Flight delayed by Czech Airlines: When can we claim compensation?
Delays, cancellations, lost or stolen luggage, travel galleys give most of the time right to compensation. By plane, by train, but also on coaches and cruise ships.
Except “extraordinary circumstances” (natural disaster, attack, strike outside the staff of the company, European airlines including Czech Airlines, Swiss, Norwegian and Icelandic must compensate their passengers in case of flight cancellation, denied boarding due overbooking or delay of at least three hours.
You are entitled to this support if your company has canceled your flight less than 2 weeks before departure.
The scale then varies according to the distance of the flight: € 250 up to 1,500 km, € 400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, and € 600 beyond. From five hours late, you can waive your trip and obtain full reimbursement of the ticket as well as reimbursement of your repatriation if the delay is taken during a connection.
Get your ticket reimbursed
Request compensation? It had nothing to do with the passenger’s choice to request reimbursement of his ticket knowing that the delay displayed on his flight would have exceeded five hours.
The reimbursement request can be made online (on the Czech Airlines website). Reimbursement is only made in the form of a bank transfer (or in cash).
Luggage gone, I haven’t lost everything. Whether your luggage is lost or stolen, by plane, boat or even by bus, the transporter must provide you with essential necessities (toothpaste, soap, toothbrush). Otherwise, he will reimburse you on invoice, from 80 to 100 €.
If after twenty-one days, your baggage has not reappeared, you are entitled to a fixed compensation capped at € 1,400. It’s up to you to prove the value of your baggage and what it contained.
Returning to the subject of delays, the carrier remains liable if the delay, or cancellation, is due to exceptional weather conditions or a natural disaster.
What does the European regulation say?
It establishes rules regarding assistance and compensation for passengers who have suffered a flight delay or cancellation, or denied boarding (overbooking). Was your plane departing from an airport located in the European Union, or operated by an airline whose head office is located in the European Union like Czech Airlines? You can assert your rights and obtain compensation of up to 600 euros.
Keep proof of your boarding
Since a decision of the Court of Cassation last February, passengers are now asked to demonstrate that they have presented themselves at check-in to be able to claim compensation. What can turn out to be complicated because none of the documents? Official? In his possession is no proof.
Use your imagination! Keep your boarding pass, make solfies in front of the boarding board and on board the plane with the piece of boarding pass that you have left after boarding, require the airline a certificate of delay by name when getting off the plane, take photos of your boarding pass before and after the flight, make audio and video recordings in strict compliance with image rights, etc.
Flight overbooking: You have to think carefully before accepting the proposals of your carrier
Overbooking, which consists of an airline selling more tickets than there are seats on the plane, is a practice that is both common and legal. When too many people show up for boarding, the airline must first call on volunteers, who will then be re-routed or reimbursed, and will also receive compensation, generally a voucher or an upgrade.
These offers may seem interesting. But beware, if you voluntarily accept to give up your seat, you will no longer be able to claim the compensation provided for by European regulation n ° 261/2004.
Keep vouchers for all your additional expenses
Czech Airlines owes you assistance when a flight is canceled or delayed by more than two hours, or when boarding has been denied. She must offer you meals and refreshments, pay you for the hotel night if the departure is postponed until the next day, as well as the transportation between it and the airport; and let you make two free phone calls and send two faxes or emails to let you know your loved ones.
Nothing from you has been offered? Keep receipts of all your expenses related to your mishap (catering, accommodation, transportation), so that you can then get a refund.
Use the specialists in handling air disputes
The airlines will often try to convince you that they are not responsible for the delay or cancellation of your flight, and to discourage you from trying to avoid paying the compensation due to you. Stay patient and tenacious. And do not hesitate to check the case law or to call on an expert to check the arguments they will put forward.
This is particularly the case for? Extraordinary circumstances? Airlines do not have to pay compensation if the cancellation of a flight, or its delay of more than 3 hours, is attributable to these extraordinary circumstances, which are only defined in broad outline by regulation n ° 261/2004. They therefore tend to abuse this clause and hide behind reasons so complex and difficult to verify, that it is difficult for passengers to contradict them.
If you do not want to carry out these formalities yourself, specialized sites can do it for you, for a commission of 15 to 27% of the sums recovered.
Passengers who are at least three hours late are compensated for whatever reason (except due to exceptional circumstances).