Whenever flights get delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the European Union has a regulation 261/2004 that helps protect passengers in these situations. According to EU261, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance. Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004 The EU 261 is the legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this law covers diverse cases, including flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and obligates airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any traveler who experienced certain inconveniences is entitled 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 concerning the process of compensation, including assistance for passengers affected by issues with flights. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, depending on your specific case. Compensation for SpiceJet Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not provide 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 offered an alternative flight but reaches his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger may also be eligible for compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the length 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 SpiceJet Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for 3+ 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 another 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 key information about 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 establishes common rules on assistance and compensation to passengers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding. The “Right to Care” under EU 261 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 gets an alternative flight, it is good to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In situations, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you booked Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not have to pay 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 get reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware that the amount of compensation is determined by 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. Be aware 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 situations, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, 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). Furthermore, if the airline might have been able to do something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? European Union Regulation 261 applies to 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, SpiceJet isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required 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 SpiceJet Compensation Flight cancellation or delay 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 cancellation or delay should know exactly how to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps: Fill in this form. You’ll need to provide details such as your flight number, date, and what went wrong. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will make every effort to obtain your rightful compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.