Coping with flight problems can be quite upsetting. However, the positive thing is that the European Union has regulations to help travelers when things get messed up. If you’re traveling by air in the EU, it’s wise to know about these regulations. They can come in handy if your flight gets messed up.
Understanding your rights can make dealing with travel complications much easier. While it won’t speed up your journey, it can reduce your anxiety when things go wrong.
Passenger Rights under EU Regulation 261/2004
When you’re flying in the European Union, rest assured that there’s aid available in the case of a flight disruption. EU laws make sure 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 experiencing a significant delay or your flight is cancelled, you might also be entitled to:
- A refund
- An alternative flight
- Compensation to make up for the inconvenience
Remember to inquire with airline representatives about these things if your plans change. They must inform you about your rights when there’s a significant delay or cancellation.
TUI Airways Flight Delay Compensation
Flight delays from TUI Airways can be very frustrating. However there’s a silver lining: if you’re stranded for more than three hours due to the airline’s fault, you might be able to get some compensation.
Laws in the UK and EU are in your favor. You could receive up to €600 per person. What counts is when you arrive, not when you take off. So keep an eye on your arrival time if you want to seek flight delay compensation.
How much you get depends on the length of your journey. A short flight won’t be compensated as highly as a long one, even if they’re both delayed the same amount of time.
Want to know exactly how much you could get? Take a look at the table below to see what compensation you could receive:
| 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 |
TUI Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation
The EU has laws to protect you if your flight gets cancelled. Here’s the important information:
If your flight is cancelled less than two weeks before your scheduled departure, you could be eligible for compensation of up to €600. But keep in mind – the airline can avoid paying if they rebook you on a different flight that doesn’t significantly disrupt your travel.
The carrier can bypass compensation if they provide an alternative flight that meets the following conditions:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
If you accept another flight from the airline, you can still receive compensation. The key factor is your arrival time at your destination.
How much money you might get is determined by two things:
- The length of your flight
- The delay in your arrival
Therefore, even if the new flight doesn’t get there on time, you might still get some compensation.
Look at the following table to see more details:
| 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 |
The airline might not be required to compensate you if they can provide transportation to your destination, close to the original schedule. Even if you arrive shortly after the scheduled time, you might not be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
How to Claim Compensation from TUI Airways
It’s essential to know how to claim the compensation you’re entitled to under EU Regulation 261/2004. Here’s the process:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details such as 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 know the EU laws well and will strive to obtain your rightful compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.
Don’t forget that you have the right as a passenger to claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. Regardless of whether your flight was delayed due to operational reasons or technical issues, if it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances such as adverse weather conditions or air traffic control decisions, you have a right to compensation.
Which TUI Airways Flights are Covered by EU261?
The air passenger protection regulations of the European Union have a wide-ranging scope. They cover all flights departing from an airport within an EU country and to all flights arriving at a European Union member state airport if the flight is operated by an EU airline.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing EU airports | ✅ Covered |
| Flights arriving at EU airports | ✅ Covered |
These regulations also include airlines from Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland. This means if you’re flying with any airline within, to, or from Europe, you likely have these rights. It’s helpful to know about these regulations – they’re in place to help you if issues arise with your flight. They ensure you’re not left on your own when your travel plans fall through.
When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
TUI Airways isn’t necessarily at fault when flights are delayed or cancelled. Sometimes, events occur that the airline has no control over, like extreme weather or unforeseen issues.
For example, if there’s unexpected severe weather, an airport emergency, or air traffic controllers go on strike, TUI Airways isn’t responsible. These are called “extraordinary circumstances” that the airline can’t do anything about.
When these situations occur, you probably won’t get any compensation. The airline is not considered to be doing anything wrong when these unforeseen difficulties come up.