Problems with your Flight?

EU261 has recently become an important part of the European Union's consumer protection laws. It requires airlines to compensate passengers whose flights have been canceled or delayed.

It also sets standards for how airlines treat those whose plans have been affected by factors outside their control.

The EU261 rule ensures that airlines are held accountable when they fail to meet their obligations. This ensures that travelers receive the compensation they deserve when inconvenienced by the airline's negligence or misconduct.

This regulation aims to protect passengers from delays and cancellations that can cause inconvenience. The regulation, approved by the European Parliament and the Council in 2004, provides passengers with adequate compensation and assistance when they are denied boarding or delayed due to a cancellation or long delay. It also aims to encourage airlines to operate more efficiently.

You are eligible for compensation under EU 261 if you are:

However, EU 261 does not apply to the following:

Although Norway and Switzerland are not members of the European Union, the regulation applies to their flights.

As a result of the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union, new laws have been passed to fill the regulatory gaps left behind. Therefore, the protections afforded to you by the rule will still apply.

There will be no exceptions for flights that originate in the UK. Thus the rule will apply to all airlines. Any flight operated by a UK or EU airline to or from the UK will still be subject to the rules. If the airline is based in the United Kingdom, the law will apply to any flights that originate outside the United Kingdom but land within the European Union.

The airline must offer passengers traveling within the European Union a copy of their rights under the Treaty, either in hard copy or electronic format. In addition to being posted on the airline's website, this notification should also be posted at airport ticket kiosks and check-in desks.

Under the current law, airlines must pay out a minimum amount in compensation if your flight is delayed by more than three hours or canceled entirely without sufficient notice. If you're on a long-haul flight (more than 3,500 km), besides food and accommodation expenses during your delay and transport between airports and hotels, you get up to €600 per person per day. The amount is slightly smaller for shorter trips: €250 for short-haul flights (up to 1,500 km) or €400 for medium-haul flights (between 1,500 km and 3,500 km).

Compensation amounts also vary depending on how much notice you received before your flight was canceled or delayed.

Aside from compensating for delays and canceled flights, EU 261 also offers assistance and access to certain services to those who might be affected by delays or cancellations. For example, passengers who are delayed by more than two hours have the right to care (such as food, water, and medical help). In addition to this, if the flight is still expected to depart the following day, passengers should be provided accommodation.

If a flight's schedule is delayed or canceled for more than five hours, passengers can request a replacement ticket or withdraw from the original flight. Travelers can cancel their trip and obtain a refund for all unused tickets. They may also request a refund for already purchased tickets if the flight no longer serves any purpose regarding their original trip itinerary or a flight back to their original point of departure as soon as possible.

The EU 261 also requires airlines to provide their passengers with information about the delays and cancellations of their flights. They will also be informed of the reasons for the delay or cancellation and how long they will have to wait until their flight departs. The airline must also provide this information in a timely manner, which means that it must be given out within two hours after the announcement of a delay or cancellation.