprehensive in scope. They cover all flights departing from an airport within an EU country and any flight coming into a European Union member state airport if the flight is operated by an EU airline.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These regulations also cover airlines from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This means if you’re flying with any airline within, to, or from Europe, you probably have these rights. It’s helpful to be aware of these regulations – they’re there to support you if something goes wrong with your flight. They ensure you’re not abandoned when your trip arrangements fall through.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
Air France is not always responsible when flights are delayed or cancelled. Sometimes, situations arise that the airline can’t control, like severe weather conditions or unforeseen issues.
For instance, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an emergency at the airport, or an air traffic control strike, Air France isn’t responsible. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline is unable to prevent.
When these situations occur, you probably won’t get any compensation. The airline is not considered to be doing anything wrong when these unexpected issues arise.