How to Claim Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations Yourself?

How to claim flight compensation yourself?

How to claim compensation for flight delays and other problems yourself? Because, of course, it is possible. Working with flight compensation companies is not the only option, neither in Europe, nor in Brazil. In this guide, we are going to share with you all the basic things you have to know, when dealing with airlines yourself. The most important being the persistence.

If you are persistent, you might get compensation from the airline.

Read on to learn how.

Are You Ready for That?

Don’t mind the back-and-forth communication with the airline? Are you good with legal terms? Know your rights as an air passenger? 

If the answer is yes to all of these questions, you can submit the compensation claim yourself. While it’s time consuming, it’s not too difficult. The only problem is — you might not get the results you were hoping for. Even if you are entitled to compensation. Airlines often give false information and improper refusal.

How to Claim Flight Compensation in Brazil?

Step 1 – contact the airline to make a claim.

Look for an online claim on the airline’s website. 

Often it’s not easy to find the online claim. In such cases, use Google. Just type “[airline’s name] compensation claim form”. You might find it using the search engine. If there’s no such form, find an e-mail address where you can send your Brazilian compensation claim.

Step 2 – be as detailed as possible.

Include the information about your flight, scheduled arrival time and actual arrival time. Include the booking reference or ticket number. Don’t forget to include bank account details (and your full name and last name) as well. If there’s such an option, attach a copy of boarding passes or online tickets. Quote the regulation ANAC 400. It could take a couple of weeks or a month for the airline to reply.

Step 3 – don’t give up too easily.

You might need to send some additional information. Also, the airline may refuse to cooperate. You will need to be persistent in communication to get compensation you are entitled to. Know your rights and refer to the regulation ANAC 400.

Do You Need to Know the Reason for Flight Delay or Cancellation?

Yes, it would be great if you know it.

So, you know that you really are entitled to compensation for this flight. And that it’s worth fighting for your rights and for compensation.

But as airlines often don’t tell the real reason, it might be also confusing for you. So, if possible, it’s a good idea to double-check the information given by the airline. Unfortunately, but it’s not uncommon, that airlines hide the real reasons. That’s why many people prefer working with flight compensation companies — there is less paperwork, and less communication with the airline. 

Do You Need to Make a Claim ASAP?

No. But we recommend doing it as quickly as possible.

Even though you can claim compensation for flights that have been delayed or cancelled years ago, we would recommend you to start the process as fast as possible. Sooner is better in this case. Because when you are claiming Brazilian flight compensation yourself, it might take months or even a year.

The sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll receive flight compensation.

What if the Airline Doesn’t Reply?

First of all, try contacting them through different channels.

If nothing brings any results –if the airline fails to reply or refuses to pay the compensation, and doesn’t explain why, contact ANAC for assistance. If this doesn’t help, the last step would be taking your case to court. Take into account that this step is not free. You will need to pay for the service. 

If you don’t succeed, or you are tired of waiting, you can always hand your case over to a flight compensation company such as AirHelp.

How to Claim EU Flight Compensation? (or UK Flight Compensation)

On some flights you are protected by the EU or UK laws.

There are two most popular scenarious:

• Flying from Brazil with EU, EEA or UK airline
• Flying from EU, EEA or UK with ANY AIRLINE

In both situations, you are protected by European laws — EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 or Regulation UK 261. European compensation laws are different than those in Brazil. In Europe, you are protected more as a passenger. And there are more situations when you are entitled to compensation from the airline. 

When any of the two European flight compensation regulations apply, you can get compensation even if you have received care from the airline, and the airline has booked you on a new flight. As long as you arrive to destination 3 hours later than scheduled, and the delay or cancellation is due to the fault of the airline, you might be eligible to compensation.

Here’s How It Works

The compensation claim process is very similar.

First, you contact the airline. You fill in a claim form online, or send your claim via an e-mail. It will take some time for the airline to reply.

If that doesn’t work and you aren’t getting anywhere, you contact the National Enforcement Body (of the European country you were flying to/from). You do it, if the airline is not cooperating, or unreasonably refusing your claim.

If this doesn’t help, the last step is court. You take your case to court. Take into account that this step is not free. You will need to pay for the service. Alternatively you can always work with a flight compensation company.

Claiming Compensation Yourself: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• You are in charge of the process.
• You can keep 100% of the amount (it’s for free).

Cons: 

• It takes a lot of time and effort.
• More paperwork.
• Lower success rate.
• No assistance from professionals. 
• You might end up with vouchers instead of money.

To sum it up, unless you are incredibly lucky and the airline just makes the compensation payment (which also happens once in a while), you have to do more and the chance of success is smaller. That’s why we recommend you to work with a flight compensation company. Yes, it’s not free, but the success rate is higher, and it takes way less work — mostly you only fill in one form.

Read more: Why Work With a Flight Compensation Company?

Have you filed a compensation claim in Brazil or elsewhere? Did you do it yourself or did you work with a light compensation company? What was your experience? Did you get flight compensation?