Because of the unforeseen disruptions, the flight with Avianca is postponed, what to do then?
You remember ? Humphrey Bogart accompanies Ingrid Bergman to the airport, he tries to convince her to take his plane and says to her: “We will always have Paris” This scene from the film Casablanca is undoubtedly one of the most romantic carried out in an airport of all l history of cinema.
Now let’s go back to 2018. Your plane is announced to be delayed. It may take off more than an hour after the time shown on your ticket. As you already understood, you are going to stay there for a while, at this airport. Suddenly less romantic, right? But, we have good news. Note that all is not lost and that you could receive compensatory compensation, thanks to European legislation, which established, via its Regulation (EC) n ° 261/2004 of February 11, 2004, rights for air passengers.
When a flight is delayed from an airport in Europe?
Then you may be entitled to compensation. You must first check the conditions to be fulfilled. In this case, they are both linked to the distance of your flight and the corresponding delay time. For a trip of:
– 1500 km or less, the minimum delay taken into account is 2 hours,
– Over 1500 km, the minimum delay taken into account is 3 hours,
– Over 3500 km, the minimum delay taken into account is 4 hours.
To be applied, this support depends on the country of departure, the country of arrival but also on the country of origin of the airline with which you travel.
If you are leaving from France or a country of the European Union (or Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) you are taken care of, regardless of your country of destination and whatever your company. Support applies even in the event of a stopover or connection.
If you leave from another country and travel to France or to a country of the European Union (or Norway, Iceland and Switzerland), you are only covered if your company is a company of the ‘European Union (this is not the case for the Colombian Avianca). Again, the protection applies even in the event of a stopover or connection in another country. On the other hand, for a trip entirely made outside the European Union (origin, destination), you are not entitled to support or only according to the conditions specific to the country of departure.
A text reminding you of your rights must be available at the check-in counter or in the boarding area.
Specialized assistance is provided by Avianca staff to stranded passengers.
If you agree to continue your journey, while waiting for your plane to take off, the airline company is obliged to provide you with free assistance which varies according to the waiting time, as well as refreshments or catering, two communications by phone, the accommodation (as well as transfers between the accommodation and the airport), if the departure cannot take place before the next day.
If the American company does not offer them and you have to incur these costs, be aware that they are reimbursable. Within the limits of reasonableness, a bottle of top-of-the-range alcohol, will not be considered as being a standard refreshment,… So keep proof of the costs you have incurred, invoices as receipts. You will also have to prove that you were a passenger on the flight, so remember to keep your booking confirmation, your e-ticket and your boarding pass as well. Depending on the airline chosen, you may be exempt from providing these documents. Inquire upstream with it.
If, on the other hand, you refuse to continue your journey, your ticket will be fully reimbursed within 7 clear days (a clear day is a day that lasts from 0h to 24h. A delay calculated in this way does not take into account the day of the decision at the origin of the deadline, or the day of the deadline. If the deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it is postponed by one day). It is up to your company to offer you this reimbursement. You do not have to take any additional steps.
Boarding denied due to overload problem
Did you make yourself known when boarding and unfortunately it was refused? This misfortune unfortunately occurs when the company has overbooked, or overbooked, that is to say when it has sold more tickets than places available on board the aircraft and therefore can not board all travelers.
So, if you showed up at the check-in with your tickets and papers in good standing, you were not responsible for the reason for the refusal (such as arriving late), or the company gave reasons security, you can claim support. This support will be the same as that described above, in the event of a delayed flight.
Whether or not to be entitled to compensation
If your flight arrives with a delay of at least 3 hours, and except in cases of force majeure, that is to say an unforeseeable incident which cannot be avoided (such as a snowstorm…) or in the event of a strike personnel outside the company (air traffic controllers for example), you can claim compensation.
Again, you should be aware of the specifics related to the place of departure and arrival of the flight.
If you leave from France or a country of the European Union (or Norway, Iceland and Switzerland) you are compensated whatever your destination and whatever your company. The compensation applies even in the event of a stopover or connection.
If you leave from another country, outside the European Union and travel to France or a country of the European Union (or Norway, Iceland and Switzerland), you are compensated only if your company is a EU company. The compensation applies even in the event of a stopover or connection in another country. However, to another country, you are not entitled to compensation or only under the conditions specific to the country of departure.
The amount of compensation varies depending on the length of the planned journey. To be compensated, you must send a request for compensation by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to the carrier. You then have 5 years to claim your compensation.