Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. According to EU261, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 EU Regulation 261 is the regulation that covers air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to receive compensation. Furthermore, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation The EU 261 includes rules regarding the process of compensation, including assistance for passengers who suffered from issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your circumstances. Compensation for Alliance Air Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs 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, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on 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 Alliance Air Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination. Furthermore, in such situations, the airline must also provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See essential details about 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Food 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 gets an alternative flight, it is good to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to get 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. Keep in mind that these rights apply to all flights 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 cases, when passengers will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. Some of the 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 potentially could have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? European Union Regulation 261 covers 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. However, Alliance Air is not 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 Alliance Air 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 delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Complete this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.