You have asked for compensation, and your request is denied.
That’s especially frustrating when you are trying to claim KLM compensation on your own, and also when you aren’t 100% sure whether you are entitled to compensation in the first place. What to do? Is it even worth the trouble? First of all, it’s totally worth it. At least hand it over to flight compensation company to continue on your behalf. But it isn’t the only option.
You can keep fighting for your rights on your own.
Your KLM Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
There are other ways of getting a compensation from KLM.
But first, before taking things further, review the law and revisit your rights.
1. Working With Flight Compensation Companies
The easiest way is to work with a flight compensation company.
All you have to do is fill in an online form, provide them with a copy of your boarding pass and passport and sigh the claim. Mostly you don’t have to worry about anything else. The company takes care of the rest. You don’t need to communicate with KLM anymore. If there are any additional questions, something only you can answer, they contact you. The only drawback is the fees. Most of flight compensation charge around 25-45% of the compensation.
Our partners offer such a service.
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.
How much does it cost?
Usually the fee is around 25 – 45 % of the amount of your KLM flight compensation. The rest is transferred to you.
It takes around 2-3 months until you receive your money.
2. Contacting the NEB of the Country Your Flight Is From
Working with a flight compensation company is not the only way.
Contacting the NEB (National Enforcement Bodies) is the next step after you have tried contacting the airline on your own and received a refusal or no answer at all. It’s for free. But it’s not as easy as working with a flight compensation company, and it can be time consuming. Usually it takes at least 2 months for them to process your request for compensation.
The biggest drawback — a positive answer to your request doesn’t guarantee that you will receive compensation. KLM may still deny 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 Case to Court
The next step is to take it to court.
It’s highly advised to wait for a positive ruling from the NEB first. Because having it will help you greatly in your case against the airline (KLM in this case).
It is the most complex option, but it is also very efficient. Before taking your complaint to court, make sure your claim is valid. Revisit your rights and prepare your argument. Only then you can be sure that it’s worth taking it to court. If you have a verdict from the NEB saying that you are entitled to compensation, attach it to court documents.
Remember, taking your complaint to court will cost you.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Very often airlines avoid giving the right reason why your claim is denied.
They tell you something very general, and that’s it.
They love to call “everything” extraordinary circumstances.
The reason behind this is very simple — paying out compensation is not profit-making for any company. That’s why airlines try to avoid paying out compensation. Airlines know that most passengers aren’t fully informed about their rights. And the airlines use it in their favor. Be a little bit suspicious when you hear this term next time.
According to the EU regulation 261/2004, airlines are not required to pay out flight compensation when the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances. The extraordinary circumstances include extreme weather, political and civil unrest, and hidden manufacturing defects. That’s right, only hidden manufacturing defects are considered extraordinary circumstances. Most technical problems are considered airline’s fault (airline’s responsibility).
Also, bad weather isn’t always an extraordinary circumstance. In some cases the weather is absolutely predictable. Example — snow during the winter months (unless the snow is not frequent there). In such cases the airline is expected to take the appropriate measures to operate the flight on time.
Find out the real reason behind the delay or cancellation.
It matters.
When Can You Get Flight Compensation From KLM?
There are several situations where you can rightfully claim flight compensation. These include flight delays, cancellations, and instances of denied boarding due to overbooking.
1. Flight Delays
According to EU regulation 261/2004, you are entitled to compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
The amount of compensation depends on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight. For example, if your flight from London to Paris, a short distance less than 1,500km, is delayed for four hours, you are entitled to €250 in compensation.
Read more: KLM Flight Delay Compensation
2. Flight Cancellations
If your flight is cancelled without prior notice of at least 14 days, you are eligible for compensation.
The amount of compensation varies depending on the distance of the flight and the delay in reaching your final destination. For instance, if your flight from Rome to New York, a long distance of more than 3,500km, is cancelled without appropriate notice and you reach your final destination more than four hours late with a replacement flight, you are entitled to €600 in compensation.
Read more: KLM Flight Cancellation Compensation
3. Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
Airlines sometimes overbook flights expecting some passengers to not show up. If you are denied boarding due to overbooking and you don’t voluntarily give up your seat, you are eligible for compensation.
The compensation amount depends on the distance of the flight. Imagine you are flying from Berlin to Madrid, a medium distance 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 are entitled to €400 in compensation.
Read more: KLM Denied Boarding Compensation
Featured photo by Monstera from Pexels
What is your experience with KLM compensation claims? Do you have a first-hand experience of denied KLM compensation claim? Did you take the case to NEB or court?