Flight delays are common this time of year, especially when extreme winter weather is combined with the busy holiday travel season. Airlines don’t always provide adequate compensation when flights don’t stay on schedule. A travel insurance policy will cover necessary expenses during a delay when an airline does not. A recent article from CNN discussed how European passenger rights are more generous than in America. The following is an excerpt from the story.
Delayed and canceled flights in the European Union
Air travelers are entitled to free meals and refreshments — plus two free telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails — when delayed by at least two hours on shorter flights, three hours on flights up to about 2,200 miles, and four hours on the longest flights.
When the flight is delayed for at least a day, the carrier must provide free hotel accommodation and transport to and from the hotel.
When the delay is five hours or longer, passengers may opt to be fully reimbursed for the ticket.
If a flight is canceled, passengers can choose between being fully reimbursed within seven days or being rerouted to their final destination “at the earliest opportunity.”
The rights are fully spelled out in Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 of the
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