My family and I are planning to go on holidays to Spain in a couple of weeks. We booked our flights a few weeks ago and I am now concerned about our flights being affected by possible strike action. What are our rights if our flight is cancelled? Are we entitled to compensation? What are our rights if our return flight is cancelled and we are in Spain when this happens?
If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between:
1) Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge.
2) Re-routing at a later date.
3) A full refund.
If you choose a full refund, then your airline’s obligations to you end at this point.
Financial compensation generally ranges from €250 to €600 and depends on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation. Generally, compensation claims are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. www.flightrights.ie is a good website offering advice on passenger rights.
If your flight is cancelled and you choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, then you are entitled to meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport and hotel as required. If the airline does not provide these, and you end up paying yourself, keep the receipts – you are entitled to a reimbursement of reasonable expenses.
Your compensation and expenses claim will not be evaluated at the airport. You will need to contact your airline and process your claim directly with them.