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. According to EU 261, 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 law that deals with air passengers’ rights. More precisely, this law covers different situations, including delays, flight cancellations, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to handle individual cases with care and fairness. If the incident happens due to the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences is entitled to get compensation. Furthermore, passengers can receive certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article. Right to Compensation European Union Regulation 261 encompasses regulations concerning the compensation process, including assistance to travelers experiencing issues with flights. In particular, the amount of compensation you can be eligible for is up to 600 euros per person. This sum ranges, based on your circumstances. Compensation for Volaris Flight Cancellation First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the cancellation of their flight. In case the airline informs you under fourteen days before the date of your flight and does not provide any alternative flight, the airline, according to the EU 261/2004, 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 Volaris Flight Delay When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is obligated to pay compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or another flight to the final destination. Furthermore, this is the case when the airline must also provide a passenger with refreshments, meals, 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 regulations on compensation and assistance for travelers in the event of long delays, denied boarding, or flight cancellations. The “Right to Care” under EU261 requires airlines to provide certain services and assistance to passengers affected by significant delays or cancellations. These include: Meals 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 receives an alternative flight, it is good to understand upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class. In cases, when the airline provides you with a higher class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you won’t have to pay extra for this upgrade. Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class flight, but were downgraded to Economy), you are entitled to obtain reimbursement. In this case, you should be aware that the amount of compensation fully depends 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 cover 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 will not receive compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Particularly, we refer to extraordinary circumstances that are not within 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). Moreover, if the airline potentially could have done something to prevent problems with the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation. Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004? European Union Regulation 261 covers all flights departing from European Union airports. It also applies to flights arriving in the EU if the airline is based in the EU. This includes airlines from EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Nevertheless, Volaris isn’t a European airline. Therefore, they are not obliged 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 Volaris 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 cancellation or delay 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 the problem you faced. Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will take over. We understand the EU laws well and will strive to secure your compensation. You only pay us if we win your case.