Understanding Passenger Rights Under the EC261 Regulation

What passenger rights are covered under the EC261 Regulation?

EC Regulation 261/2004 protects passengers with valid tickets and booking confirmations, flying from or to a European airport.

This regulation covers all travellers, including those on package holidays, low-cost carriers, or business trips. It protects passengers from flight issues like delays, cancellations, or denied boarding, offering compensation of up to €600 per person under certain conditions. Plus, you can have a right to care from the airline if you ever have to wait very long at the airport.

What Is EC261 Regulation?

The EC261 Regulation is a European Union law that outlines the rights of air passengers in case of flight disruptions. It was created to protect the interests of travellers and ensure they receive fair treatment from airlines.

Thanks to this law, if there are problems with your flight in many situations you have a right to flight compensation.

The amount of compensation depends on the distance of the flight.

Does EC261 still apply in the UK? Yes, it does.

Eligibility Criteria for Wizz Air Flight Compensation

With Wizz Air and Wizz Air UK, the regulation applies to all flights leaving from a European airport or arriving at a European airport. With Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the same rules apply only when the flight is departing from a European airport.

Don’t forget that you have to have a confirmed reservation and check in on time.

You are eligible for flight compensation from Wizz Air if:

• Your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours.
• Your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
• Your flight is overbooked, and you are denied boarding.

Note that it must be the airline’s fault.

In this case, it doesn’t matter if you’re a European or not – you are still entitled to compensation from Wizz Air. The price of your ticket also doesn’t matter.

How Much Is Flight Compensation? (EC261 Regulation)

The amount of compensation that you could receive depends on the length of your flight. The following list outlines the different levels of compensation according to the EC261 regulation:

– For flights up to 1500 kilometres: €250
– For flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres: €400
– For flights over 3500 kilometres: €600

In addition to this base compensation amount, you may also be able to claim for any additional expenses incurred due to the flight disruption, such as overnight accommodations or alternate transportation costs. However, these expenses must be reasonable and directly related to the flight delay or cancellation.

The amounts are the same for all passengers (including infants).

To start your compensation claim process, please use our claim form. A team of experts will review your information and determine if you are eligible for compensation under EC261 regulations.

Read more:

• Wizz Air Flight Delay Compensation
• Wizz Air Flight Cancellation Compensation
• Wizz Air Denied Boarding Compensation
• How to Claim Wizz Air Compensation?

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.

Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Delay with Wizz Air

Passengers facing flight delays have rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.

These include receiving information about the delay, free meals and refreshments based on the delay length, and access to communication facilities.

If the delay is long, you may be eligible for free accommodation.

Short Flight Delay vs. Long Flight Delay

For delays of three hours or more, passengers are entitled to care, which includes meals and refreshments, access to communication, and accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary.

Delays of three hours or more may qualify passengers for compensation, depending on the reason behind the delay.

You can get compensation if your Wizz Air flight arrives more than three hours late due to reasons the airline can control, like technical problems or staffing issues (including Wizz Air staff strikes).

Flight delays under three hours are considered short delays. In this case, there are no specific guidelines regarding what the airline has to offer to its passengers.

Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Cancellation with Wizz Air

In the event of flight cancellations, passengers must be offered the choice of reimbursement or rerouting. You can choose what suits you the best.

• A full refund from Wizz Air paid to your bank account.
• New flight or flights to your destination (Wizz Air or another airline).

They are also entitled to flight cancellation compensation unless the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control.

Flight Cancellation Refund vs Cancellation Compensation

These are two separate things.

You have a right to a refund every time an airline cancels a flight.

You can choose – a refund or a new flight.

Sometimes, you also have a right to flight cancellation compensation. You have a right to compensation from Wizz Air if the flight is cancelled less than 2 weeks before the date of arrival and it’s due to the airline’s fault.

• You can choose a refund.
• AND get compensation as well (if the flight qualifies).

Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Overbooking/Denied Boarding with Wizz Air

Passengers who are denied boarding due to overbooking are entitled to a new flight or a refund of the ticket price.

• A new flight or a full refund.
• Denied boarding compensation (if you didn’t agree to be a volunteer).
• Immediate compensation (if you agree to be a volunteer and Wizz Air is offering immediate compensation to volunteers).

If you agree to be a volunteer (give up your seat), you can’t ask for European denied boarding compensation. If, however, you don’t agree to be a volunteer but are denied boarding, you can also get European denied boarding compensation.

You Have a Right to Care From Wizz Air

In all these situations, you also have a right to care from Wizz Air.

You have this right if your flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked.

Every time you have to wait longer than planned, you have this right.

• If the wait is three hours or more, you have a right to meals and refreshments and access to communication (it can be any of these – email, phone calls, internet).
• If the wait is overnight, you have a right to free hotel accommodation.

Is Wizz Air Covered by EU Regulation 261/2004?

Yes, Wizz Air flights are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004.

Because Wizz Air is a European airline.

With Wizz Air and Wizz Air UK, this applies to all flights to and from Europe.

But let’s not forget that there is also, for example, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi – an Abu-Dhabi-based airline under the same brand. With Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, these rules apply only to flights departing from Europe. Because Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is considered a non-European airline.

Read more: Key Differences Between the Montreal Convention and EC261