DELTA AIR LINES FLIGHT DELAY COMPENSATION: A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Delta Airlines is one of the foremost air carrier companies in the USA. In spite of not being an EU Member Airline Company, in line with the EU Regulation, Delta Airlines is subject to pay compensation for the flights departing from the EU airports. Compensation rights in Delta Airlines are the same as the European counterparts, shown below.

• Up to 1,500 km, compensation is 250 EUR
• between 1,500 and 3,500 km, the compensation is 400 EUR
• More than 3,500 km, the compensation is 600 EUR

Given that all Delta flights departing from the European Union are transatlantic journeys, the compensation for passengers in the majority of instances amounts to 600 EUR. In addition to the compensation you are entitled, you can claim for your extra expenses arising from the flight disruption, as long as they are reasonable.

It is normal to have queries and worries when you learn of the cancellation of your Delta Air Lines flight, whether at home or overseas. First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that Delta Air Lines is in charge of setting up a replacement flight for you or offering a complete refund (in most extreme cases).

But, since airline cancellations sometimes result in major delays to travel arrangements, it's important to find out if you can also get compensation from Delta Air Lines for the canceled flight.

By EU legislation, passengers may be eligible for compensation up to 600 EUR (EC 261 Compensation) per passenger if Delta Air Lines cancels a flight with less than 14 days' notice before it is due to depart or delayed more than 3 hours to its final destination. The purpose of this payment is to make up for the difficulty that the cancellation caused.

But there are exceptions:

If Delta Air Lines can offer a replacement flight with departure and arrival times with less than 3 hours delay compared to the original itinerary, they will not be required to pay compensation. Besides, airlines are not required to provide compensation in exceptional situations, such as bad weather, air traffic control restrictions or industrial strikes. This implies that Delta Air Lines is not required to pay compensation for flight cancellations in case of an unanticipated circumstance outside the airline's control. Examples of such circumstances include severe weather conditions or air traffic control strikes. However, it is a well-known fact that airlines tend to cite extraordinary circumstances as a reason to avoid paying compensation. Proving that they are at fault can be challenging, as they possess all the relevant data. Operational issues such as crew shortages, crew illness, previous flight delays, maintenance problems, technical issues, schedule changes, and even planned strikes do not qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Rain and snow are weather conditions that do not prevent airlines from operating; there are specific thresholds that must be met for such conditions to be considered a valid excuse. In many cases, passengers have legitimate claims for compensation. Our historic data and success rate suggest that airlines have control over most delays and cancellations.

The same applies to overbooked flights. Passengers may be eligible for compensation if they are denied boarding involuntarily due to an overbooked flight.

The EU Regulation 261/2004 And Delta Flight Delay Compensation

Since Delta Air Lines has many flights that departs from European Union, many flights are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004, a strict regulation that sets down the rights of air passengers.

Passengers who are not at fault for flight delays may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261. To qualify for compensation due to flight delays, the aircraft must depart from an EU airport, and the delay at the final destination must exceed 3 hours compared to the originally scheduled arrival time.

EU regulations apply to flights departing from airports within the EU, which encompasses 30 countries. Thus, if a Delta Airlines flight takes off from Munich, Germany, and lands in New York, the passengers on this flight are protected under EU 261 passenger rights regulations. Conversely, if a flight departs from a US airport and lands in Munich, Germany, passengers are not entitled to these regulatory privileges.

What Are Compensation Rights for Canceled/Delayed/Overbooked Flights in Delta Airlines under EU Regulation?

The Compensation Amounts for Different Distances Are as Follows:

• For distances up to 1,500 km, the compensation is €250 per passenger.
• For distances between 1,500 and 3,500 km, the compensation is €400 per passenger.
• For distances exceeding 3,500 km, the compensation is €600 (no matter the ticket price) per passenger.

Considering that Delta Airlines operates overseas in general, for flights exceeding 3,500km, the following compensation is applicable under the specified scenarios:

• 600 if your flight was canceled and you did not reach your destination.
• €600 if your rescheduled flight resulted in a delay of over 4 hours upon arrival at your final destination.
• €300 if your rescheduled flight resulted in a delay of less than 4 hours upon arrival at your final destination.

Delta Airlines Passenger Rights under Canadian Regulation

As Delta Airlines also operates within the Canadian aviation space, passengers who experience cancellations, delays, or overbooked flights are protected under the Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), which were introduced in December 2019.

Under Canadian Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) you may be entitled to compensation and a certain degree of care if you are refused to board, your flight is canceled, or you are delayed by at least three hours.

If your flight to and from Canada is delayed, cancelled or overbooked, you are entitled to compensation depending on the time you arrive at your final destinations (regardless of flight distance). Here are the possible scenarios.

Contrary to EU Regulation 261, technical problems are not considered within the control of airlines according to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) in Canada. Many airlines tend to cite safety concerns as a way to avoid paying compensation. There have been several rulings from the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) attempting to limit airlines' ability to use safety concerns as a loophole within the regulations. Given that APPR is a relatively new set of regulations, our legal team believes it will prove to be an effective framework for protecting passengers from flight disruptions. It appears that this is the intention of the legislators, and we are optimistic about the future of passenger rights in Canada.

The statute of limitations for Canadian APPR is one year after the incident; however, EU regulation depends on local jurisdictions. If the delayed flight departed from the UK, the statute of limitations is 6 years. If it was Germany, it is 3 years, and if it was France, it is 5 years .Please check the statute of limitations for each jurisdiction from here.

What Should You Do When You Experience Cancellations or Delays on Delta Airlines?

Here are the steps to follow in case of Delta flight cancellation or delay:

• Get written proof if possible and ask Delta employees why there was an interruption.
• Gather proof, such as a copy of the departure schedule showing the delay and note your Delta reservation number.
• Save all flight documents (tickets, boarding passes), receipts for extra costs you incur and attach them to your claim submission as supporting documentation.
• You can also request further compensation, if any, in the form of reimbursement for a hotel that is booked by Delta Airlines.

NB:

To effectively process your compensation claim for a Delta flight delay, several important yet complex steps need to be completed. This is where Click2Refund's expertise is invaluable. With a broad legal network across Europe, we can swiftly help you obtain the compensation you rightfully deserve for your delayed or canceled Delta flight, with our risk-free service. Our confidence in securing what you're owed is reflected in our no-win-no-fee guarantee. Our success rate with eligible cases is over 98% and even if we lose your case, you don’t risk a dime. Instead of navigating through complex steps and procedures, file your case in 2 minutes from here.

What Does the Delta Airline Cancellation Policy Say?

Delta's flight cancellation policy can be summarized as follows:

• No cancellation fee within the first 24 hours of ticket purchase.
• For basic economy fare, cancellation is not allowed once the initial 24-hour window passes.
• Non-refundable tickets will incur a cancellation fee ranging from $200 to $500.
• Flex or refundable ticket holders can easily cancel their tickets and request a refund.

Can A Passenger Get Denied Boarding Compensation in the Event of An Overbooked Delta Flight?

Fortunately, EU legislation is in line regarding compensation for overbooking circumstances. You are entitled to reimbursement if overbooking causes you to be involuntarily bumped. But it’s crucial to remember to:

• Refuse to give up your seat.
• Not to take the airline's alternate form of payment.

Moreover, you will only be eligible for compensation if you're not allowed to board due to improper travel documents.

The same compensation amounts apply to the case of denial of boardings due to the overbooked flights. The amount may range between 250 EUR to 600 EUR depending on the flight distance.

Notably, compensation amounts for overbooking differ between US regulations and EC261.

According to US passenger rights, your compensation for overbooking is determined by the ticket price:

• You will not be reimbursed if your flight lands at its destination only an hour after your initial trip.
• You are entitled to 200% of your one-way cost for domestic flights delayed by 1-2 hours and international flights delayed by 1-4 hours.
• You will receive 400% of your one-way cost if your domestic flight is delayed by more than two hours or your international trip is delayed by more than four hours and there is no available alternate flight offered by Delta Airlines.

Also note that:

Under Canadian airline regulations, passengers may be entitled to compensation of up to 2400 CAD per person in cases where they are denied boarding and subsequently arrive at their destination 9 hours later than originally scheduled.

Can You Call the Delta Airlines Customer Directly to File a Complaint?

You can; however, we will probably advise against it due to their unreliability. There are several ways that you can contact Delta Air Lines customer service over the phone:

• Contact 1-800-455-2720, which is also a toll-free number.
• Alternatively, you can reach them via the non-toll-free number 404-765-5000.

You can also call your local number to contact the customer support staff. When prompted about the nature of your call, select "complaint" or "comment" if you would like to submit a complaint or make a comment.

Reports indicate that Delta Airlines' customer service continues to be plagued by egregiously long wait times. Regrettably, it has become a standard experience for customers to endure extensive delays, ranging from three to six hours, and in some cases, exceeding ten hours, just to reach a representative through the airline's customer service phone line.

This is why it is a wise decision to reach out to legal experts in airline compensation recovery, and Click2Refund is currently the most recommended. Click2Refund’s success rate for eligible cases are more than 98% and you can fill up the online form and submit your claim in under 2 minutes. They provide a risk-free and no-win-no-fee service ensuring that all fees are covered even in the event of an unsuccessful outcome.

How To Check If Your Flight Is Delayed on Delta Airlines

You have a few ways to stay updated if you're worried about possible delays on your Delta Air Lines flight:

The website of Delta Air Lines has a live flight tracker map feature that you can use to check the progress of your flight in real time and ensure it's leaving on time. Alternatively, you can get information on your flight status by calling the toll-free number at +1 800-325-1999.

How Do You Make Your Delta Flight Delay Compensation Easier with Click2Refund?

Click2Refund is well aware of the challenges that passengers face with Delta flight delay particularly while trying to claim their compensations. This is why the company has structured its operations to make its services as easy as possible.

For affected passengers, all that’s required is to enter the details of their flight delay, such as the flight number and date, into the free flight compensation calculation tool. Following submission, you'll get prompt, professional advice. It is also important to highlight that Click2Refund has helped tens of thousands of Delta Airlines flight delay victims successfully and legally obtain their well-deserved compensation.