Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU261/2004, if your flight is cancelled or delayed, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. This article will focus on Qatar Airways flight compensation, explaining when you may be entitled to it and how to claim it.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
EU Regulation 261 is the regulation that deals with air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this legislation covers different situations, such as delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to get compensation. In addition, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
EU Regulation 261 contains rules regarding the compensation process, including assistance for passengers who suffered from air travel disruptions. 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.
Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. If 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 261/2004, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros.
At the same time, if a passenger is offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on 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 |
Qatar Airways Flight Delay Compensation
The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the delay time, with longer delays generally resulting in higher compensation amounts. 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 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 refreshments, meals, 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 |
When submitting a compensation claim for a delayed flight, providing accurate flight details is essential to support your case.
Right to Care
Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which sets out standard rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in the event of denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays.
The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers facing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Food and beverages 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
When a passenger receives an alternative flight, it is helpful to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for example, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t be charged extra for this service.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning 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 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 cases, when passengers won’t get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Particularly, 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 prevent issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from EU airports. 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. Consequently, 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.
| 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 cancellation or delay 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 cancellation or delay should know exactly how to seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Fill in this 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 are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to get you your 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 | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
07.01.202623:30 | Qatar Airways 4851 | (HND) (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202622:30 | Qatar Airways 4975 | (KUL) (ADL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202622:20 | Qatar Airways 841 | (PEN) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202622:10 | Qatar Airways 4423 | (HDY) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202621:55 | Qatar Airways 3758 | (ORY) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202621:50 | Qatar Airways 4550 | (CMN) (AGA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202621:35 | Qatar Airways 3475 | (HKG) (AKL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202620:45 | Qatar Airways 418 | (DOH) (BEY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202620:35 | Qatar Airways 3613 | (BCN) (ORY) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202620:30 | Qatar Airways 847 | (HKT) (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202620:10 | Qatar Airways 6030 | (CTS) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:55 | Qatar Airways 6076 | (OBO) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:55 | Qatar Airways 4414 | (HKT) (USM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:55 | Qatar Airways 1054 | (DOH) (AUH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:55 | Qatar Airways 6842 | (OKA) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:45 | Qatar Airways 3607 | (BCN) (NTE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:45 | Qatar Airways 3705 | (PMI) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:40 | Qatar Airways 3638 | (BCN) (VCE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:40 | Qatar Airways 4381 | (BKK) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:35 | Qatar Airways 6062 | (KUH) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:35 | Qatar Airways 427 | (BEY) (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:35 | Qatar Airways 4697 | (BCN) (AMS) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:30 | Qatar Airways 6078 | (OIT) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:30 | Qatar Airways 3547 | (FCO) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:30 | Qatar Airways 3718 | (BCN) (MXP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:25 | Qatar Airways 4690 | (RVN) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:20 | Qatar Airways 4712 | (BCN) (LIS) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:15 | Qatar Airways 6066 | (MSJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:10 | Qatar Airways 6918 | (MAD) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:00 | Qatar Airways 6080 | (OKA) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:00 | Qatar Airways 4333 | (USM) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202619:00 | Qatar Airways 1018 | (DOH) (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:55 | Qatar Airways 3682 | (CDG) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:50 | Qatar Airways 3665 | (SDR) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:35 | Qatar Airways 3595 | (BOD) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:35 | Qatar Airways 6820 | (AOJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:20 | Qatar Airways 4489 | (HKT) (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:15 | Qatar Airways 3747 | (PMI) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:15 | Qatar Airways 4411 | (USM) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:10 | Qatar Airways 3728 | (BCN) (MUC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:10 | Qatar Airways 3737 | (ORY) (BCN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202618:00 | Qatar Airways 5816 | (SIN) (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:55 | Qatar Airways 4708 | (MAH) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:45 | Qatar Airways 3592 | (IBZ) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:40 | Qatar Airways 5966 | (BHD) (LHR) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:30 | Qatar Airways 4315 | (HKT) (USM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:30 | Qatar Airways 4379 | (BKK) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:15 | Qatar Airways 8268 | (DUB) (AMS) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:05 | Qatar Airways 3473 | (CTS) (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:05 | Qatar Airways 3635 | (BCN) (TFN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:05 | Qatar Airways 4488 | (KUL) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202617:05 | Qatar Airways 4440 | (HKG) (USM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:55 | Qatar Airways 5538 | (ORY) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3611 | (BCN) (BOD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3745 | (MXP) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3642 | (LPA) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3627 | (BCN) (PMI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 4556 | (CMN) (AGP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3504 | (BCN) (ACE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:45 | Qatar Airways 3507 | (BCN) (ACE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:40 | Qatar Airways 3579 | (AMS) (BCN) | Cancelled | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:30 | Qatar Airways 4689 | (IBZ) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:25 | Qatar Airways 3620 | (BCN) (MAH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:20 | Qatar Airways 6818 | (HIJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:20 | Qatar Airways 6818 | (HIJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:15 | Qatar Airways 6811 | (OBO) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:15 | Qatar Airways 6811 | (OBO) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:15 | Qatar Airways 3582 | (BCN) (CDG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:10 | Qatar Airways 8943 | (BHX) (BHD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:10 | Qatar Airways 4539 | (CMN) (AGA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202616:00 | Qatar Airways 3495 | (CTS) (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:55 | Qatar Airways 3623 | (BCN) (PMI) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:50 | Qatar Airways 4425 | (USM) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:45 | Qatar Airways 6806 | (KCZ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:45 | Qatar Airways 6816 | (OKA) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:45 | Qatar Airways 6816 | (OKA) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:40 | Qatar Airways 3699 | (LPA) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:35 | Qatar Airways 3537 | (BCN) (ALC) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:30 | Qatar Airways 3616 | (BCN) (ORY) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:30 | Qatar Airways 3664 | (FCO) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:25 | Qatar Airways 3534 | (CDG) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:20 | Qatar Airways 4504 | (CMN) (AHU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:20 | Qatar Airways 146 | (BCN) (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:15 | Qatar Airways 4901 | (BEY) (DOH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:15 | Qatar Airways 5924 | (LHR) (BHD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:15 | Qatar Airways 5855 | (NGO) (HKG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:10 | Qatar Airways 4432 | (HKT) (UTP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:05 | Qatar Airways 4409 | (USM) (HKT) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202615:05 | Qatar Airways 5484 | (AOR) (KUL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:55 | Qatar Airways 7280 | (AEP) (GRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:55 | Qatar Airways 6889 | (MAD) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:50 | Qatar Airways 6090 | (HKD) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:50 | Qatar Airways 6849 | (KMQ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:50 | Qatar Airways 6217 | (LHR) (BDA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:50 | Qatar Airways 3767 | (TRN) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:40 | Qatar Airways 6092 | (KOJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:30 | Qatar Airways 6024 | (ASJ) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:25 | Qatar Airways 3683 | (GRX) (BCN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:20 | Qatar Airways 4260 | (DRW) (BNE) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
07.01.202614:15 | Qatar Airways 6805 | (OKA) (HND) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
