With the holiday season upon us, the prospect of some fun in the sun is on everyone’s mind but, what happens if your holiday gets off to a less than smooth start because your flight is delayed or cancelled?

Delayed Flights

If the flight has been delayed for long enough, the airline has to give you food and drink, access to phone calls/emails and accommodation (if you’re delayed overnight). How long the delay has to be depends on the distance of the flight and the countries the flight is flying between.

You might get vouchers to get what you need at the airport but if not, you should keep all of your receipts for your expenses so you can attempt to claim these back from the airline at a later date.

This isn’t the end of the story though. Did you know what if your flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, and it’s the airline’s fault, then you might be entitled to compensation for the delay?

The amount of compensation you would get is fixed under EU and UK law and is designed to make up for the inconvenience of the delay. Unfortunately, you won’t get a full refund for the cost of the tickets but, you might be entitled to compensation up to £520.00.

If your flight is delayed for more than 5 hours, you don’t have to take the flight at all and, if you don’t, you are entitled to a full refund for the flight (including any onward or return flights connected to the booking).

Some things to consider:

• The rules relating to flight delays/cancellation only apply to any flight leaving a UK/EU airport OR, any UK or EU airline arriving at a UK/EU airport.

• Your flight must have been scheduled to fly within the last 6 years.

• The reason for the delay must be the fault of the airline. So, if the airline did not get enough bookings for the flight, there was a technical fault or there is a staff shortage you would be entitled to compensation. However, if the delay is due to bad weather or a security risk, then this would be considered outside of the airline’s control so it’s unlikely that compensation would be awarded.

• It’s the time you arrive at your destination that counts, not the time you leave. This means that you must have arrived at your destination more than 3 hours later than scheduled.

• It is the passenger who is entitled to the compensation, not the ticket buyer. So, if your employer purchased the ticket for you for a business trip, you, as the passenger, would still be entitled to the compensation.

Cancelled Flights  

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you have the right to a full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination. If you are part-way through a journey and don’t want a replacement flight, you also have the right to a flight back to the airport you originally departed from.

You are also entitled to compensation if a replacement flight delays your arrival by more than 2 hours, and your flight was cancelled more than 14 days before the departure. The amount of compensation you receive depends on when the flight was cancelled, the distance of the flight and the departure/arrival times of the rescheduled flight.

How can Carr & Co Solicitors help?

At Carr & Co Solicitors, we specialise in advising clients involved in civil disputes, helping client’s secure fair compensation, and guiding them through the rights and responsibilities.

Our expert team will provide clear, practical advice and guidance to ensure you fully understand your rights. If you need advice or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01670 515 182 to speak with one of our expert solicitors today or send us an email at hello@carrandcosolicitors.com