Claiming Compo for Delays on EU flights - How to DIY

[vetrade]

This article from the Frugal Travel Guy may be of interest………

“The Absolute Easiest Way to Get Compensated for a Flight Delay”


The Absolute Easiest Way to Get Compensated for a Flight Delay | Frugal Travel Guy=

Flight Delay Compensation - The UK Leader | Bott & Co
This is an excerpt:
Have you ever had a flight cancelled or delayed for several hours? Perhaps you’ve missed a connection due to that delay. Did you know that you might be entitled to compensation for the delay?

This compensation would be separate from anything you might receive as a benefit from your credit card company. The specific scenario here is related to EU air passenger rights and the associated compensation when delays or cancellations happen. The nice thing is that you don’t need to be an EU citizen, nor do you need to be necessarily flying an EU-based carrier. The amount of compensation due is based on the duration of the flight – up to €600 per passenger for flights over 4 hrs.

The basic summary is that you’re eligible if your flight departed from an EU airport, regardless of the airline. If your flight arrives at an EU airport, as long as the airline is EU-based, then you’re eligible (e.g. British Airways or Air France, but not American Airlines).

It doesn’t matter what your citizenship is or if you paid cash for the ticket or used miles. You can even claim for a lap infant. The law exists to compensate people for their loss of time and is not related to the value or cost of the ticket.

I have submitted a claim because of delays a few months ago when travelling MUC – MAD – JFK; both flights were with IB on a OW RTW in J. The IB desk jockey in MUC refused point blank to check us (and our bags) through to NY. We had a transit of over 2 hrs but by the time our bags appeared in MAD we had missed checkin for our onward flight.

After entering the details at Bott & Co’s website I got a message that I was entitled to compo but they couldn’t take action for me because “it was outside their jurisdiction”. Helpfully they have a link to a standard letter you can use to make the claim yourself. That’s what I did. IB has given me a case number for my claim (2 x €600) and said they will respond within 21 days. Will be interesting to see what their response is.

 

[bunyah]

A good post, which I will be watching closely.
Seems I will have to go down the same with Finnair. Flight late taking off from Bangkok, so didn't make connection in Helsinki (onward to London). 3.5hr wait for another flight to London. Only response from Finnair is meaningless computer generated automation.

 

[anat0l]

Lawyers or other legal services that will follow up EU 261 claims on your behalf are not new. It is a common model to have a "no win, no fee" as well as taking a cut if your claim is successful.

I can't claim whether these services are great or not, but I guess they must have something going for them. Certainly, there is often a difference in confidence between knowing the EU 261 regulations and actually claiming it when you are rightly entitled, even by yourself. Airlines do not make it habitual to make your life easy in this respect.

A good post, which I will be watching closely.
Seems I will have to go down the same with Finnair. Flight late taking off from Bangkok, so didn't make connection in Helsinki (onward to London). 3.5hr wait for another flight to London. Only response from Finnair is meaningless computer generated automation.

What should be important here is:

• How long were you delayed in Bangkok
• Were you offered any refreshments by the airline at Bangkok if the expected delay was greater than 4 hours (did you seek these pursuant to your rights)
• Compared to your originally scheduled flights, how late did you eventually arrive in London

These factors will affect how much you are entitled to in compensation.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Lawyers or other legal services that will follow up EU 261 claims on your behalf are not new. It is a common model to have a "no win, no fee" as well as taking a cut if your claim is successful.

I can't claim whether these services are great or not, but I guess they must have something going for them. Certainly, there is often a difference in confidence between knowing the EU 261 regulations and actually claiming it when you are rightly entitled, even by yourself. Airlines do not make it habitual to make your life easy in this respect.



What should be important here is:

• How long were you delayed in Bangkok
• Were you offered any refreshments by the airline at Bangkok if the expected delay was greater than 4 hours (did you seek these pursuant to your rights)
• Compared to your originally scheduled flights, how late did you eventually arrive in London

These factors will affect how much you are entitled to in compensation.

I think the general idea is that you first make a claim against the airline. If that fails, you can either try and pursue it yourself, or go to one of the 'specialists'. I think they take a 33% cut... but still... 400 euros instead of 600 probably appeals to many (it might to me).

The specialist companies apparently have access to the appropriate airline systems, so they can go into a flight and get the exact reason for the delay - including the IATA code or whatever (and there are about 200 or so codes... including things like 'late passenger' and 'late crew member' etc).

So it's money for jam for the company... and makes it very easy for the passenger.

It is the final arrival time at the ultimate destination (that day) on the ticket that counts, rather than how late the flight left the point of origin.

 

[vetrade]

Just a heads up to say IB knocked back my claim. Even though I still think I was entitled to compo under the EU Regulations I can't say I'm surprised at IB's response - they would know that I had no feasible options to pursue it from Oz.

Dear Mr Vetrade:

I have received your new letter regarding flight IB 3191 of may 02, 2015.

Depending on the infrastructure and operation of each airport, the airlines and airport authorities establish minimum times to guarantee the connections of passengers and their luggage.

When these times are shortened and the connection proves infeasible, we provide them with the quickest way to reach their destination, depending on the availability of alternative flights.

On this occasion, the aircraft that was to fly this route arrived late due to an extraordinary circumstance that affected the schedules, which led to your originating flight being delayed. As it was an event outside our responsibility, European Community Regulations establishes that no compensation is due.

All of us at Iberia strive to offer our customers a quality service to ensure an enjoyable flight.

Sincerely,

Iberia. Customer Service Center

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just a heads up to say IB knocked back my claim. Even though I still think I was entitled to compo under the EU Regulations I can't say I'm surprised at IB's response - they would know that I had no feasible options to pursue it from Oz.

Dear Mr Vetrade:

I have received your new letter regarding flight IB 3191 of may 02, 2015.

Depending on the infrastructure and operation of each airport, the airlines and airport authorities establish minimum times to guarantee the connections of passengers and their luggage.

When these times are shortened and the connection proves infeasible, we provide them with the quickest way to reach their destination, depending on the availability of alternative flights.

On this occasion, the aircraft that was to fly this route arrived late due to an extraordinary circumstance that affected the schedules, which led to your originating flight being delayed. As it was an event outside our responsibility, European Community Regulations establishes that no compensation is due.

All of us at Iberia strive to offer our customers a quality service to ensure an enjoyable flight.

Sincerely,

Iberia. Customer Service Center

The old 'late inbound' excuse?

If you can be bothered, you need to ask why the inbound was delayed.

 

[medhead]

Just a heads up to say IB knocked back my claim. Even though I still think I was entitled to compo under the EU Regulations I can't say I'm surprised at IB's response - they would know that I had no feasible options to pursue it from Oz.

Dear Mr Vetrade:

I have received your new letter regarding flight IB 3191 of may 02, 2015.

Depending on the infrastructure and operation of each airport, the airlines and airport authorities establish minimum times to guarantee the connections of passengers and their luggage.

When these times are shortened and the connection proves infeasible, we provide them with the quickest way to reach their destination, depending on the availability of alternative flights.

On this occasion, the aircraft that was to fly this route arrived late due to an extraordinary circumstance that affected the schedules, which led to your originating flight being delayed. As it was an event outside our responsibility, European Community Regulations establishes that no compensation is due.

All of us at Iberia strive to offer our customers a quality service to ensure an enjoyable flight.

Sincerely,

Iberia. Customer Service Center

they've played the get out of jail free card. compensation is only due for things within their control. I'd ask them to precisely state the extraordinary circumstance. but up to you.

The old 'late inbound' excuse?

If you can be bothered, you need to ask why the inbound was delayed.