Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to 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 regulation that covers the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this law covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs because of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation The EU 261 includes regulations regarding the compensation process, including aid for passengers who suffered from flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, based on your circumstances. Compensation for Avianca Ecuador Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not offer any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but arrives at 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 Avianca Ecuador 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 another flight to the final destination. Furthermore, this is the case when the airline must also 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 pertains to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Food and beverages appropriate to 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 In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is helpful to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this service. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can get 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. Keep in mind 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 will not receive compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are not within 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 prevent issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you may be eligible for compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? EU Regulation 261 applies to 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. Nevertheless, Avianca Ecuador is not a European airline. Consequently, they aren’t required 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 Avianca Ecuador Compensation Flight cancellation or delay 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: Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will manage the process. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.