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, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 EU Regulation 261 is the legislation that deals with the rights of air passengers. Specifically, this regulation covers diverse cases, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to resolve individual cases with fairness and care. If the incident happens because of the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Furthermore, travelers may be eligible for certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 contains rules concerning the process of compensation, including assistance to people experiencing flight problems. In particular, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your circumstances. Compensation for SATENA Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers need to know that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. If 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, must pay you compensation of 250 – 600 euros. At the same time, if a passenger is offered 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 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 SATENA 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 another 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 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 pertains to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes regulations on assistance and compensation for travelers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include: Snacks and beverages appropriate to the waiting time Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary Transport between the airport and the place of accommodation Emails or faxes and two free phone calls Upgrading and Downgrading When a passenger gets an alternative flight, it is important to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In cases, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay additional fees 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 apply to 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 aren’t eligible for compensation for delayed or cancelled flights. Specifically, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are outside of 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 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 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. 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. Nevertheless, SATENA is not a European airline. Therefore, they don’t have 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. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing from the EU airports✔️ YesFlights arriving at the EU airports❌ No How to Claim SATENA Compensation Flight delay or cancellation is an unpleasant situation that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight cancellation or delay should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Fill in our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We know the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.