Flight compensation policies are something you should know if you often travel or are planning to do that in the near future. The explanation is simple – flights can be delayed or cancelled due to a variety of reasons, from technical issues to poor weather conditions.
Air passengers have specific consumer rights under both European and US laws. Therefore, you have a right to get assistance from your air carrier, and you might be compensated in certain situations.
However, the EU and US approaches to flight compensation can differ, and our goal is to compare them.
Overview of EU Flight Compensation Policies
The first thing you should know is that passenger compensation for flight delays must be calculated based on the flight distance, according to European Regulation No. 261/2004. If your flight is delayed three or more hours, you are entitled to full compensation.
Below, you can find an explanation of the compensation plan:
- Short-distance flight delays – if it is up to 1,500 km, you are due 250 Euro compensation.
- Medium distance flight delays – for all the flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, the compensation should be 400 Euro.
- Long-distance flight delays – if it is over 3,500 km, you are due 600 Euro compensation.
To receive this kind of compensation, the following conditions must be met;
- Your flight starts in a non-EU member state or in an EU member state and finishes in an EU member state and is organised by an EU airline.
- Your flight reaches the final destination with a delay that exceeds three hours.
- There is no force majeure.
Overview of US Flight Compensation Policies
To get compensation for delayed flights, you should contact your airline via their customer service or go to the customer service desk. At the same time, you should bear in mind that you will only receive compensation if the delay is not weather-related and is within the carrier`s control.
According to the US Department of Transportation, US airlines are not required to compensate you if a flight is cancelled or delayed. You can be compensated if you are bumped or moved from an overbooked flight.
If your provider cancels your flight less than two weeks before departure and you decide to cancel your trip entirely, you can receive a refund of both pre-paid baggage fees and your plane ticket. There will be no refund if you choose to continue your journey.
In the case of a delayed flight, the airline will rebook you on a different flight. According to federal law, you will not be provided with money or other compensation.
Comparative Analysis of EU vs. US Flight Compensation Policies
Compensation policies in the EU and US are not the same, which implies that it is worth knowing more about them. While you can always count on Skycop flight cancellation compensation, you should still get acquainted with the information below.
Compensation for flight regulations
- EU: The EU does regulate flight delay compensation, which is known as EU261.
- US: According to the US Department of Transportation, every airline has its own policies about what should be done for delayed passengers.
Compensation for flight delays
- EU: Just like in the United States, compensation is not provided when the flight is delayed due to uncontrollable reasons. However, there is a clear approach to compensation calculation based on distance. For example, if your flight was up to 1,500 km, you can receive 250 euros.
- US: There are no federal requirements. That is why every airline sets its own limits for compensation in terms of length. However, it is usually set at three hours.
Overbooking
- EU: In the EU, they call for volunteers if the flight is overbooked. These people are entitled to a choice of:
- Re-routing to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.
- Refund of their ticket cost within a week if not travelling.
- Re-routing at a later date at the person`s convenience.
- US: There are no federal requirements. That is why every airline sets its limits for compensation in terms of length. However, it is usually set at three hours.
Criticisms and Challenges
Flight compensation policies are the same across the EU, and they are also strictly regulated. It means that all airlines must follow the same rules. Consequently, passenger rights in the case of delays, cancellation, and overbooking are clear.
In the United States, there is no set of regulations for all airlines, and each of them can decide how to compensate passengers. Therefore, you have to check compensation policies for every provider.
Conclusion
Flight compensation policies in the EU and US are different because there are different approaches. While the EU airlines have to follow one and the same set of regulations, the US carriers can decide for themselves. It means that passengers have to check the policies of a certain provider and consider their approach. The good news is that airlines in both the EU and the US always do their best to keep their passengers happy and satisfied, which means that you will be compensated if something goes wrong.
