Has your flight been canceled unexpectedly? It is true that no one will be able to compensate for the loss of time that this entails, but luckily this type of incident is included in Regulation (EC) 261/2004 , so you can claim compensation. How? We will tell you about it in this article.
I found this information and the ones that I bring you below on the website of AirHelp, the world’s leading flight claims company that also provides you with all the details and tips to claim a canceled or delayed flight .
If you are traveling from the European Union or to the European Union …
If you are flying from the territory of the European Union or to a country of the European Union, you should keep your boarding pass or any document that includes the reservation confirmation code. It is also important that you know the exact reason for the cancellation and that you are clear if you want to be offered an alternative flight or if you prefer that the money be refunded. If it is an alternative flight, you will have to write down the arrival time, since based on this you will be able to claim.
Under no circumstances accept future trips as compensation , since in this way you will be giving up your deserved compensation.
If you travel within the United States …
If something similar happens to you traveling in the United States, you will also need to keep your boarding pass or a document that shows the reservation numbers. You can request an alternative flight or negotiate compensation with the airline, although the latter is not mandatory.
If it is an international trip …
In this case, you must also keep the boarding pass or a document containing the reservation numbers. You have to ask for the exact reason for the cancellation and request an alternative flight. In addition, you should keep all receipts for extra expenses caused by the cancellation of the flight, since thanks to this you will be able to file a claim with all the expenses that you want to recover.
Extraordinary causes that prevent requesting compensation
You should know that you do not always have the right to request compensation. If the company gives sufficient notice (at least 14 days in advance) you will have nothing to do. In the same way, if it is between 7 and 13 days before and it offers you an alternative flight no more than 2 hours before and that arrives less than 4 hours late with respect to the original flight, you will not be able to claim either. In fact, even with less than 7 days to the flight, it can offer you an alternative as long as the delay is less than 2 hours compared to the original flight.
Other extraordinary cases in which you cannot claim:
– Volcanic eruptions or ash clouds
– Weather causes
– Strikes by air traffic controllers
– Terrorist attacks
– Technical problems at airports
– Health emergency
– Damage from the impact of a bird
If it has not been for any of these cases, you can request a claim form or print a flight cancellation claim form to fill it in properly. If your claim is not accepted, you can always claim at AESA (State Air Safety Agency), in which case you will be able to receive compensation if it is resolved in your favor. If the company still refuses to pay, you can go to court.
In short, to claim a canceled flight it is important to be clear about things and follow the steps I mentioned above. That or trust companies like AirHelp , which take care of all the paperwork so you don’t have to worry about a thing. For the rest, it is not bad to know some tips in case you get stranded at the airport .
Recommended article: The weirdest things forgotten in airports.