Coping with flight disruptions can be very annoying. However, the good news is that the European Union has regulations to support travelers when things go wrong. If you’re taking a plane in the EU, it’s a good idea to know about these protections. They can help you out if your flight is disrupted. Knowing what you’re entitled to can make handling travel problems much easier. While it won’t make your flight go any faster, it can help you feel less stressed when things get disrupted. Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 EU air passengers are protected if their flight experiences difficulties. EU laws ensure airlines look after their passengers when things go wrong. When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must provide you: Meals and beverages 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 get: A refund An alternative flight Compensation to make up for the trouble Don’t forget to inquire with airline representatives about these entitlements if your plans change. They are obligated to tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation. AirBaltic Flight Delay Compensation Travel setbacks from AirBaltic can be very frustrating. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re stuck waiting for more than three hours due to the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation. Laws in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could receive up to €600 per person. What counts is when you arrive, not when you leave. So keep an eye on your arrival time if you want to seek compensation. The amount you receive depends on how far you’re flying. A short flight won’t be compensated as highly as a longer flight, even if they’re both delayed equally. Want to know exactly how much you could get? Take a look at the table below to see the potential reimbursement amounts: Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursFour hours +Distance0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km AirBaltic Flight Cancellation Compensation The EU has laws to assist you if your flight is cancelled. Here’s the important information: If your flight gets cancelled less than two weeks before your planned travel date, you might get compensation of up to €600. But there’s a catch – the airline can avoid paying if they can get you on another flight that doesn’t significantly disrupt your travel. The airline can avoid paying you if they offer you a new flight that meets the following conditions: Advance NoticeRe-routing Requirements14 DaysNone7 – 13 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flightLess than 7 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight If you agree to take an alternative flight from the airline, you can still get compensation. The key factor is when you reach your final destination. How much money you might get is based on a couple of points: The length of your flight How late you arrive As a result, even if the new flight doesn’t get there on time, you might still get some compensation. Look at the table below for more information: 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 The airline may not need to compensate you if they can provide transportation to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not get any compensation. How to Claim Compensation from AirBaltic It’s important to be aware of how to claim the compensation you deserve under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s how to do it: Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and the problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case. Don’t forget that it is your right as a passenger to claim compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed because of operational issues or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances including severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you qualify for compensation. Which AirBaltic Flights are Covered by EU261? The European Union’s laws for protecting air passengers have a wide-ranging scope. They apply to any flight taking off from an airport within an EU country and every flight landing at a European Union member state airport when an EU-based airline operates the flight. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing EU airports✅ CoveredFlights arriving at EU airports✅ Covered These laws also apply to airlines from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This means when you travel with any airline to, from, or within Europe, you most likely have these rights. It’s helpful to understand these regulations – they’re there to support you if issues arise with your flight. They guarantee you’re not left on your own when your travel plans don’t work out. When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation AirBaltic isn’t always at fault when flights are delayed or cancelled. Occasionally, things happen that the airline is powerless against, like really bad weather or unforeseen issues. For example, if there’s a sudden storm, an urgent situation at the airport, or a strike by air traffic controllers, AirBaltic isn’t responsible. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline is unable to prevent. When these things happen, you likely won’t get any compensation. The airline isn’t seen as doing anything wrong when these unforeseen difficulties arise.