You're already waiting at the gate, but the plane isn't ready. Such delays are annoying and can last a few hours or even the whole day. This article explains when you are entitled to compensation and how to claim it.
When is a flight delayed?
The arrival time at the destination airport is the measuring point for the flight delay. If you reach your destination with a delay of more than three hours, this is also legally considered a flight delay. In order to be entitled to compensation, however, other criteria must be met. You can request flight delay compensation directly from the airline. More on that below.
Is the delay caused by the airline?
The prerequisite for a claim for compensation is that the flight delay was caused by the airline. The reason for this could be a strike by airline staff, for example. But even icy wings are attributed to a lack of planning on the part of the airline. It's in Germany reason for flight delays on about half of the airline's flights, and the weather is rarely to blame.
When does EU law apply to flight delays?
Requirements for compensation are not only the time and cause of the delay. It is also important where the airline is based. For flights departing from the EU, the EU Passenger Regulation applies to all airlines. If you fly from Germany to Turkey, EU law always applies. The situation is different for flights arriving into the EU. The passenger regulations only apply here if the airline is based in the EU.
Contact the airline
If a flight delay meets the above criteria, the first thing to do is contact the airline. This is because they must be informed that compensation is being sought. You should save documents and receipts yourself and also forward them to the airline. This includes purchase receipts, boarding tickets and time-stamped photos from the arrival and departure boards at the airport. You should also know the flight distance in kilometers, because the amount of the compensation depends on it.
sue for compensation
If the airline does not respond to the contact, you should try your luck a second time. If you still don't get an answer, you can sue for compensation. However, it should be borne in mind that the Flight Delay Compensation may have to spend again on legal fees. Therefore, you should try using service portals beforehand, which relieve you of the time-consuming communication with the airline.
You can assert these claims
As already mentioned, the amount of compensation depends on the kilometers flown. The flight route from Frankfurt am Main to Antalya is about 3.000 kilometers. A flight delay on this flight would lead to a claim for 400 euros. From a flight distance of 3.500 kilometers, the compensation increases to 600 euros.
Service claims during the waiting time
While waiting at the airport, you may have to spend money that you would have saved had it not been for the delay. That is why airlines have to pay for these additional services as well. On a flight from Germany to Turkey and a waiting time of two hours or more, you are entitled to free meals and Drinks. If you have to wait for a replacement flight the next day, the airline will also take over the transport to a hotel and an overnight stay.
Conclusion
In order to receive flight delay compensation, certain criteria must be met. The basic requirement is that you arrive more than three hours late at the destination airport. In addition, the claim only exists if the delay was caused by the airline. A strike by airport staff does not apply. In addition, one should ensure that the EU passenger regulation applies. This always applies to flights from Germany to Turkey. For flights from Turkey to Germany, it only applies to airlines based in the EU. If these requirements are met, the airline should be contacted first. Alternatively, you can contact passenger services, which will forward the complaint to the airline and are more experienced in communicating and enforcing claims for damages. Compensation can also be sued, whereby one should also think of the costs incurred. In addition to monetary compensation, there is also a right to additional services in the event of a flight delay, such as a soft drink.