Delay announced for the flight served by Air Belgium, what to do?
Always remember to keep the supporting documents for all the documents relating to your trip (Non-exhaustive list: reservation and / or electronic ticket (itinerary receipt); all boarding cards (including electronic cards), especially in the event of re-routing; certificate relating to an incident submitted by the carrier; baggage tags, baggage tag; receipts justifying expenses incurred.
Know if your flight is affected is covered: Steps to follow
All flights departing from airports located in the European Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), Norway, Iceland or Switzerland, whatever the nationality of the air carrier, and whatever the flight destination.
For flights from an airport located in a third country (other than those which are members of the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland), only flights operated by a carrier from the European Union, and bound for an airport located in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland are concerned, unless the passenger benefits from services or compensation and assistance in this third country.
Your rights if serious damage is caused to you because of Air Belgium
Air carriers including Air Belgium must inform the passenger of their rights. In the event of a flight delayed for at least two hours on departure, flight cancellation, or denied boarding, a notice containing, in particular, the compensation and assistance rules must be presented to the passenger.
Significant delay: what’s going on?
When the delay in departure of a flight reaches:
– two hours or more for flights of 1500 km or less,
– three hours or more for flights over 1500 km up to 3500 km and all intra-Community flights over 1500 km,
– four hours or more for other flights over 3500 km,
The transporter must provide free pick-up to the passenger pending departure, unless pick-up would result in more delay in the departure of the flight (refreshments, catering, two communications, and if the departure cannot take place before the next day, accommodation and transfers between the accommodation and the airport).
If coverage has not been offered, when it should have been, the passenger may obtain reimbursement of the costs incurred by the air carrier, as soon as the sums incurred prove necessary, appropriate and reasonable .
The passenger must keep all receipts attesting to the costs incurred.
If the passenger has not accepted the reasonable offer to take charge of the air carrier, the latter will not be liable for reimbursement.
If the departure delay is at least 5 hours, and only if the passenger gives up his trip, the passenger is entitled to have his ticket reimbursed, and possibly to request the return flight to his point initial departure (in the case of a flight departing during a connection).
Passengers whose flight is delayed on departure have the right to compensation when they reach the final destination indicated on their transport contract 3 hours or more after the arrival time initially planned by the carrier.
The lump sum compensation granted is as follows:
– 250€ for journeys of 1,500 kilometers or less,
– 400€ for those between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers and for all intra-Community flights of more than 1,500 kilometers *,
– 600€ beyond 3,500 kilometers for non-EU destinations.
In some cases, the compensation may be reduced by 50%.
The carrier from Belgium is required to pay compensation in cash or by any other means (check, transfer, …). Compensation in the form of travel vouchers or credit notes can only be made with the written consent of the passenger.
However, he may not pay compensation if he proves that the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Cancellation: what can you claim?
The passenger has the possibility to choose between:
– re-routing by another flight, or another mode of transport,
– reimbursement of the ticket only if he renounces his journey. On the departure of a flight during a connection, he benefits from the return flight to his initial point of departure if the passenger renounces the continuation of his journey.
While waiting for a re-routing, Air Belgium is obliged to take charge of the passenger according to the waiting time. For more information on this subject, refer to the supported part of the Major delay section: what is happening?
The passenger has the right to compensation. The lump sum compensation amounts and terms are identical to those provided for a delay.
Compensation is not due
– If the passenger is informed two weeks before the departure time or, in the event of a shorter delay, if a place is offered to him on another flight at an hour close to the schedule initially planned both on departure and at the arrival,
– If the carrier proves that the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Do you want to report your dispute? Get in touch with legal experts
Passenger compensation is the sole responsibility of the airlines. The startup we suggest is not intended to replace carriers to compensate passengers, but has the power to compel a carrier to pay the compensation provided for by the regulations by initiating administrative penalty procedures against airlines that do not comply with their obligations under the regulations.