How Flight Delays Can Boost Your Travel Budget: A Guide to Flight Compensation

Nov 5, 2024

Whenever I travel, especially for longer trips like my recent one to Japan, I secretly hope for a delayed or cancelled flight. I know it sounds strange, but there's a simple reason behind it: compensation. With flights becoming increasingly expensive, a delay or cancellation can actually work in your favour. In many cases, laws entitle you to compensation when things go wrong, meaning you can get a significant portion of what you paid for the flight back.

Since airfare is often one of the most costly parts of a trip, getting that unexpected refund can be a pleasant surprise. Instead of losing out, you can relocate those funds to enhance your travel experience, whether it's splurging on food, upgrading your accommodation, or even booking your next vacation in advance. Or you can simply save the money for later. It’s a win-win, making flight disruptions less of a hassle and more of an opportunity!

This article will explore the ins and outs of flight delay and cancellation compensation, especially when travelling in or to Japan. From international regulations to Japan-specific policies and what to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled, you'll learn how to turn an inconvenience into a travel perk.

Here’s What You Can Claim
You are generally entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed, though the amount of the delay matters; more on that later. Compensation also applies if your flight is cancelled or you experience connection problems. Another scenario is denied boarding, though less common, can happen when a flight is overbooked. In this Blog Post we will focus on the regulations of flights departing and arriving in the European Union, Canada, United States and Japan.

European Union¹
If you're one of the nearly 2 million travellers flying from Europe to Japan each year, EU Regulation 261/2004 protects your rights. Generally, this regulation covers all flights departing from an EU airport and thus, passenger rights are enforceable regardless of whether the airline is EU-based or not. However, for flights arriving at an EU airport, the regulation applies only if the airline is headquartered within the European Union. This ensures that travellers departing from the EU are protected by the same rules, but for arrivals, the airline must be based within the EU for those protections to apply. Depending on the delay length and flight distance, passengers may be entitled to compensation between €250 and €600.

Compensation amounts under EU Regulation 261/2004 depend on the distance and amount of delay of your flight. For short flights up to 1,500 km, the compensation is €250, if the delay is at least 2 hours. For medium-haul flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, you may be entitled to €400, if your flight is delayed at least three hours. For long-haul flights over 3,500 km and a delay of four hours, the compensation increases to €600. These amounts help offset the inconvenience caused by significant delays or cancellations.

For short flights (up to 1,500 km) with a delay of t least 2 hours: Compensation: €250
For medium-haul flights (1,500 km to 3,500 km) with a delay of t least 3 hours: Compensation: €400
For long-haul flights (over 3,500 km) with a delay of t least 4 hours: Compensation: €600

Compensation amounts are also independent of your ticket price. For instance, if you paid only €400 for a long-haul flight but experienced a significant delay or cancellation, you would still be entitled to the full €600 in compensation. This ensures that passengers are fairly compensated for the inconvenience, regardless of how much they originally spent on their flight.

Airlines must provide passengers with free meals and refreshments during long waits. If the delay requires an overnight stay, passengers are entitled to free hotel accommodation and transportation between the airport and hotel. Additionally, passengers can make two free phone calls or send emails. Airlines must also give special attention to passengers with reduced mobility, those travelling with them, and unaccompanied children, ensuring their needs are met during delays.

United States²
The U.S. The Department of Transportation's latest regulation ensures travellers can get a hassle-free refund if their flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, should they opt not to be rebooked. However, compensation and amenities for delays still largely depend on the airline you choose. For example, all 10 major U.S. airlines will rebook passengers on their own flights and offer meal vouchers. Six will rebook on a competitor’s airline, and nine will cover hotel stays and ground transport if an overnight stay is necessary due to the airline’s fault. The compensation policies vary, so it’s important to check your airline’s specific terms before travelling.

Passengers are entitled to compensation if they are denied boarding, or “bumped,” from an overbooked flight. While airlines are allowed to overbook, they must compensate passengers up to $1,350 if they don’t secure a seat on the flight. This compensation is paid on the spot at the airport to avoid delays for the passenger. The rule ensures that travellers are fairly compensated when airlines overbook and cannot accommodate all passengers.

In addition to compensation, airlines are also required to rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost if you’re denied boarding. These rules apply to all passengers, regardless of nationality, as long as the flight departs from a U.S. airport. Airlines must inform passengers of their rights and offer compensation immediately. If you’re denied boarding and didn’t voluntarily give up your seat but haven’t received compensation, you can follow up and make a claim.

Canada³
In Canada, passengers have several rights under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) if they are denied boarding, experience delays, or face flight cancellations. If a passenger is denied boarding due to reasons within the airline's control (e.g., overbooking), compensation is as follows:

0-6 hours delay: $900 CAD
6-9 hours delay: $1,800 CAD
9+ hours delay: $2,400 CAD

This compensation must be provided at the time of the denial. Passengers also have the right to be rebooked on the next available flight at no additional cost. If the delay extends, further compensation might apply.

For flight delays and cancellations under the airline’s control, passengers on large airlines are compensated as follows:

3-6 hours delay: $400 CAD
6-9 hours delay: $700 CAD
9+ hours delay: $1,000 CAD

Passenegrs on small airlines on the other hand are compensated as follows:

3-6 hours delay: $125 CAD
6-9 hours delay: $250 CAD
9+ hours delay: $500 CAD

Passengers waiting over two hours must receive food, drinks, and communication access. If the delay requires an overnight stay, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transportation free of charge.

Passengers have one year to file a compensation claim with the airline, and the airline must respond within 30 days. Compensation must be offered in monetary form, though airlines can propose alternatives like vouchers. However, passengers have the right to choose their preferred option, and non-cash alternatives must be of higher value and cannot expire. These protections apply to all flights departing from Canada and ensure passengers are treated fairly during travel disruptions.

Japan⁴
Japan's air passenger rights do not have the same stringent regulations for flight delay compensation as seen in the EU. However, if you are travelling from the EU or Canada to Japan, you can rely on those countries' respective flight regulations for compensation.

If you're travelling from other countries to Japan, it’s essential to check your local passenger rights regulations. Japanese airlines, generally follow customer-friendly policies for delays, offering:

Rebooking Options: Free rebooking in the case of significant delays.
Accommodation: If an overnight stay is required due to the delay, airlines may provide a hotel.
Refreshments and Meals: During extended delays, food and beverages are typically provided at the airport.

According to Japan Airlines, if your flight is delayed or cancelled on the day of departure due to reasons within their control, they will cover accommodation and transportation expenses, up to a certain limit. However, if the disruption is due to factors beyond their control, such as bad weather, they cannot cover those expenses. This policy applies only to delays or cancellations that occur on the scheduled day of departure (including flights leaving after midnight). It does not cover disruptions announced before the day of departure.

Keep in mind that handling of claims may vary depending on the applicable laws and regulations of different countries or regions, so it’s always a good idea to check the airline's website or relevant regulations to confirm your rights.

How to Claim Compensation
If you want to claim flight compensation without the hassle, there are several reliable services that make the process easy and stress-free. Websites like AirHelp, ClaimCompass, and FlightRight are popular options, offering a success rate of approximately 99%. What makes these services appealing is that they operate on a "no win, no fee" basis, meaning you only pay if your claim is successful. They’ll take a portion of your compensation as their fee, so if you don’t receive any compensation or are not eligible, the service costs you nothing.

The process is quick and easy. In fact, you can check your claim eligibility in just two minutes by providing basic flight details. From there, these services handle everything for you, from submitting the claim to negotiating directly with the airline. You won’t have to deal with any paperwork or the back-and-forth communication, it’s all taken care of on your behalf. With no risk and minimal effort required, using these platforms offers a win-win solution, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve with little stress.

These services are ideal for those looking for a smooth, stress-free way to claim flight compensation without worrying about the details. Links and Websites:

Airhelp

Flightright

AirClaim

If you prefer to keep 100% of your compensation and claim it yourself, we recommend taking the following steps:

Document the Delay: Keep all boarding passes, tickets, and any receipts for additional expenses caused by the delay. It’s important to request a written explanation from the airline detailing the reason for the delay—this is particularly crucial for international claims.
Contact the Airline: Most airlines have customer service teams that can assist with filing claims. You can usually do this through their website, mobile app, or by visiting the customer service desk at the airport.

By ensuring you have all the necessary documentation and directly contacting the airline, you can streamline the process of claiming compensation on your own, without needing to share a portion of it.

Armed with this guide, you’re now ready to turn any travel hiccup into a perk. So pack your patience, know your rights, and let the skies surprise you!

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