Coping with flight issues can be quite upsetting. However, the good news is that the European Union has regulations to assist travelers when things get messed up. If you’re taking a plane in the EU, it’s smart to understand these regulations. They can come in handy if your flight gets messed up. Understanding your rights can make dealing with travel problems a lot simpler. While it won’t make your flight go any faster, it can help you feel less stressed when things go wrong. Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 EU air passengers are protected if their flight experiences difficulties. EU laws guarantee airlines take care of their passengers when things go wrong. When flights are delayed or cancelled, airlines must offer you: Meals and beverages Accommodation if you’re stranded overnight Transportation to and from the hotel Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes If you’re delayed for a long time or your flight is cancelled, you might also receive: A refund An alternative flight Compensation to make up for the inconvenience Don’t forget to ask airline representatives about these things if your plans change. They have to inform you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation. TAP Air Portugal Flight Delay Compensation Travel setbacks from TAP Air Portugal can be really annoying. However there’s some good news: if you’re delayed for more than three hours because of the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation. Laws in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could get up to €600 per person. What is important is when you arrive, not when you depart. So monitor your arrival time if you want to seek compensation. How much you get depends on the length of your journey. A short flight won’t get you as much money as a long one, even if they’re both delayed the same amount of time. Curious about exactly how much you could get? Take a look at the table below to see what compensation you could receive: Less than 3 hoursBetween 3-4 hoursFour hours +Distance0€250€250All flights up to 1500 km0€400€400All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km0€400€400All intra-EU flights over 3500 km0€300€600All non-EU flights over 3500 km TAP Air Portugal Flight Cancellation Compensation The European Union has laws to help you if your flight is cancelled. Here’s what you need to know: In the event of a flight cancellation less than two weeks before you’re supposed to leave, you could be eligible for compensation up to €600. However, there’s a condition – the airline doesn’t have to pay if they offer you an alternative flight that doesn’t significantly disrupt your travel. The airline may not need to compensate you if they arrange a replacement flight that meets the following conditions: Advance NoticeRe-routing Requirements14 DaysNone7 – 13 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flightLess than 7 DaysAlternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight If you choose to board another flight from the airline, you can still receive compensation. The key factor is when you reach your final destination. Your potential compensation is determined by a couple of points: How far you’re flying How late you arrive Therefore, even if the new flight doesn’t get there on time, you might still get some compensation. Look at the following table to understand better: 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 The airline might not be required to compensate you if they can provide a transfer to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not get any compensation. How to Claim Compensation from TAP Air Portugal It’s essential to know how to request the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s what you need to do: 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 manage the process. We understand the EU laws well and will make every effort to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case. Remember that you’re entitled as a passenger to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. No matter whether your flight was delayed because of operational issues or technical difficulties, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control decisions, you have a right to compensation. Which TAP Air Portugal Flights are Covered by EU261? The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union have a wide-ranging scope. They cover every flight leaving an airport within an EU country and any flight coming into an airport within an EU country if the flight is operated by an EU airline. ItineraryCovered by EU 261Flights departing EU airports✅ CoveredFlights arriving at EU airports✅ Covered These regulations also apply to airlines from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. This means if you’re traveling with any airline to, within, or from Europe, you probably have these rights. It’s helpful to know about these regulations – they exist to help you if problems occur with your flight. They make sure you’re not abandoned when your travel plans fall through. When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation TAP Air Portugal isn’t always at fault when flights are delayed or cancelled. Sometimes, events occur that the airline has no control over, like extreme weather or unexpected problems. For instance, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an emergency at the airport, or a strike by air traffic controllers, TAP Air Portugal cannot be held accountable. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline can’t do anything about. When these situations occur, you likely won’t get any compensation. The airline isn’t viewed as doing anything wrong when these unexpected issues occur.