Flight Compensation: Cancellation, Delay, Denied Boarding

Therefore, it is important to know which rights protect us and, if necessary, check whether we are eligible for compensation. Tagoo has prepared a summary of passenger rights, and we hope it will be useful for our travellers.
It is essential to know that EC Regulation 261/2004 is a European Union legal act designed to protect air passenger rights in various situations, such as flight cancellations, delays, or denied boarding. This regulation applies to all flights departing from EU member states, as well as flights arriving in EU member states if operated by an EU-registered airline. Here are some key aspects of this regulation:

1. Rights regarding flight cancellation

If a flight is cancelled, passengers must be entitled to:

• A refund, an alternative flight or re-routing.
• Care: food, drinks, hotel accommodation, transportation to the accommodation, and the ability to contact others.
• Compensation (€125-600), depending on the distance and time of the delay, unless passengers have been informed in advance of the cancellation or are offered an alternative flight to their destination close to the original time.

1. Rights regarding flight delay

If the flight is delayed:

• The air carrier must provide care (food, drink, accommodation, etc.) if the flight is delayed by 2 hours or more (depending on the distance of the flight).
• If the flight is delayed for more than 5 hours, passengers can claim a refund of the ticket price.
• If the delay to the destination exceeds 3 hours, passengers are entitled to compensation, unless the delay is due to exceptional circumstances.

1. Rights regarding denied boarding

When a passenger is denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline must:

• Give the passenger an alternative between a refund of the fare or a re-routing.
• Offer compensation (€125-600) depending on the distance of the flight and the possible delay.

1. Provision of information

Airlines are required to inform passengers about their rights and procedures related to compensation and care, especially in cases of flight cancellations, delays, or denied boarding.

1. Exceptional circumstances

Airlines are not required to pay compensation if the cancellation, delay, or denied boarding occurred due to extraordinary circumstances that the airline could not avoid, even if all reasonable measures were taken (e.g., bad weather, security threats, strikes).

In summary, EC Regulation 261/2004 is an important air passenger protection measure in the EU, ensuring that passengers can receive certain compensations and assistance for travel inconveniences. It helps ensure fairness and transparency in air transport services.

Tagoo wishes you successful flights!