The European Union adopted EC 261 as the regulatory framework to handle situations like airline delays, cancellations, and overbookings. It clearly outlines the conditions under which travelers are entitled to reimbursement and the degree of help they should expect from airlines during these disruptions. Travelers can request reimbursement for past flights under EC 261; this may usually be done up to three years in advance, but the time limit may differ according to jurisdiction country.
This rule applies to all flights leaving from airports throughout Europe. Notably, passengers of SATA Azores Airlines are also protected by EC 261 as the airline is of European origin. Furthermore, this legislation applies to all EU carriers’ flights arriving in Europe, even if they depart from a location outside the EU, guaranteeing passengers total coverage.
You can check your eligibility for up to EUR 600 in minutes with our Free Compensation Calculator tool.
Flight compensation is calculated by European Regulation EC261 and is contingent upon the specifics of the flight disruptions. For example, if a trip from Frankfurt to Florence is delayed more than 3 hours and the distance covered is up to 1,500 kilometers, passengers will receive €250 delayed flight compensation in addition to their actual expenses.
between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers, passengers will get €400 cancelled flight compensation in addition to their expenses. However, travelers who overbook a flight from Berlin to Tokyo for a distance greater than 3,500 kilometers are entitled to €600 reimbursement in addition to any additional costs.
Due to strikes by the cabin staff, SATA Azores Airlines passengers may experience delays, overbookings, or cancellations. You are covered by EU legislation if you were impacted by the recent inconveniences brought on by strikes at SATA Air. Travelers with these kinds of flight problems may be eligible for SATA Air compensations of up to €600.
The thing is, the European Court of Justice has ruled that every passenger is entitled to compensation if the airline crew strike (also known as the staff strike at Sata Airlines) causes their flight to be delayed. This is in accordance with EU261 flight compensation. The airline must provide you the choice of getting a refund for the full cost of your ticket for the SATA Airlines flight that was impacted by the strike, in addition to the ability to pursue further compensation or schedule a different flight to your original destination.
If you had a confirmed flight reservation within the previous three years and your flight was canceled less than 14 days before its scheduled departure, or if you experienced a flight disruption which is SATA Azores Airlines’ fault (for instance SATA Azores Airlines cabin crew or employee strike, or operational reasons or technical reasons), you may be eligible for SATA Air compensation.
This covers instances in which you were given a different flight, and the arrival time was delayed more than 3 hours from the initially planned arrival, as well as instances in which you were refused boarding because of unanticipated events.
If irregularities by Air Traffic Control affect your flight, you are entitled to a refund or an alternate flight as long as the delay or cancellation satisfies the requirements outlined in EU Regulation 261. But it's unclear whether these kinds of incidents would qualify for financial compensation in a court of law because SATA Azores Airlines will probably label them as "extraordinary circumstances."
If you are waiting more than two hours for a short-haul aircraft (up to 1,500 kilometers), you are entitled to snacks or food coupons as well as free text messages, emails, or phone calls. In a similar vein, passengers on medium-distance flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers must be given free mobile communication services and refreshments or food coupons if their wait time surpasses three hours for long-haul flights longer than 3,500 kilometers.
Also, suppose a problem causes a flight to be canceled, and there isn't a replacement flight available until the next day. In that case, the airline is required by EU Regulation EC261 to provide you with appropriate lodging and make all necessary travel arrangements. This rule acts as a safety net to help travelers in these circumstances.
SATA Azores Airlines is required to give you a refund or an alternate flight if they cancel your original one. You can also cancel your flight on your own and get a complete refund of the ticket price if it is delayed for five hours or more. It is vital to remember that flight compensation and refunds for SATA Azores Airlines tickets are two different issues.
However, in a situation where the flight is canceled, SATA Azores Airlines ought to allow you the option of taking another flight to get to your destination.
Depending on where you depart from or arrive, there are different deadlines for claiming disrupted flight compensation and reimbursements from SATA Airlines. You have six years to file a claim for SATA flight compensation if your flight originated or arrived in the United Kingdom; SATA Air claim processing time is five years in Scotland.
Local regulations apply to itineraries that do not involve the United Kingdom. For example, in France, the statute of limitations for claiming flight compensation is set for five years, but in Portugal, you have three years to do so.
You can get additional information regarding time limitation in different countries from our related blog.
Formality requires that the airline must issue a complimentary ticket on an alternate aircraft. If all flights are booked, they should try to get you on the earliest flight possible, but if not, they might recommend another choice that interferes with your travel schedule.
You have the option to decline the airline's suggested alternative flight if it does not suit your needs, in which case the airline must reimburse the cost of your ticket. In addition, the airline must reimburse you for the difference in price between the two tickets if they are unable to provide you with another flight or if you independently discover a better option.
Please Note:
Other airlines may provide a limited number of alternate flights. Nevertheless, once you get official confirmation from SATA Air that your flight has been canceled, we advise against booking an independent replacement.
If SATA Azores Airlines cancels the flight, the passengers will receive a refund for the price of their ticket. However, you will not be entitled to a refund if you decide to cancel your scheduled flight voluntarily. If you don't have a flexible fare, which allows you to reschedule your flight at a later time for a nominal fee, SATA Airlines has a strict cancellation policy.
By flight cancellation procedures, customers are entitled to payment if SATA Azores Airlines flight is canceled because of any worldwide pandemic. It's best to decline the airline's offer of a voucher for the canceled flight. Choose to get a refund instead.
According to the European Commission's interpretation of European Communities Regulation 261 (EC261), airlines must reimburse customers for flight delays within a month. However, most airlines need to follow these rules in the letter, and SATA Azores Airlines frequently takes up to three months to process claims.
In certain cases, SATA Airlines may even try to ignore passengers' requests for payment. This is where you need to involve specialists in the business; Click2Refund has both the legal and technical tools to speed up your compensation process and compel the airline to take your application more seriously.
The laws of each country define the statute of limitations, which is a different period for each country. Generally speaking, passengers can file a claim for compensation up to three years after the date of their SATA Azores Airlines flight. It's crucial to remember that other nations may have shorter statute of limitations periods.
You must contact SATA Azores Airlines' Lost & Found Services or the Handling Agent at the airport on arrival as soon as possible if there is a problem with your luggage. You must email the airline with your complaint as soon as possible if you still need to. This must be completed within 21 days for delayed checked baggage and within 7 days for damaged baggage, both calculated from the date of baggage delivery.
To report lost luggage, you must contact the airport's Lost & Found department during the first five days following the incident. Following this time frame, the procedure is moved to SATA's Central Baggage Service, hence prolonging the search.
Originally known as SATA Internacional, Azores Airlines is a Portuguese airline based in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel in the Azores archipelago. The airline has Modern Airbus A321neo and A320neo aircraft in their fleet to ensure a safe and enjoyable flight experience.
Regular domestic flights are operated by Azores Airlines between the Azores and the Portuguese mainland and the Madeira Islands. In addition to charter flights, it provides flights from the Azores to several locations in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa (Cape Verde), and North America. SATA Air Açores, its parent company, is also in charge of managing operations for regional flights within the Azores.