Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU261/2004, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 The EU 261 is the law that deals with the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, such as rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. Moreover, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 encompasses regulations concerning the process of compensation, including aid to travelers affected by air travel disruptions. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, according to your specific case. Compensation for AirAsia Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, must pay 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 entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to 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 AirAsia Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated 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 is also required to 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 refers to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU 261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include: Snacks 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 When 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 instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees for this service. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. Here, it’s important to note 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 apply to every flight within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union operated by airlines based in the EU. When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation? Unfortunately, there are situations, when passengers will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are not within 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). In addition, if the airline might have been able to do 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 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. 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. However, AirAsia isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they don’t have to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This is true even for 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 AirAsia Compensation Flight delay or cancellation is an unpleasant situation 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 be aware of the process to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like 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 obtain your rightful compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.