Delays and cancellations have been reported in Dublin Airport over the past few months after airlines and airports across Europe struggle with staffing shortages.
Heading away on your holidays is now a little more stressful due to the uncertainty of what you will face once you arrive at the airport.
However, you are entitled to some level of compensation if delays or cancellations arise.
Should your travel plans coincide with a strike or be cancelled, you should be notified by the airlines via email or SMS.
You can also check the airline website and your airport's online departures boards.
If your flight is cancelled for any reason, you are entitled to one of the following:
- Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge.
- Re-routing at a later date.
- A full refund within seven days.
Airlines are also obliged to inform passengers of their options. This means if your flight is cancelled while you are already at the airport, staff should talk you through the various options.
Alternatively, you can check your airline's website and process your own refunds or bookings.
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 as you are entitled to reimbursement of reasonable expenses (i.e. not a five-star hotel).
However, if your flight is cancelled and you choose a full refund, this is all you will get.
Compensation
Financial compensation will depend on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation.
This generally ranges from €250 for short-haul flights and up to €600 for long-haul flights.
The following can impact compensation rights.
- If you receive less than seven days' notice of cancellation and choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, you will not be entitled to compensation - provided your new flights depart within one hour of the original departure and land within two hours of the original arrival.
- If you receive between seven days and two weeks' notice of cancellation, provided you choose to be re-routed and are facilitated with a new flight that departs no more than two hours before the original departure time and arrives no more than four hours after the original arrival time, you are not entitled to compensation.
- If you receive two weeks or more notification, you will not be entitled to compensation provided that the airline offers full re-routing or refund options.
However, if the airline can prove the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances, you may not be entitled to compensation, but you are due a refund or re-routing.
How to claim
Compensation claims are never evaluated or resolved at the airport. If you believe compensation is due, the first step is to formally contact the airline.
If you're not satisfied with its response, you can escalate by contacting the National Enforcement Body, which is the Commission for Aviation Regulation in most cases for Irish passengers.
Delayed flights
If your flight is delayed by more than five hours and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a full refund.
If you accept this refund, the airline has no obligation to provide onward travel or assistance.
If your flight is delayed by at least two hours for short-haul, three hours for European or four hours for long haul flights, you are entitled to care and assistance.
If you arrive at your destination more than three hours after the scheduled arrival time, you may be entitled to compensation between €250 and €600, depending on the flight distance.
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