Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
European Union Regulation 261 is the law that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this legislation covers diverse cases, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens as a result of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. In addition, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 encompasses regulations regarding the compensation process, including assistance for passengers experiencing air travel disruptions. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum ranges, according to your circumstances.
Compensation for Lao Skyway Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261, is obligated to compensate 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 entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the length of the delay:
| 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 |
Compensation for Lao Skyway 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 5 hours or more, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, this is the case when the airline also must provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See essential details on compensation in the table below:
| 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 |
Right to Care
Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.
The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Meals and drinks appropriate for 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
In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to get reimbursement. In this case, it is worth mentioning that the amount of compensation is determined by 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.
Consider that these rights apply to any flights inside 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 situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, we refer to 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 could hypothetically 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?
European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also applies 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, Lao Skyway is not a European airline. Therefore, 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.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Lao Skyway Compensation
Flight delay or cancellation is an unpleasant situation 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 this 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 understand the EU laws comprehensively and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled without a valid reason? Check our table for the latest flight delays and cancellations. Assess your right to compensation using our claim checker, and let us protect your rights and pursue compensation for you.
Did not find your flight in our table? Try our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
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