Are you entitled to a self-transfer flight compensation?
Are you looking to get great value when it comes to air travel? Booking a self-transfer connecting flight can be the perfect solution! In this article, we will cover what advantages and disadvantages these flights offer; tips for making your journey an enjoyable experience; as well as information on possible compensation, because in some situations, you can get self-transfer flight compensation from the airline.
Keep reading to learn more!
1. What Happens if You Miss Your Self Transfer?
One of your flights is late (or cancelled), and you miss the next flight.
What exactly happens in these kind of situations?
For example, you have one flight with KLM, and one – with Ryanair.
Self transfer is not an airline-protected connecting flight. Unlike it is with an an airline-protected connecting flight, the airline is not responsible for your connection, even if you miss it due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight. The airline you are traveling with doesn’t have to provide protection if it’s a self transfer — it’s all on you.
You will need to book a new flight yourself since no airline is responsible for booking you on another flight. If the wait is overnight, the airline won’t offer you a free hotel stay either. You won’t have a right to care from KLM, as you would if it was a connecting flight with KLM.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip, consider getting travel insurance that covers trip interruption and changes. If you have such travel insurance, it may cover some or all of these costs.
But what about flight compensation? Can you get compensation?
2. Are You Entitled to Missed Flight Connection Compensation?
The answer consists of two parts:
- You won’t get compensation for missed connection with KLM.
- But… you may get flight compensation for delayed or cancelled flight. Here we are talking about the “first flight”, the flight that messed it all up. You may get compensation for this flight, if it’s 3+ hours late, is cancelled less than 2 weeks before the date of departure or you are denied boarding due to overbooking.
Self transfer is when you book two or more flights separately.
It can be one airline, or it can be different airlines. In all situations, this is considered a self-transfer flight. If it’s not a connecting flight booked under one booking reference number, it’s not an airline-protected connecting flight. Such flights are not protected by the airline, and are referred to as DIY connecting flights.
Even though you may not be eligible to receive missed connection compensation from KLM for your missed self-transfer flight, there’s still a possibility that you are entitled to some other flight compensation. Also you might have a right to receive care from KLM.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be entitled to:
3. What Could You Be Entitled to in Case of a Missed Self-Transfer Flight?
Below are the most popular options of what you could be entitled to.
Not because you missed connection. But because one of your flights was delayed or cancelled last-minute, or overbooked. With self-transfer connections all flights are considered separate flights, and are treated as such.
3.1 Flight Delay Compensation
You might be entitled to flight delay compensation for your delayed flight.
In order to qualify for compensation, your flight must meet these criteria:
- It’s a 3+ hour delay at the destination;
- It’s fault of KLM / airline operating the flight;
- Flight is to or from Europe.
If all the criteria are met, you may be eligible to receive compensation of up to €600 per person. The amount of compensation depends on the distance traveled. If the delay is caused by something that is out of the airline’s control such as bad weather or other extraordinary circumstances, you can’t get KLM flight delay compensation.
Learn more: KLM flight delay compensation
3.2 Flight Cancellation Compensation
If your flight is cancelled last minute, you might get compensation.
Flight cancellation compensation rules in Europe are very specific.
Make sure all conditions are met before you make a claim.
If cancellation happens 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensation.
If cancellation happens less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to flight cancellation compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensation.
Conditions for receiving compensation:
- It’s a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 2 weeks);
- Flight cancellation is due to the fault of KLM / operating airline;
- Flight is to or from Europe.
Learn more: KLM flight cancellation compensation
3.3 Denied Boarding Compensation
The third main type of compensation is denied boarding compensation.
If you miss your connection because you’ve been denied boarding on your previous flight, you might be entitled to denied boarding compensation from KLM. If it is the other flight, other airline, that has overbooked their flight, then it’s their responsibility.
Conditions for receiving denied boarding compensation:
- You haven’t given up your seat voluntarily;
- It’s fault of the airline operating the flight, not your’s;
- Flight is to or from Europe.
Learn more: KLM denied boarding compensation
3.4 Right to Care
If you are stuck at the airport, you might be entitled to care.
According to the EU and UK regulations, travellers have the right to receive care while on their journey. EC Regulation No 261/2004 states that air carriers are required to provide passengers with a complimentary meal and refreshments for delays of three hours or more. Therefore, it is important for travellers to be aware of these rights.
If you find yourself stranded for the night, due to your flight being late for 3+ hours, the airline must offer you free accommodation as well as transportation from and back to the airport! No matter the reason for your flight delay or cancellation, you are entitled to receive care from the airline. You also have a right to receive care if you have been denied boarding.
The airline operating the bad flight is responsible for this.
Learn more: Right to care from KLM
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.
4. How to Claim KLM Flight Compensation?
There are two ways to claim EU flight compensation.
One of the options is to contact KLM directly. Log onto the KLM website and submit a complaint form with your details along with proof of the tickets and the flight’s disruption. After submitting the complaint form, KLM will review the details and contact you regarding the outcome of your claim.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
In this case everything is handled by legal professionals (a flight compensation company). We offer such services.
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.
4.1 How Long Does It Take?
The process might take at least 3 months.
Most people, however, receive compensation after a few months.
It depends on the case and airline.
5. How Much Can You Claim?
The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate the amount of KLM flight compensation:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1500 – 3500 km
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1500 – 3500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3500 km
There’s one exception. When the distance is 3500 kilometres or more and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later, you are entitled to compensation of €300, not €600. If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of €600.
5.1 KLM Voucher Refund or Cash?
You may be presented with a voucher rather than monetary compensation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines have been issuing vouchers. But don’t fall for this trap! Refuse to accept anything other than cash or bank transfer.
European airlines must pay out compensation and refunds in full via bank transfer (or cash), not through any sort of voucher system. This is non-negotiable: always opt for money first unless you prefer that coupon instead.
6. What Is a Self Transfer?
Self transfers are DIY connecting flights.
For a self-transfer flight, travelers must independently change planes at an airport without the assistance of airline personnel. This entails locating your next plane’s gate, collecting baggage and checking in once more – all by yourself! Making sure you are aware of your flight times and allowing yourself enough time to make connections is essential for a successful trip.
Transferring between flights can be tedious, yet the advantages could outweigh these inconveniences. With good planning and preparation, self transfer connecting flights not only offer improved flexibility but also can help save money on airfare.
6.1 Advantages of Taking a Self-Transfer Flight
Self transfers boast a number of advantages.
Chief among them is that they are typically more cost effective than airline-protected connecting flights, especially for long journeys with multiple stops. By opting for self-transfer flights you can save considerably – for many that’s the number one reason to go with self transfer.
Moreover, these types of flights offer greater flexibility as well due to not being bound by any specific carrier’s timetable. This offers travelers the flexibility to customize their itinerary and maximize their experience by visiting multiple destinations in one journey.
6.2 Disadvantages of Self-Transfer Flights
One of the main disadvantages is that it’s less safe.
This means that if your first flight is delayed or canceled, you may miss the connection and must book a new one, which can be expensive. Keep in mind that airlines are not responsible for this kind of connection, since it’s not airline-protected connection.
Additionally, when travelling with multiple connections, there could be extended layovers in between flights. This means you may need to spend more time at the airports, or sometimes spend more on accommodation, when you count in layover hotels you may need.
Let’s not forget about checked luggage. With self transfers you collect and recheck luggage after every flight, not just once per journey as with connecting flights.
6.3 How to Make Self Transfer More Safe?
There are to 3 ways how you can make it safer.
1. Book flights through a reliable third-party flight booking website. If you use kiwi.com, you can purchase Kiwi Guarantee for added peace of mind, knowing that should any disruption or cancellation occur with your chosen journey, you are fully covered in terms of both a full refund / new flight as well as extra costs related to the interruption.
2. Book flights with enough time between them. So that even if there are any delays or cancellations, the total journey is not compromised.
3. Buy travel insurance when booking a self-transfer connecting flight. It provides assurance that you are protected from financial loss, in the event of any unforeseen disruption or cancellation. Travel insurance safeguards your trip by covering things such as delays and cancellations of flights, lost luggage, medical costs while overseas and even potential legal fees if required. Before you select the perfect travel insurance policy for your upcoming trip, make sure to compare at least a few. That way, you’ll be sure that whatever policy you choose meets your specific needs!
7. What Is Missed Connection?
It’s when you don’t make it to your next flight on time.
It can happed due to unexpected flight delays and cancellations. If there is only 45-90 minutes between the flights, then missing the plane becomes much easier — and unfortunately more common! If you have a self transfer, sometimes even 2 or 3 hours between flights is not enough.
When you book a protected connecting flight, be reassured that your air carrier will usually provide a new flight free of charge (if you miss connection through no fault of your own). But only if it’s a protected connecting flight, not self transfer.
Do you have questions about KLM self-transfer flight compensation? Have you ever missed a self-tranfer connection? Get in touch with us, if you need help getting compensation for flight delay, cancellation or boarding denial.
Featured photo by Matthew Turner from Pexels