How to claim Air France compensation?
How to claim flight delay compensation?
Flight cancellation compensation? When it come to compensations and refunds, it all depends on the situation. There are situations when you have two options — either you can do it yourself, or hand it over to a flight compensation company. But there are also situations in which you only have one option — to deal with it yourself. In this article we’ll cover most popular situations.
How to Claim Air France Compensation?
It depends on the type of compensation.
Here are the most common types of flight compensation.
Keep in mind that Air France is a part of Air France–KLM Group. Even though KLM and Air France are managed autonomously, these airlines effectively are the same company. They both operate from the EU. The same rules apply to both of these airlines.
1. EU Flight Compensation: Air France
1.1 Long Flight Delay
In Europe you are protected against that.
In many situations you can get compensation. When can you claim Air France flight delay compensation? To get Air France delay compensation your flight must meet these requirements:
- It must be a 3+ hour flight delay. Length of delay is calculated at the time of arrival to final destination; Because you may leave late but arrive still on time;
- Delay must be due to the fault of Air France. It can’t be something unavoidable;
- It applies to European flights. Flight must depart from Europe or arrive in Europe. It includes connecting flights with destinations in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.
How to claim? Contact Air France customer support centre using their website. Submit Air France compensation claim form. Refer to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Be persistent when claiming compensation yourself, and be ready to fight for your rights.
Or you can file a claim via our partners (click on button below).
By Europe and EU here on this page 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.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Flight Delay Compensation
1.2 Flight Cancellation
You are protected against cancellations.
So, when can you claim Air France flight cancellation compensation? To get Air France cancellation compensation your flight must meet these requirements:
- It must be a last-minute cancellation. These rules apply only to last-minute cancellations, to flights cancelled not more than 14 days before the date of departure;
- It must be due to Air France fault. Your flight must be cancelled due to the fault of Air France, not extraordinary circumstances;
- It applies to European flights. Flight must depart from Europe or arrive in Europe. It includes connecting flights with destinations in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.
How to claim compensation? Contact Air France customer support centre using their website. Use the compensation claim form to request compensation they owe you. Quote the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 when requesting compensation.
Or take a hassle free option, file a claim via our partners.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Flight Cancellation Compensation
1.3 Denied Boarding / Overbooking
If you’re denied boarding, you may get compensation.
Almost any time you’re denied boarding against your will, and if you haven’t done anything wrong, you can get compensation. To be entitled to denied boarding compensation from Air France:
- It must be due to overbooking. Airlines occasionally sell more tickets than there are seats. And that may result in someone getting denied boarding;
- It must be due to Air France fault. If it’s a situation of overbooking, then it’s clearly fault of Air France. This is important. It can’t be due to problems with your passport, etc.;
- It applies to European flights. Flight must depart from Europe or arrive in Europe. It includes connecting flights with destinations in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.
How to claim compensation from Air France? Contact the customer support centre using their website. Request compensation, mentioning your rights and quoting the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. This is one of the options, the more time consuming option. The other option — file a claim via our partners, a flight compensation company.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Denied Boarding Compensation
1.4 Missed Connection Flight
What if you miss your connecting flight?
Your Air France flight is delayed or cancelled, and because of that you miss your Air France connecting flight. The good thing is that you are protected against that. In the EU, and according to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, this is seen as a flight delay. If you reach your final destination later than initially planned, you may be entitled to compensation.
You are entitled to missed connecting flight compensation if:
- Delay/cancellation is due to fault of Air France. It does include things like technical problems. But it can’t be something unavoidable, like extremely bad weather;
- It applies to European flights. Flight must depart from Europe or arrive in Europe. It includes connecting flights with destinations in Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Australia.
In order to claim compensation from Air France, contact the airline’s customer support centre using their website. Refer to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Make sure you mention your rights and explain why you are entitled to compensation. The more confident you look, the bigger are your chances of successful outcome. However, even then you may have to receive a refusal.
Or, work with our partners, a flight compensation company.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Missed Connection Compensation
1.5 Downgrading
Were you downgraded? You may get compensation.
In case of involuntary downgrade, you are entitled to compensation. That’s one of the best things about travelling with full-service airlines like Air France. The amounts of downgrade compensation are between 30 to 75% of the ticket price, depending from the distance of your flight.
Involuntary downgrade compensation should be paid on spot.
If that hasn’t happened, contact Air France and file a claim. Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept any coupons or vouchers. The compensation must be paid in cash or by bank transfer. If the airline refuses to cooperate, mention your rights and quote the Regulation 261/2004. They know this regulation. All airlines operating in the EU know about this regulation.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Flight Downgrade Compensation
2. Baggage Compensation
When it comes to baggage compensation, there are two options.
Either you can let your insurance company handle issues concerning baggage, or you can file a claim with Air France (via their website). Flight compensation companies usually don’t work with damaged, lost or delayed baggage claims.
2.1 Damaged Baggage
Here’s a step by step guide:
- File a damage report at the airport or online within 7 days of your arrival;
- Provide necessary information;
- Get compensation up to €1300.
Read more (rules are about the same): KLM Damaged Baggage Compensation
2.2 Delayed Baggage
You may get compensated for your expenses.
Here’s what you have to do:
- Report the loss of your bag at the airport or online;
- If your baggage has not been found within 3 days, use the World Tracer tool to fill out the inventory and request form;
- Get reimbursement for your expenses. This only applies to essential items you had to purchase because of this delay.
Read more (rules are about the same): KLM Delayed Baggage Compensation
2.3 Lost Baggage
Sometimes baggage cannot be found, and it never arrives.
Here’s what you need to do in this situation:
- Report the loss of your baggage at the airport;
- If your baggage has not been found within 3 days, use the World Tracer tool to fill out the inventory and request form;
- If your baggage is not found after 21 days, provide a list of things you had in your baggage, to receive compensation of up to €1300.
Get reimbursement for your expenses. This applies to essential items you had to purchase because of this problem. Submit your request to Air France.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Lost Baggage Compensation
3. Air France Refund For Cancellation
Is Air France cancelling your flight?
If so, you can get a full refund, that’s the rules in the EU. Everything is super simple, the airline has to offer you a choice between a new flight and refund. You can choose either option. According to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, you can get a new flight or full refund if your flight has been cancelled. If you don’t wish to travel on the alternative flight, you can get back the money you paid for your flight.
Sometimes you can get both. That applies to situations when your flight gets cancelled last-minute due to the fault of the airline. You get the refund for the flight, if you don’t want to take any alternative flights. And you also get compensation for this inconvenience. For the latter it may take months to be transferred to your bank account (and you have to request it; see more info above).
The same applies to refund. You have to request it. Contact Air France, claim refund, follow up in a couple of weeks, and, if necessary, repeat.
Read more (rules are the same): KLM Refund For Cancellation
Claiming Air France Flight Compensation Yourself
Don’t want to work with a flight compensation company? You can claim compensation yourself! It might be challenging but it’s also totally doable for a persistent person.
Before you start, there are a few things you should know. Airlines use different methods to avoid paying flight compensation, even if a passenger has a right to it. They often call avoidable technical problems extraordinary circumstances. They offer coupons instead of money or credit card refunds, it’s a very common practice, too. Many airlines around the world use these tactics, not just Air France. So, the number one tip from us — be persistent.
When you are claiming compensation yourself it’s very important.
Know your rights and don’t agree to anything less.
Court Action – Air France KLM
There are situations in which court action may be necessary.
If your Air France claim has been refused, you can take it to a relevant consumer rights protection institution in your country (or in the country your flight was from, if you weren’t flying from your home country). In the EU these institutions are known as National Enforcement Bodies (NEB).
It is always better to start with NEB, instead of court. It may eliminate the need for court altogether. Whatever the outcome compensation-wise, a positive NEB ruling will hugely help you in the court, by highly improving your chances for a positive outcome.
Featured photo by Jerry Wang from Pexels