Coping with flight issues can be quite upsetting. However, the bright side is that the European Union has regulations to assist travelers when things don’t go as planned. If you’re taking a plane in the EU, it’s a good idea to understand these protections. They can come in handy if your flight gets messed up.
Knowing what you’re entitled to can make handling travel issues a lot simpler. While it won’t get you to your destination quicker, it can help you feel less stressed 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 guarantee airlines assist 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 be entitled to:
- A refund
- A different flight option
- Compensation to make up for the inconvenience
Don’t forget to ask airline staff about these entitlements if your plans change. They are obligated to inform you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
Iberia Express Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from Iberia Express can be very frustrating. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re delayed for more than three hours due 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 be eligible for up to €600 per person. What counts is when you land, not when you take off. So monitor your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
The amount you receive depends on the length of your journey. A short flight won’t be compensated as highly as a longer flight, even if they’re both delayed equally.
Curious about exactly how much you could get? Take a look at the table below to see how much money you might get:
| 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 |
Iberia Express Flight Cancellation Compensation
Europe has regulations to help you in case of flight cancellation. Here’s what you need to know:
If your flight gets cancelled within two weeks of you’re supposed to leave, you might get compensation up to €600. However, there’s a condition – the airline can avoid paying if they offer you an alternative flight that aligns closely with your original schedule.
The airline can avoid paying you if they arrange a replacement 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 agree to take an alternative flight from the airline, you can still receive compensation. The most important thing is your arrival time at your destination.
The amount you could receive depends on a couple of points:
- How far you’re flying
- How late you arrive
As a result, even if the alternative flight is delayed, you might still get some compensation.
Look at the following table to understand better:
| 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 transportation to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from Iberia Express
It’s essential to know the process of claiming the compensation you’re eligible for under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s what you need to do:
- 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 take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
Keep in mind that you’re entitled as a passenger to claim compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed as a result of operational issues or technical difficulties, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances including severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you are entitled to compensation.
Which Iberia Express Flights are Covered by EU261?
The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union have a wide-ranging scope. They cover all flights departing from an airport within an EU country and every flight landing at a European Union member state airport when an EU-based airline operates the flight.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These regulations also cover airlines from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This means if you’re traveling with any airline within, to, or from Europe, you most likely have these rights. It’s good to be aware of these laws – they’re there to assist you if issues arise with your flight. They make sure you’re not abandoned when your trip arrangements fall through.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
Iberia Express isn’t necessarily at fault when flights are delayed or cancelled. Occasionally, things happen that the airline can’t control, like extreme weather or unforeseen issues.
For instance, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an emergency at the airport, or an air traffic control strike, Iberia Express is not liable. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline is unable to prevent.
When these situations occur, you probably won’t get any compensation. The airline isn’t viewed as doing anything wrong when these unforeseen difficulties occur.