Flight delays in Europe? You could be owed European flight delay compensation!

I like finding unexpected money and using it to save for future travels. In the fall of 2018, I discovered from reading a few articles online that my delayed flight within Europe in 2017 entitled me to the European flight delay compensation. Here’s how it works:

A European law called EU Regulation 261/2004 allows you to claim compensation for flight delayed for more than 3 hours except for ordinary circumstances like bad weather and crew strikes, no notification within 14 days and it departed in Europe or the airline is European. Here are the compensation:

• 250 euros for flight delayed less than 1,500 kilometers (km)
• 400 euros for flight delayed for more than 1,500km but less than 3,500km
• 600 euros for flight delayed greater than 3,500km but over 4 hours delay and 300 euros if it was delayed for 3 to 4 hours

The item above is just the general rule. These are payments for the customer inconvenience. Obviously, they are still obligated to re-route you or refund, etc. Additionally, the general rule is not to wait over 6 years to file a claim.

Once I learned this rule and I could be compensated for my 4 hours flight delay from Paris to Barcelona, I immediately emailed the airline. At first, I wanted to do it on my own to get the full 500 euros (as there were 2 passengers). Transavia emailed me the next day saying I am entitled to the compensation. However, I needed to wait at least 4 weeks to see if the wire transfer went through.

Here is an example of what to say to the airline if you want to try that route first:

Hello, I am requesting a refund for 500 euros (total for 2 people) for a flight that was cancelled and delayed for more than 3 hours. It was supposed to depart at 17:45 and arrive at 19:30 but I ended up arriving at close to 23:30, nearly 4 hours late. Due to Regulation EC 261/2004, I believe I’m entitled to this compensation especially when the flight was cancelled when we were already checked in the airport. There was also no assistance in getting to an earlier flight; meals/refreshments during the waiting time. There was also no explanation for the delay and there certainly wasn’t any extraordinary bad weather that day. Thank you for your assistance in the matter and I’m awaiting for your response.

I communicated with the airline from August to November. Each time, the transfer either got rejected or didn’t go through. I had to wait another 4 to 6 weeks each time. Finally, I gave up on getting paid by the airline. I then used ClaimCompass in November 2018 to get my money as they have great reviews online.

If you don’t have the time to go back and forth with the airline like I did. I highly recommend ClaimCompass and let them do the work for you. It’s worth the 25% fee! Click here to see if you’re entitled to compensation. If you can’t remember if it was over 3 hours delayed, just give it a try. Also, you need your flight information and a passport photo to ensure the validity of your claim.

ClaimCompass was amazing, again click here if you want to start your claim! They were able to get my money in December and I was paid out via wire transfer in early January (due to the holidays). It worked! ClaimCompass took 25% payout but I was compensated for something I would not otherwise have. If they can’t get you a payout, no worries, you don’t pay them a cent! The flights were worth 136euros and I got 375euros back! Not bad…

Overall, there are ways to get additional money from your travels. Too bad we don’t have this rule in the US! For more travel savings, read my blog on Best ways to fund your 2019 travels, click here.

Let me know about your experience in getting the European compensation flight delay below…

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