Flight Delays: What to Do and How to Prevent Them

The flight delay compensation is for air passengers whose flights have been delayed longer than 2 hours. If you ever get caught up in this situation, what do you do, and how do you prevent it next time?

Wait for Notifications

Airlines are obligated to notify passengers of any changes in their flights. Usually, they are expected to notify you at least 14 days before departure. However, that isn’t always the case, and you would likely find out about the delay at the airport.

Check your email or SMS notifications to see if the airline has updated you. The notification should include how long the flight will be delayed, why it is delayed, and if it will be rescheduled, or you will be booked on another flight.

Know Why Flights Get Delayed

There are several reasons why flights are delayed and this includes security threats, mechanical issues, aircraft not ready, pilot unfit to fly, unavailability of aircrew, bad weather conditions, etc. While airlines are expected to inform passengers why their flight got delayed, they often do not.

So, if this is not included in the notification they sent you, you can always request to know. Simply walk to the information desk, email the airline, or call to speak to the airline agent. Knowing the reason why your flight got delayed can help you in the long run when you want to claim compensation.

Also, knowing why flights generally get delayed can help you prepare ahead of time. For example, flights booked earlier in the day are less likely to experience delays.

Do Your Research

Before booking any flight, take some time to do a little research. Find out about the airline you want to book and what their delay times are like. If they are known to constantly cause long delays, you might want to look for other options.

Also, research the best times to travel to wherever you’re headed. This can guide you in choosing not only a suitable day and month but also the perfect time of the day to book your flight.

Know Your Rights

Every air passenger should be aware of the EU 261/2004 regulation that protects their rights against severe flight disruptions. Under European law, if your flight is delayed for more than two hours, you are entitled to complimentary food and drinks. If you get to your final destination three or more hours later than you should have, you are entitled to compensation of up to €250 – €600.

If the delay is longer than 5 hours, you can reschedule the flight without any additional cost to you or cancel the flight and request a refund. You could also have access to a free hotel room if the delay is extremely long that it lasts the night.

Bottom Line

Flight delays are not anything to look forward to but they happen regardless. This article has pointed out the most important things you can do if you are faced with a flight delay.