Flight compensation: practical questions

No. EU 261 has a defined geographical scope and eligibility conditions. A delay at the final destination of at least three hours may lead to compensation, but the cause and circumstances still matter. Extraordinary circumstances can exclude compensation when the airline meets the legal conditions.

A refund repays the ticket price in situations where that option is available. Compensation is a separate fixed payment for qualifying disruption. Meals, accommodation or transport can form another entitlement: care. Do not assume that accepting one payment settles every other issue; read the terms offered.

Start with the carrier that actually operated, or was meant to operate, the flight. It may differ from the airline or travel agency named on the sales confirmation. Keep the booking, boarding pass, disruption messages and any receipts relevant to your request.

Yes. You can contact the airline directly. A claim service is an optional commercial arrangement: compare its fees, the scope of its authority and any litigation charges before signing. This site includes affiliate links to AirHelp, and may earn a commission when readers use them.

Ask for the reason and supporting evidence, then identify the relevant complaint body. An authority complaint, alternative dispute resolution and a court claim are different processes. ANPC, the Romanian consumer protection authority provides national information, but may not be the correct body for every international flight.

Limitation periods depend on the applicable national law and the type of claim. Your nationality or language does not decide this by itself. A complaint may not have the same effect on time limits as court action. If time is running out, obtain advice on your particular case.