Air passenger rights

Most of you arrive by plane to pick up your car hire. Unfortunately, the plane doesn’t always land on time. We have informed you of how to proceed with your car hire booking when your flight is delayed or cancelled (you can read it here), but do you know what your rights are as an air passenger?

Financial compensation due to cancelled or delayed flight

Court of Justice of the European Union gave rights to a passenger whose non-direct flight had arrived 11 hours late to the destination. The air company claimed that the initial flight was only two hours delayed and, therefore, according to the general 3 hours delay rule, no financial compensation was due. This precedence has changed the way of calculating the delay time. Now, it is the arrival time delay that is taken into account and customers have the right to seek refunds from airlines up to 600 euros, depending on the flight distance.

If your flight takes place within the European Union, you are entitled to:
250 euros for 1,500 km or shorter distance flight
400 euros when the distance is longer than 1,500 km

Flights originating or arriving in the European Union:
250 euros for 1,500 km or shorter distances
400 euros for 1,500 – 3,500 km long flights
and 600 euros for 3,500 km or longer distances

In case of a non-direct flight, it is only the distance of the delayed flight that is taken into account for compensation. No financial settlement is granted if the flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances like bad weather conditions or a strike; however, you are still entitled to a ticket fee refund or an alternative means of transport to your destination.

Lost or damaged luggage

If your registered luggage gets damaged or lost, you may seek a refund up to 1,200 euros from the airline company. When it comes to hand luggage, the airline will pay compensation if the damage is caused by the carrier, and you have only 7 days to place a complaint. In this situation, the best option remains to purchase private travel insurance.