How to claim a Storm Pia refund if your Christmas flight is canceled or delayed due to bad weather

Storm Pia caused travel chaos across the country in the run-up to Christmas – storms with speeds of up to 180 km/h disrupted air, train and road traffic.

An EasyJet plane had to divert to Luton to refuel yesterday after the plane was unable to land at Gatwick due to strong crosswinds – one passenger described scenes of passengers vomiting as the plane attempted to land.

With travel plans thrown into doubt due to widespread disruption, MailOnline has compiled a wealth of advice on when you may be entitled to compensation if your own itinerary goes awry.

If you are unfortunate enough to have your flight delayed or cancelled, you may be entitled to compensation.

Here we reveal the circumstances that lead to a cash payout.

FLIGHT DELAY

Data from the Civil Aviation Authority shows that one in three journeys was delayed by at least 15 minutes last year.

Delayed passengers may be entitled to free meals and compensation of up to £520. In this section you will learn how to do this.

Storm Pia, named by the Danish Meteorological Institute, hit the UK this week

Travelers delayed by at least two hours may be eligible for assistance. Which? say

HELP

Flight passengers delayed by two hours or more may be entitled to assistance such as two free phone calls or emails, free meals and drinks, free hotel accommodation and hotel transfers, according to Which?, which reads:

Short distance – Passengers flying up to 1,500 km and experiencing a delay of at least two hours are entitled to assistance.

Medium distance – Passengers fly between 932 miles (1,500 km) and 2,175 miles (3,500 km) with a delay of at least three hours, you are entitled to assistance.

Distant – Passengers who travel more than 3,500 km and are delayed by at least four hours are entitled to assistance.

Delayed passengers meeting the above criteria can contact their airline or airport staff for further information.

SERIOUS DELAYS

Passengers whose flights are delayed by more than five hours “have the right to choose whether to be rerouted to another flight or receive a refund.” Which? say.

According to the regulator, passengers can also apply for compensation for flight delays “provided the delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances”. These include bad weather, strikes unrelated to the airline such as baggage handlers, acts of terrorism or sabotage, drone disruption and long security lines.

Claims are valid for up to six years after the flight, regardless of whether the flight enters or leaves the UK, it said.

A compensation

Passengers on delayed flights are protected by the denied boarding regulations if their flight originates in the UK or Europe or is operated by a UK or European airline. Which? say.

“If you are traveling on a non-EU airline flying from a non-EU destination, the airline does not have the same duty of care for you,” it added.

“But you can check the airline’s ‘Conditions of Carriage’ to see what compensation you are entitled to.”

How to claim compensation

Passengers whose flights are delayed by more than five hours “have the right to choose whether to be rerouted to another flight or receive a refund.” Which? say

“If your flight arrives at your destination more than three hours late, every affected passenger is entitled to compensation for the flight delay.” Which one? say.

The total value of compensation depends on the length and distance of the delayed flight as well as the reason for the delay, the company added.

Passengers can make a claim under the EU Refusal of Carriage Regulation if they meet the criteria set out in a table under “Which?” below.

How much are you entitled to?

Short distance – Passengers flying up to 1,500 km and delayed by more than three hours had a delay of more than three hours, according to Which? Claim £220.

Medium distances within the EU Passengers traveling more than 1,500km within the EU and delayed by more than three hours are entitled to compensation of £350, according to the regulator.

Medium distances outside the EU – Passengers flying between 932 miles (1,500 km) and 2,175 miles (3,500 km) and delayed by more than three hours are entitled to compensation of £350. Which? explain.

Distant – Passengers flying more than 3,500km are entitled to compensation of £260 if they are delayed between three and four hours, or £520 if they are delayed longer, according to the website.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS

“Passengers flying with a non-EU airline are entitled to compensation if a flight from the UK is delayed at least three hours at its final destination.” What?

The “final destination” of a connecting flight refers to the last airport listed on the passenger’s ticket, he added.

OUT OF POCKET COSTS

In addition to compensation, some passengers are entitled to “excessive expenses” under the Montreal Convention. Which? say.

Examples of this include missing a night in pre-booked accommodation, a concert you bought tickets for, or a day you rented a car for, it said.

FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

Which? says passengers can claim compensation for canceled and delayed flights, unless there are “extraordinary circumstances”.

A compensation

Passengers traveling on a UK or EU-based airline or flying from a UK or EU airport should receive support from the company if their flight is cancelled. Which? say.

“This is because your flight is protected by the Denied Boarding Regulation,” it continues.

Depending on the circumstances, passengers may be entitled to “a refund or an alternative flight, meals, telephone calls and accommodation, as well as compensation for flight cancellations,” the regulator further explained.

How to claim compensation

Which? says passengers can claim compensation for canceled flights unless there are “extraordinary circumstances”, as explained earlier in this article.

But even in the event of extraordinary circumstances, “depending on the duration of the flight and the delay, you are still entitled to meals, refreshments, accommodation and hotel transfers,” adds the consumer advice centre.

How much compensation are you entitled to?

Short distance – Passengers traveling less than 900 miles and whose new flight departs more than an hour before their original flight and arrives less than two hours later, according to Which? Right on compensation of £110.

If the passengers’ flight arrives more than two hours after the original flight, they will be entitled to compensation of £220, the report said.

Medium distance – Passengers traveling 932 miles (1,500 km) to 2,175 miles (3,500 km) whose new flight departs more than an hour before their original flight and arrives less than three hours later are entitled to compensation of £175. Which? say.

If the passengers’ flight arrives more than three hours after their original flight, they will be entitled to compensation of £350, the report added.

Distant – Passengers traveling more than 2,200 miles and whose new flight departs more than an hour before their original flight and arrives less than four hours later are entitled to compensation of £260. Which? say.

If passengers’ flights arrive more than four hours after their original flight, they will be entitled to compensation of £520, it said.

The above figures apply to flights that are canceled less than seven days before departure.

CONNECTING FLIGHTS

Passengers traveling on a UK or EU-based airline or flying from a UK or EU airport should receive support from the company if their flight is cancelled. Which? say

“If a connecting flight is delayed during your journey and you departed from the UK or an EU country, you can still claim compensation.” What? say.

“For example, if you flew from Manchester to Sydney with a connecting flight in Singapore, but your flight from Singapore to Sydney was delayed, you were still entitled.”

This is how you can appeal a decision

Unresolved complaints about an airline can be referred to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system. A list of approved suppliers can be found on the Civil Aviation Authority’s website. say.

According to Quotezone, airline passengers can also enjoy additional security at the airport by purchasing travel insurance.

Chief executive Greg Wilson said: “Depending on the type of policy, some travel insurers will offer cover for a flight delay of more than 24 hours or if no alternative travel option is offered.”

“Missed or delayed flight insurance reimburses costs incurred as a result of delayed flights or when travelers miss their trip due to a situation beyond their control, such as a serious accident or hospitalisation.”

He adds: “In the event that an airline fails before passengers can get home, travelers will be protected by taking out the right travel insurance before departure.”