Flight delayed? Czech ministry sheds light on how to claim compensation

In light of the delays and cancelations plaguing air travelers around Europe as the summer season gets underway, Czechia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has released help and guidance on how to claim compensation in case you run into flight-related trouble.

In sum, EU regulation warrants that airlines must pay a form of compensation if a flight is delayed – though important conditions apply.

The EU law applies to all passengers departing from an EU or European Economic Area (EEA) airport. It also applies to passengers departing from an airport outside of the EU/EEA but arriving at an EU/EEA airport on an EU/EEA licensed carrier.

The Czech Trade and Industry Ministry reminds consumers in Czechia that passenger compensation for flight delays is calculated based on the distance of the flight. Passengers on flights that are delayed three or more hours are entitled to compensation.

Here is an overview of what you may be entitled to in case of delays:

The ministry also says that you are entitled to food and drink if your flight is delayed. Here is an overview of what you can claim:

And what about flight cancellations? It gets a little complicated.

You are not entitled to compensation if you have received at least two weeks’ notice of the cancelation, or have received between two weeks and seven days’ notice but you have been offered an alternative flight departing no more than two hours before your original departure time and arriving at your final destination less than four hours after your original scheduled time of arrival. 

Where your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a choice of:

Airlines are exempt from paying compensation in case of so-called extraordinary circumstances. These can include: adverse weather conditions; planned strike action; air-traffic control restrictions or disruption; or security risks.

You can claim by filing a claim directly with your airline – this can all be done airline; processes depend on the type of airline. You can also file a claim via post, or do it via a third-party agency for a fee.

Czechia’s Ministry of Trade and Industry advises people in Czechia to reach out to the Czech branch of the European Consumer Center in case of any compensation-related disputes. The ministry also advises reaching out to advisory bodies such as the Association of Czech Consumers or the Association of Citizens' Advice.

The Czech Trade Inspection Authority can also step in to help should any issues arise. You can also take the airline to court if all else fails.

Many airlines are also part of Alternative Dispute Resolution Entities, which you can contact to help get compensation before going to court.