Qatar Airways Compensation and Reimbursement for Cancelled and Delayed Flights

Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.

Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004

European Union Regulation 261 is the regulation that deals with the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this legislation covers different situations, such as flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates 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 is entitled to receive compensation. In addition, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.

Right to Compensation

The EU 261 encompasses regulations concerning the process of compensation, including aid to people affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can expect to receive is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, based on your circumstances.

Compensation for Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation

First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide 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 provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger might be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the duration 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 Qatar Airways Flight Delay

When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated 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, this is the case when the airline must also provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, and accommodation. See key information about 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 relates to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on compensation and assistance for travelers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.

The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers experiencing 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 receives an alternative flight, it is helpful to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.

In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not have to pay extra for this upgrade.

Regarding downgrading in class (if you had a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to get reimbursement. Here, 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 apply to 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 situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we refer to 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).

In addition, if the airline might have been able to do 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 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. It also covers 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.

Nevertheless, Qatar Airways is not a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required 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 Qatar Airways 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 know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:

1. Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and the issue you encountered.
2. 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 strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.

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