Europe watches the skies
The EU has you covered when a European airline messes up, maybe even if booked with a U.S. carrier.
Don’t get me wrong: I’m all about “buying American.” In fact, I’ll go out of my way to search for items made in the U.S. and will even pay more for American-made products.
But when it comes to buying airfare to foreign destinations, I think twice. Many people don’t realize that when you fly on a Europebased airline, even if you buy the ticket on a U.S. carrier such as Delta, American or United (through a code-share arrangement), as long as the flight is operated by a European airline, your trip comes with consumer protections that you don’t get if you fly on a U.S.-registered aircraft.
That’s because the European Union several years ago issued regulations providing cash compensation for delayed or canceled flights, along with other protections, and they benefit not just Europeans but anyone flying on a European-owned aircraft.
It’s called EC Regulation No 261/ 2004.
If your flight is canceled fewer than 14 days before departure or if it is delayed three hours or more and the delay or cancellation was within the airline’s “reasonable” control, you can receive 250 euros (about $275) for flights of up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles); 400 euros (about $440) for flights within the European Union of more than 1,500 kilometers and for all other flights between 1,500 kilometers and 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles); and 600 euros (about $658) for all other flights.
The same compensation applies if you are involuntarily bumped (denied boarding) from a flight operated by a Europe-registered airline (and again, it doesn’t matter if you bought the ticket from a U.S.-based airline).
What even some seasoned travelers who have heard about EU 261 may not realize is that the rule has been amended to include not only travel from Europe but also travel on any European-operated aircraft from the United States as well.
And it also applies not just to travel to or from Europe but, say, on a flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti on Air France or on Norwegian from Los Angeles to Norway.
As long as you’re scheduled to fly on a Europe-based airline, no matter what airline you bought your ticket on, you’re covered.
So if you’re searching for seats from Los Angeles to London, go ahead and buy it on American Airlines’ website but make sure the flight is flown by its code-share partner British Airways.
In addition, you’re guaranteed the following:
Meals and refreshments vouchers in reasonable relation to the waiting time, provided it won’t further delay departure of the flight.
Two telephone calls, telex or fax messages or e-mails,
Hotel accommodation and transportation between the airport and hotel (if you’re offered a flight the next day).
Most airlines have information about how to make a claim on their websites.
Or, if you find the process daunting, several companies will make the claim for you and follow through until resolution. These include Refund.me, Airhelp.com and euclaim.co.uk, all of which take a percentage of whatever funds you collect.