Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in such 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 EU Regulation 261 is the law that deals with air passengers’ rights. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to receive compensation. Moreover, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation EU Regulation 261 contains rules concerning the process of compensation, including aid to travelers experiencing issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, depending on your circumstances. Compensation for Middle East Airlines Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. 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 261/2004, is obligated to compensate you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is provided with an alternative flight but reaches 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 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 Middle East Airlines 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, in such situations, the airline also must provide a passenger with food, drinks, and accommodation. See key information 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 relates to a specific aspect of European Union Regulation 261/2004, which establishes standard rules on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU 261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain services and assistance 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 place of accommodation Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes Upgrading and Downgrading In situations where a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is good to be aware of upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to obtain reimbursement. In this case, it’s important to note 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 every flight 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 won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of the airline’s control. A few 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). Furthermore, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from airports in the EU. It also applies 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. However, Middle East Airlines is not a European airline. Therefore, they don’t have to pay compensation if their flights operate outside of the European Union. This applies even to 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 Middle East Airlines 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 cancellation or delay should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 understand the EU laws well and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.