Air France Flight Delay Compensation

Air France flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

In the EU, you are protected against flight delays. If you experience a long delay, and this delay is due to the fault of the airline, you can get flight delay compensation. It doesn’t matter how much did your ticket cost, or whether or not you have travel insurance. You don’t have to be European to claim this compensation. These are the laws in the EU. And Air France has to follow these laws. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Air France Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

You can get flight delay compensation, if you reach your destination at least 3 hours later than scheduled, and if the delay is due to the fault of the airline. Also, you have a right to care (more on that below).

If you’re flying to or from Europe, and your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Air France, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600.

Could you be entitled to Air France flight delay compensation?

Yes, if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to the fault of Air France;
• Flight is to/from Europe.

So, all the above mentioned rules apply to all Air France delays and cancellations.

If you are flying with a non-EU/UK airline such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, etc., these rules apply only to flights departing from European airports. In case of Air France, the rules apply to all their flights (flights to, within and from Europe).

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation. 

If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to a natural disaster, bad weather, pandemic, terrorism threat, security issues or civil unrest, you won’t be entitled to flight compensation from Air France. These events are out of the airline’s control, and the airline is not obliged to pay compensation in such cases. It can’t be responsible for these things. 

One more thing to remember is that not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. That’s why when in doubt, double check what you’re told.

To avoid paying compensation, airlines often deny compensation claims even if passengers are entitled to compensation. It is done to avoid financial losses. Airlines often withhold the real reason for flight delays. Also airlines often tell their passengers that aircraft technical problems are considered extraordinary circumstances. But it’s not true. Aircraft technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances. If your flight is delayed due to technical problems, you can get compensation from the airline.

This also applies to Air France staff strikes which also aren’t extraordinary circumstances.

Does that sounds like a lot of hassle? Work with a flight compensation company. They can check your flight and claim compensation on your behalf.

Just fill in our claim form, and experts will do that for you.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Not the time of departure, but the time of arrival.

If you have a connecting flight, see how much later you arrive at your final destination. If your first flight has been delayed for 3 hours, but there’s no delay of the second flight, you can’t get compensation. If your first flight is delayed for 3 hours, and you miss your connection, and arrive at your final destination 20 hours later, you can get compensation. Because you arrived at your destination 20 hours later.

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival at your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe you also have a right to care.

If you are stuck at the airport due to flight delay, cancellation or overbooking, you are entitled to care from the airline. As long as the waiting time at the airport is at least 3 hours. With EU and UK airlines it applies to all their flights.

Air France must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Air France Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Air France owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Air France yourself. Contact Air France using the contact form on their website. Request compensation, referring to the above mentioned European regulations. It could take a couple of months until the airline replies. Sometimes airlines ignore claims. Keep this in mind when claiming compensation by yourself. 

Make sure you have all the necessary information about your flight. Also it’s good to know the reason why your flight was delayed, and how long the delay was.

The more information you have, the better.

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

In this case, everything is done by a team of legal professionals. All you have to do is to fill in a compensation claim form. You don’t have to negotiate with the airline. A lawyer does that on your behalf. Our partners offer such services. Details below.

Read more:

• How to Claim Air France Compensation?
• Air France Missed Connection Compensation
• Your Air France Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

Until 2020, it was 2-3 month long process. Now, however, there are more situations when it takes longer than 2-3 months. Especially if the airline refuses to cooperate and your case has to be taken to a national enforcement body or court. In such cases, it will take months until you get your Air France flight delay compensation.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Air France delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Air France Voucher Refund or Cash?

You might be offered a coupon or voucher by Air France.

Majority of airlines were offering coupons during the COVID crisis. 

Do you have to accept vouchers as compensation of refund? No. According to the EU regulations, airline compensations and refunds are paid in cash or by bank transfer. Compensations we are talking about in this article have to be paid to your bank card.

Read more: Your Air France Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?

Air France Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Air France flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Air France compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.