CAR News Archive

Many passengers scheduled to fly into or out of Irish airports yesterday, Sunday 3rd March 2019, experienced disruptions. If your flight was delayed or cancelled, then it is important you are aware of your rights and entitlements.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

In the event that your flight was cancelled then your air carrier must offer you the choice between the following:
- re-routing as soon as possible:
- re-routing at a later date at your convenience: or
- a refund.

If you choose the first option (re-routing as soon as possible) then your air carrier must provide you with care and while you wait for the alternative flight. Care and assistance comprises:
- meals & refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time;
- hotel accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary;
- transport between the hotel accommodation and the airport;
- 2 free telephone calls/ access to email.

FLIGHT DELAYS

If your flight was subject to a long delay (2 hours +), your air carrier must provide you with the care and assistance described above. In addition, if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, it must offer you the choice between:
- continuing with your journey: or
- a refund of the cost of your ticket. 
Please note that it is not possible for passengers to travel and avail of the full refund.

If your air carrier does not provide the care and assistance described above, passengers should make their own reasonable arrangements and retain all receipts in the process. Passengers are advised to then submit copies of these receipts to their air carrier for reimbursement.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In both situations (i.e. flight cancellations and long delays) air carriers should provide affected passengers with written notices setting out their rights and entitlements under EC Regulation 261/ 2004.

If the disruption was as a direct result of the weather, compensation is unlikely to be payable.  If the disruption was due to some other operational decision by an air carrier, then compensation may be payable.

CLAIMS

If you need to make a claim, contact the air carrier directly.  If you do not agree with their decision, you can refer the matter to the Commission for Aviation Regulation and we will deal with it at no cost to yourself.  Details of our complaint process can be found on www.flightrights.ie.

CONTACT US

Passengers who remain unclear about their entitlements as set out in EC Regulation 261/ 2004, or who have further queries in relation to same, should contact this Office on 1890 787 787 or + 353 1 6611700.