Handling flight disruptions can be quite upsetting. However, the positive thing is that the European Union has regulations to support travelers when things get messed up. If you’re flying in the EU, it’s smart to be aware of these regulations. They can come in handy if your flight is disrupted.
Understanding your rights can make dealing with travel problems a lot simpler. While it won’t get you to your destination quicker, it can make you more relaxed when things don’t go as planned.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
EU air passengers are protected if their flight experiences difficulties. EU laws ensure airlines take care of their passengers when things go wrong.
When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must provide 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 get:
- A refund
- A different flight option
- Compensation to make up for the trouble
Don’t forget to ask airline workers about these things if your plans change. They must tell you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
Alitalia Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from Alitalia can be really annoying. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re delayed for more than three hours owing to 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 leave. So keep an eye on your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
Your compensation depends on the length of your journey. A short flight won’t be compensated as highly as a long one, even if they’re both delayed for the same duration.
Interested in learning exactly how much you could get? Check out the table below to see what compensation you could receive:
| 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 |
Alitalia Flight Cancellation Compensation
The EU has laws to assist you if your flight is cancelled. Here’s what you should know:
If your flight gets cancelled less than two weeks before your scheduled departure, you might get compensation of up to €600. But there’s a catch – the airline can avoid paying if they rebook you on a different flight that doesn’t mess up your plans too much.
The airline may not need to compensate you if they offer you a new 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 accept another flight from the airline, you’re still eligible for compensation. The key factor is your arrival time at your destination.
The amount you could receive is determined by a couple of points:
- The distance of your flight
- The delay in your arrival
So, even if the new flight doesn’t get there on time, you may still receive some compensation.
Look at the following table for more information:
| 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 may not need to compensate you if they can provide a transfer to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even with a slight delay, you might not be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from Alitalia
It’s essential to understand the process of claiming the compensation you’re eligible for under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s the process:
- 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 take over. We understand the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to get you your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Keep in mind that it is your right as a passenger to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed because of operational reasons or mechanical problems, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you qualify for compensation.
Which Alitalia Flights are Covered by EU261?
The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union are comprehensive in scope. They apply to all flights departing from an airport in an EU member state and every flight landing at 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 laws also cover airlines from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. This means when you travel with any airline to, from, or within Europe, you probably have these rights. It’s important to be aware of these laws – they’re in place to assist you if something goes wrong with your flight. They make sure you’re not abandoned when your travel plans go awry.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
Alitalia isn’t necessarily responsible when flights are delayed or cancelled. Occasionally, situations arise that the airline is powerless against, like extreme weather or unforeseen issues.
For instance, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an emergency at the airport, or a strike by air traffic controllers, Alitalia is not liable. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline can’t do anything about.
When these things happen, you likely won’t get any compensation. The airline is not considered to be doing anything wrong when these unexpected issues come up.