Etihad Airways flight delay: Know your rights so you can defend your interests
Aircraft delays are unfortunately frequent, but most are not of consequence. On the other hand, flights delayed by 2 hours or more cause real inconvenience for the passengers who suffer the situation. I will explain to you what your rights are provided for by European regulation EC n ° 261/2004 and the options available to you in this case.
Flight delays: The main causes causing them
Air transport is subject to many vagaries and the causes which can delay the takeoff of a flight are numerous: to unfavorable weather conditions and to technical problems affecting an aircraft, are added congestion of airports and air corridors, and all other operational difficulties encountered by the company or its subcontractors in the preparation of the flight.
Late arrival of the aircraft “, a vague reason often mentioned to justify the delay of a flight. Airlines are looking to maximize the use of their fleet to grow their business. With intensive flight schedules and reduced layover times, a single late flight can result in a cascade of delayed flights throughout the day.
European law details your rights
For flights whose passengers are protected by European regulation EC n ° 261/2004, the airline which delays the departure of a flight is held to respect 2 rights of the passenger defined in the regulation: right to a care and right to reimbursement.
Etihad Airways is supposed to direct and take care of its passengers in the event of the unexpected:
During the waiting time of your flight, the airline must take charge of you and offer you, free of charge:
– refreshments and meals taking into account the length of the wait,
– the possibility of making 2 phone calls or sending 2 emails.
You have this right when it is envisaged that the departure of the flight will be delayed by several hours, the minimum number of which will vary depending on its distance and destination:
Duration of delay
In the European Union Between the EU and a third country
– Up to 1500 km 2 hours 2 hours,
– From 1501 km to 3500 km 3 hours 3 hours,
– From 3501 km and more 3 hours 4 hours.
When the departure of the flight is postponed until the next day or even later, the airline company is also required to insure your accommodation at the hotel for the necessary night (s), as well as the return transport between airport and accommodation.
It is up to the UAE airline to organize this support. If it does not do so, the company must reimburse you for your reasonable and justified costs.
Get a compensation
When the flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, you can decide to abandon your trip. If you make this choice, the airline has 7 days to reimburse you for flights not carried out.
In the event of a delay in a connecting flight, the company must also reimburse unnecessary flights and redirect you as soon as possible by a return flight at its expense to your original departure airport. Etihad Airways must take care of you while waiting for your re-routing.
Then ask for compensation
The 2004 European regulation does not provide any compensation for the passenger of a delayed flight. This right was added in 2009 thanks to the Sturgeon judgment delivered by the CJEU.
The compensation is a lump sum, its amount depends on:
– the distance of the journey to the final destination
– and delay in arriving at final destination.
Please note, the qualification thresholds for the right to compensation are not the same as for the right to care. This is to analyze the entire trip to the airport of final destination and not the only delayed flight. Thus a delay in the departure of a flight does not necessarily imply a delay in arrival at the final destination which is compensable, in particular because the delay can be made up in flight or even completely canceled thanks to a successful connection.
In the event that you have to claim compensation because you have been canceled an Etihad Airways flight, remember to keep a copy of all your travel related documents. A boarding pass, an electronic ticket, a booking confirmation, invoices, etc., all these documents can prove to be very useful when justifying your approach. You should also note down all information related to your flight, such as its number and its times.
The second step is to check whether the reasons for the cancellation of the flight operated by Etihad actually allow you to claim compensation. Is the damage suffered attributable to the company, in accordance with the regulations? Check the weather, and don’t hesitate to check with other travelers to see if they have received the same justification as you. You can even go to the airport to see if other flights have been canceled for the same reason. Once you are settled, you can calculate the amount of compensation to which you are entitled. There are many dedicated calculators online. They are very simple to use, and you only need to enter some information relating to the flight in a form.
Filing a complaint with Etihad Airways: what to expect?
As soon as you have all the cards in hand, you can proceed to claim your compensation. It is true that the process is somewhat difficult and that the air carrier will also assert its rights. However, if your approach is truly legitimate, you can rest assured that it will be successful. You must go to the company’s headquarters to file your complaint and wait for it to be dealt with.