Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU261, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 The EU 261 is the legislation that deals with air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this law covers diverse cases, such as flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. In addition, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation The EU 261 includes rules regarding the process of compensation, 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 person. This sum ranges, according to your circumstances. Compensation for Iran Air Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger could be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending 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 Iran Air Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for 3+ 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 another flight to the final destination. Furthermore, in such situations, 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 pertains to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU 261 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers facing 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 hotel Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger gets 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 will not have to pay extra for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to obtain reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware 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 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. Particularly, 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 prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you may be eligible for compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also covers 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. Nevertheless, Iran Air isn’t 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 Iran Air Compensation Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should understand the steps to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong. 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 get you your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.