Whenever flights get cancelled or delayed, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in these situations. Under 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 legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. In particular, this regulation covers diverse cases, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to obtain compensation. Furthermore, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation The EU 261 includes regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance to travelers affected by flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, based on your circumstances. Compensation for Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation First and foremost, travelers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not offer 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 reaches his destination later than the original flight was supposed to, the passenger may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations depending on 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 Qatar Airways Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for three or more hours, the airline is required to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger may receive 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 beverages, some food, and accommodation. See essential details 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 refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by 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 place of accommodation Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is important to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you had 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 flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to get reimbursement. In this case, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is entirely based 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 operated by airlines based in the EU. When Are You Not Entitled to Compensation? Unfortunately, there are cases, when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about 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). Furthermore, 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? EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from airports in the EU. This regulation also extends 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. Nevertheless, Qatar Airways isn’t 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 Qatar Airways Compensation Flight delay or cancellation can be a frustrating experience 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 problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws comprehensively and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.