Whenever flights are delayed or cancelled, it can be frustrating and inconvenient for passengers. However, the EU has a regulation 261 that helps protect passengers in such situations. Under EU261/2004, if your flight is disrupted, the airline has to provide you with compensation and assistance.
Passenger Rights Under EU 261/2004
EU Regulation 261 is the law that covers air passengers’ rights. In particular, this regulation covers different situations, such as flight cancellations, delays, rebooking, etc., and requires airlines to resolve individual cases with care and fairness. If the situation occurs as a result of the airline’s fault, any passenger who underwent certain inconveniences has a right to obtain compensation. In addition, passengers may be entitled to certain benefits, which we will discuss further in the article.
Right to Compensation
European Union Regulation 261 contains rules regarding the compensation process, including assistance to people who suffered from flight problems. Specifically, the amount of compensation you can potentially get is up to 600 euros per person. This sum varies, according to your specific case.
Compensation for Yeti Airlines Flight Cancellation
First and foremost, passengers should be aware that the airline is required to notify them about the flight cancellation. In case the airline notifies you less than fourteen days before your flight date and does not offer 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 provided with an alternative flight but arrives at his destination later than the scheduled arrival time of the original flight, the passenger may also be entitled to compensation. The table below shows the airline’s obligations according to the length 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 Yeti Airlines Flight Delay
When a flight is delayed for 3+ hours, the airline is required to provide compensation. If the flight is delayed for five or more hours, the passenger is entitled to a ticket refund or an alternative flight to the final destination.
Furthermore, in such situations, the airline is also required to provide a passenger with beverages, some food, and accommodation. See key information on 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 European Union Regulation 261/2004, which sets out regulations on compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of flight cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
The “Right to Care” under EU261/2004 obliges airlines to provide certain assistance and services to passengers experiencing 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 gets an alternative flight, it is helpful to know about upgrading and downgrading the flight’s class.
In situations, when the airline provides you with an upgraded class (for instance, you had Economy but were upgraded to Business class), you will not be charged additional fees for this upgrade.
Regarding downgrading in class (in case you booked a Business class ticket, but were downgraded to Economy), you have a right to receive reimbursement. Here, it is worth mentioning 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.
Be aware that these rights apply to 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 cases, when passengers won’t get compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Specifically, 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).
Moreover, if the airline could hypothetically have done something to avoid issues regarding the flight and failed to handle the situation, you might be entitled to compensation.
Which Flights are Covered by EU 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. This regulation also extends 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.
However, Yeti Airlines is not 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.
| Itinerary | Covered by EU 261 |
| Flights departing from the EU airports | ✔️ Yes |
| Flights arriving at the EU airports | ❌ No |
How to Claim Yeti Airlines Compensation
Flight delay or cancellation 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 seek compensation. To apply for compensation, follow these steps:
- Complete this 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 take over. We are well-versed in the EU laws thoroughly and will do our best to get you your compensation. You only incur a fee if we win your case.