AI Flight Refunds: Get Your Compensation Fast and Hassle-Free with Advanced Technology (Get started for free)

Am I entitled to compensation for a flight delay if I didn’t actually board the plane?

Compensation for flight delays typically requires passengers to have actually boarded the plane, as airline policies are designed to compensate those directly affected by the delay.

EU Regulation 261/2004, a key framework for flight delay compensation, stipulates that passengers must present themselves for boarding to qualify for claims.

Airlines may have specific provisions that could grant some form of credit or reimbursement even for passengers who did not board the delayed flight, but these are often exceptions based on the airline's terms and conditions.

The amount of compensation for flight delays within the EU ranges from 250 euros for short flights under 1,500 km delayed by at least 3 hours, to 600 euros for longer flights over 3,500 km delayed by at least 3 hours.

In the United States, there is no federal law mandating airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays, but some airlines have their own policies to provide vouchers or miles for significant delays.

Passengers with elite status or who have made specific requests are more likely to receive compensation or alternative arrangements from airlines even without boarding the delayed flight.

Airlines are required to provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodations for passengers affected by delays within their control, regardless of whether the passenger boarded the flight.

The U.S.

Department of Transportation recently launched a new online tool that allows passengers to check what compensation they are entitled to for canceled or significantly delayed flights.

Baggage delay compensation frameworks exist both in the EU (up to 1,300 euros) and the U.S.

(liability limit of $3,500), but these apply specifically to checked luggage issues, not lack of flight boarding.

Passengers who did not board their flight due to an involuntary refund for a canceled flight may have a stronger case for compensation, as they were effectively removed from the flight.

AI Flight Refunds: Get Your Compensation Fast and Hassle-Free with Advanced Technology (Get started for free)