Whenever flights are cancelled or delayed, it can be annoying and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such 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
European Union Regulation 261 is the legislation that covers air passengers’ rights. In particular, this legislation covers different situations, including rebooking, delays, flight cancellations, etc., and requires 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 has a right to receive compensation. Moreover, travelers may be eligible for 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 to travelers affected by issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per passenger. This sum varies, depending on your circumstances.
Compensation for Vistara Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, travelers should be aware that the airline must inform them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline informs you less than fourteen days before your scheduled departure and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261 regulation, 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 could be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations based on the duration 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 |
Compensation for Vistara Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for 5 hours or more, 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 key information about 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 |
Right to Care
Right to Care refers to a specific aspect of EU Regulation 261/2004, which establishes common rules on compensation and assistance for travelers in the event of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 requires airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing significant delays or cancellations. These include:
- Meals and drinks appropriate for 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 good to be aware of 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 have to pay additional fees for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you can get reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware 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.
Consider that these rights apply to all flights 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 situations, when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we talk about extraordinary circumstances that are beyond the airline’s control. A few 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 potentially could have done something to avoid problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you can claim compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends 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, Vistara is not a European airline. Therefore, they aren’t required 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.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Vistara Compensation
Flight cancellation or delay can be a frustrating experience that can not only upset you but also ruin all your travel plans. Passengers who unfortunately encounter a flight delay or cancellation should understand the steps to claim compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details including 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 know the EU laws thoroughly and will strive to get you your compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.