Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under EU261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 European Union Regulation 261 is the law that deals with air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this regulation covers different situations, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to receive compensation. Moreover, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 includes rules regarding the compensation process, including assistance to travelers affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, based on your circumstances. Compensation for Batik Air Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the cancellation of their flight. If the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date 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 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 according to 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 Batik Air Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, the passenger can expect a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination. Furthermore, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with food, drinks, 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 relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Snacks and beverages appropriate to the waiting time Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation Emails or faxes and two free phone calls Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged additional fees for this service. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you can receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning that the amount of compensation is entirely based 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 every flight within the European Union, as well as flights departing from or arriving in the European Union 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). In addition, 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? EU 261 applies to all flights departing from European Union airports. This regulation also extends to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. However, Batik Air is not 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 Batik Air Compensation Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight delay or cancellation should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: 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 well and will strive to get you your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.