Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU 261, 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 covers air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this law covers diverse cases, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. Moreover, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 includes rules regarding the process of compensation, including aid to travelers affected by flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, depending on your circumstances. Compensation for Alliance Airlines Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, is obligated to compensate 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 scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the length 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 Airlines Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is obligated 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, this is the case when the airline is also required to provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information 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 relates to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU 261 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include: Snacks and drinks appropriate to the waiting time Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes Upgrading and Downgrading In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is good to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In cases, 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 (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can obtain reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning 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. Be aware that these rights cover 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 aren’t eligible for compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are beyond 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 could hypothetically have done something to prevent issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? EU 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. Nevertheless, Alliance Airlines isn’t a European airline. Consequently, they are not obliged 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 Airlines Compensation Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience 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 be aware of the process to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Complete our 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 handle the rest. We understand the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to secure your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.