Your Air France compensation claim is rejected. What should you do?
It’s particularly annoying when you’re claiming your Air France compensation on your own, especially when you’re not completely certain if you’re even eligible for compensation. Now what? Is there any point in continuing? Absolutely. At the very least, hand it over to a flight compensation company to proceed on your behalf. However, this isn’t your only option.
You can still advocate for your rights independently.
Your Air France Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?
Your Air France compensation claim is rejected. What now?
There are alternative ways to get Air France flight compensation.
Firstly, before escalating the issue, refresh your knowledge of the relevant laws and reacquaint yourself with your rights.
1. Collaborating with Flight Compensation Firms
The simplest method is to partner with a flight compensation firm.
All you need to do is complete an online form, supply them with a copy of your boarding pass and passport, and sign the claim. In most instances, that’s the most of what you’ll need to do. The firm handles everything else. You won’t need to deal directly with Air France.
If there are any follow-up questions, something only you can answer, the compensation company will get in touch with you. The only disadvantage is the cost. Most flight compensation firms take approximately 25-45% of the compensation.
Our partners provide these services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
What is the fee?
Generally, the fee is roughly 25 to 35 per cent of the compensation. The remainder is sent to you. If you don’t get compensation, there’s no fee.
Read more:
- How to Claim Air France Compensation?
- Your Air France Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
2. Reaching Out to NEB of the Country Your Flight Originated From
Cooperating with a flight compensation firm is not the sole solution.
Contacting the NEB (National Enforcement Bodies) is the next step after you’ve tried dealing directly with the airline and have either been rejected or received no response. It doesn’t cost anything. But, it’s not as straightforward as working with a flight compensation firm, and it can be quite time-consuming. Typically, it takes at least 2 months for them to process your compensation request.
The main disadvantage — even a positive response to your request doesn’t ensure that you will receive compensation. Air France might still reject the request.
You can find a list of the National Enforcement Bodies here.
The National Enforcement Bodies assist passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight delay or cancellation, as well as enforces the regulation Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and makes sure passengers are treated according to these rules.
3. Taking the Matter to Court
Your Air France compensation claim is rejected?
The next action is to take the matter to court.
It’s strongly recommended to wait for a favourable ruling from the NEB first. Because having such a ruling will significantly aid your case against the airline (Air France in this instance).
It is the most complicated option, but it is also highly effective. Before bringing your case to court, double-check the validity of your claim. Review your rights and prepare your case. Only then can you be certain that it’s worth the court’s consideration. If you have a judgment from the NEB confirming your eligibility for compensation, include it in your court documents.
Remember, taking your claim to court will involve costs.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Airlines frequently avoid citing the actual reason for the denial of your claim.
They give you a vague reason, and that’s it.
They’re fond of labelling “everything” as exceptional circumstances.
The reason for this is straightforward — compensating passengers is not profitable for any business. That’s why airlines strive to avoid compensation payouts. Airlines are aware that many passengers don’t fully understand their rights. And the airlines exploit this lack of knowledge. Beware the next time you hear this term.
As per EU regulation 261/2004, airlines are exempt from paying flight compensation when the disruption is due to exceptional circumstances. These exceptional circumstances include severe weather conditions, political and civil disturbances, and hidden manufacturing defects. Yes, only concealed manufacturing defects are regarded as exceptional circumstances. Most mechanical issues fall under the airline’s liability (the airline’s responsibility).
Additionally, poor weather doesn’t always constitute an exceptional circumstance. In some instances, the weather conditions are entirely predictable. For instance — snowfall during winter (unless snowfall is uncommon there). In such situations, the airline is anticipated to take the necessary precautions to ensure the timely departure of the flight.
Find out the actual reason behind the delay or cancellation.
It’s important.
Under What Circumstances Can You Claim Flight Compensation From Air France?
A variety of circumstances could warrant a rightful claim for flight compensation.
These scenarios include delays, cancellations, and overbooking resulting in denied boarding.
1. Flight Delays
As stipulated by EU regulation 261/2004, passengers are deemed eligible for compensation if their flight reaches its destination with a delay exceeding three hours.
Compensation rates are dependent on the length of the delay and the distance covered by the flight. For instance, a four-hour delay on your flight from London to Paris, a short journey of less than 1,500km, should entitle you to €250 in compensation.
Read more: Air France Flight Delay Compensation
2. Flight Cancellations
Passengers are eligible for compensation in the event of flight cancellations without a minimum notice of 14 days.
Compensation amounts vary based on the flight distance and the delay incurred in reaching the final destination. For example, if your long-haul flight from Rome to New York, covering over 3,500km, is cancelled without sufficient notice, and you reach your final destination more than four hours late on a replacement flight, you would be entitled to €600 in compensation.
You may also opt for a full Air France refund, instead of an alternative flight.
Read more: Air France Flight Cancellation Compensation
3. Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
Occasionally, airlines overbook flights anticipating some passengers will fail to appear.
If you are denied boarding due to overbooking and don’t voluntarily forfeit your seat, you can claim compensation.
The compensation amount is dependent on the flight distance. Suppose you’re flying from Berlin to Madrid, a medium-length journey between 1,500km and 3,500km, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking. If you reach your final destination more than three hours late, you would be entitled to €400 in compensation.
Read more: Air France Denied Boarding Compensation
Do you have more questions on what to do if your Air France compensation claim is rejected? What is your experience with Air France compensation claims? Did you take the case to NEB or court? Or you didn’t experience any difficulties when claiming Air France flight compensation?