For consumers, booking your plane ticket in advance is often imperative to take advantage of attractive prices and plan your trip with peace of mind. However, it sometimes happens that this anticipation poses logistical problems, especially when the planned flight cannot finally be put in place for various reasons. If the reasons for the cancellation are yours, it is important to refer to the conditions subscribed to when booking the flight because the legislative framework is very flexible and each company has its own policy in this area.
In cases where the company cannot provide the service provided for in the sales contract, you will then be able to benefit, in most cases, partial compensation or full reimbursement of the price of your flight. However, the modalities differ depending on the causes of the modification of the initial plan. In this article, we take a look at the various possible situations and the solutions available to rejected passengers. Review of details.
Canceled flight : complete refund
A canceled flight is characterized by a transport service not performed, in principle involving a change of flight number. In all cases, the company must offer you at least full reimbursement of your plane ticket, or even damages if the cancellation caused you moral or financial damage.
The company may prefer to offer you a rerouting on another flight, with comparable conditions. If she is unable to do so or the passenger declines the offer, she must automatically reimburse you within 7 days. In addition, it is required to pay a fixed financial compensation varying according to the distance of the journey, from 250 euros for flights of less than 1500 km to 400 euros for flights of more than 3500 km.
Delayed flight: refunded if more than 3 hours
Except in extraordinary circumstances, a flight that is more than 3 hours late must also be reimbursed under the same conditions only in the event of cancellation. Depending on the mileage and the extent of the delay (from 2 hours for flights of less than 1500 km to 4 for flights of more than 3500 km), the company must also offer a passenger assistance service including the catering, accommodation, telephone and transport from the airport to the reception area.
If the flight is delayed by more than 5 hours on departure and the passenger gives up their trip and declines the rerouting offer, the company is required to fully reimburse the plane ticket but also to take charge of the return to the initial place of departure if the delay concerns a stopover.
CONVENIENT !
The administrative procedures with the airlines to recover your due, or to request compensation in the event of your flight being delayed, are sometimes long and tedious. And companies do nothing to make your job easier… With platforms such as Flightright, you benefit from a network of international experts who will be responsible for requesting and obtaining (in 99% of cases) your compensation. And you know the best? They only charge you for the service if it is successful! No reimbursement for you, no salary for them.
Overbooking: compensation and assistance
In the event of overbooking, the company is obliged to look for volunteers to exchange their flight or take advantage of alternative services. These conditions are not obligatory and each passenger concerned retains full freedom to refuse the offer made to them.
If you are not voluntary but you cannot board, you can claim compensation, indexed to the duration of the flight and any delays linked to the defective organization of the company. It varies between 250 and 600 euros. In addition, the company must cover all costs associated with changing the flight and re-routing by providing you with the necessary assistance (catering, refreshments, accommodation and transport).
Your rights according to the different cases - Flightright
Air personnel strike and weather conditions: limited compensation
These compensation or refund conditions do not apply to all cancellations or delays. Indeed, in the event of extraordinary circumstances, unrelated to poor management of the company, you will not be able to claim any of these devices. We are thinking in particular of bad weather conditions, risks to the safety of passengers and on-board personnel or even a strike by air personnel. Note that there are still special conditions and exceptions to the rule allowing you to obtain partial compensation: in this case, get assistance from an intermediary who is familiar with the law.
Also note that compensation does not apply if the company has informed passengers of the flight cancellation no later than two weeks before flight departure or if, in the event of a shorter delay, the company offers a seat on another flight at a time close to that initially planned. And this, both at the start and at the finish.
How to proceed to be reimbursed?
Also note that the procedure for reimbursing or compensating your plane ticket is generally not automatic. It is up to the passenger to come forward to the company's customer service. The request can be made by sending a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt or through its website.
In all cases, it is essential to attach to your request all the documents justifying your identity as well as your reservation:
- the electronic ticket
- booking confirmation
- boarding pass if you have one
- the certificate provided by the carrier justifying the incident
- your luggage tag
- the various receipts justifying the sums spent
What about cancellation insurance?
In the event of cancellation by you, only the most prudent who have taken out cancellation insurance can hope to obtain a refund of their plane ticket free of charge. And even in this case, the conditions are very strict to benefit from it. In fact, the reasons considered to be valid are limited and only include serious causes. Only a dismissal, a serious illness, a death or a disabling accident will allow you to make use of your cancellation insurance and guarantee you to be compensated.
An opportunity to travel cheaper!
In all circumstances, in the event of cancellation or delay, the passenger is often in an upset mood ... Especially since the procedures to obtain their reimbursement sometimes resemble an obstacle course. However, these inconveniences can sometimes turn into opportunities. Thus, the inability to board because of overbooking for example can lead the company to offer you other flights to unknown destinations and for a very interesting price. So keep an open mind and you might just get more than you imagined!
