KLM Flight Delay Compensation and Refund: Claim up to €600 (2023)

Your rights in case of flight disruption

When the unexpected happens, and your KLM flight is disrupted, it's crucial to understand the rights you hold as a passenger.

EU Air Passenger Rights

Rights of air passengers in Europe are covered by EC261 law, which is designed to ensure fair treatment and compensation in case of flight disruptions, such as delays, cancellations, and overbooking, among other inconveniences. This regulation applies to all flights departing from a European Union member state and flights arriving in an EU country from outside the EU, provided the operating airline is based in the EU.

The compensation amount varies based on the length of the delay as a result of the disruption and the distance of the flight, but it typically can go up to €600 per passenger.

Passenger Rights in the UK

Post Brexit, the UK adopted its own set of air passenger rights, known as UK261. This regulation largely mirrors EU261, extending similar protections to you, as a passenger, if you're flying with a UK-based airline or from a UK airport. It covers flight disruptions like cancellations, delays, denied boarding, and missed connections, and ensures appropriate compensation.

Just like the EU version, compensation amounts can vary based on how long you were delayed and the distance of your flight, but are usually capped at £520 per passenger.

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What to Do in Case of Flight Disruption

In the event of a flight disruption with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, such as a delay, cancellation, or overbooking, it's crucial to take specific steps to safeguard your passenger rights and ease your claim process. Here's how:

1. Communicate with KLM: Initiate communications with the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines representatives at the airport or via their customer service centre. Seek to understand the reason behind the disruption and document their response.
2. Retain Your Travel Documents: Keep all your travel documents. This includes boarding passes, tickets, and any other related receipts. Additionally, hold onto any written or digital correspondence about the flight disruption. These documents serve as vital evidence to support your compensation claim.
3. Assert Your Right to Care: While dealing with the disruption, remember that the airline is obliged to provide you with basic amenities during your waiting period. This includes food, drinks, access to communication facilities, and accommodation where necessary.
4. Use AirAdvisor's Compensation Calculator: To ascertain if you're eligible for KLM compensation and understand the process of claiming it, use our simple compensation calculator. It's a handy tool to swiftly determine your eligibility for compensation based on the details of your flight disruption.

Following these steps ensures you're well-prepared to deal with flight disruptions and are in a strong position to claim the compensation you may be entitled to.

Things to Avoid

When facing a flight delay or cancellation on KLM or any other airline, there are common pitfalls that you should know of to mitigate the risk of not receiving the full compensation you're entitled to. You can explore them below:

Accepting the First Offer

Sometimes, airlines might try to minimise their payouts by providing passengers with an initial lowball compensation offer. It's important not to accept this first offer right away. You should compare the airline's offer with the compensation amount you're entitled to under the relevant passenger rights regulation.

If the initial offer falls short of the regulated compensation amount, you can demand the full compensation you're entitled to.

Accepting Vouchers

Airlines may offer flight vouchers as a quick-fix solution, but there are a few reasons it's better to decline. One reason is that these vouchers can typically only be redeemed with the same airline and may come with various restrictions, such as blackout dates or limited eligible flights.

Another reason we don't recommend accepting a voucher to compensate for a flight disruption is that studies have shown that many passengers simply don't end up using them. A final and very important reason is that it accepting a flight voucher from the airline may forfeit your right to claim further compensation.

Signing Waivers or Documents Without Understanding Them

In the event of a flight disruption, some airlines may ask you to sign certain documents or waivers. These may be designed to limit the airline's liability or waive your right to compensation. It's crucial not to sign anything that you don't fully understand.

If you're presented with such documents, take the time to read them thoroughly and seek legal advice if needed. Remember, you have passenger rights under regulations EU261 and UK261 and should not be pressured into waiving them.

KLM Flight Delay Compensation

As an air passenger under the EU261 law, you can claim compensation for a delayed flight with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. To be eligible for KLM delayed flight compensation, you need to have experienced a delay of at least 3 hours and there's also a requirement for the delay to have come about as a result of the airline's doing.

The compensation you're entitled to can vary by flight distance. For example, you may receive:

• €250 (£220) in KLM flight delay compensation for short-haul flights (up to 1,500km),
• €400 (£350) for medium-haul flights (1,500-3,500km),
• and up to €600 (£520) for long-haul flights (more than 3,500km).

Flight Cancellation Compensation Rights

Under EU261, you're entitled to financial compensation in case your flight is cancelled abruptly without a 14-day prior notice. This is usually with the exception of the cancellation occurring because of extraordinary circumstances outside of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ control.

The KLM flight cancellation compensation you're entitled to ranges from €250 (£220) for flights up to 1,500km to €400 (£350) for flights between 1,500 and 3,500km, and up to €600 (£520) for flights over 3,500km.

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Airline Refund

Under EU261, you're entitled to an airline ticket refund in specific circumstances. These circumstances include scenarios whereby your KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight is cancelled without at least a 14-day notice, if it's delayed by over 5 hours, or if you're denied boarding due to overbooking or operational reasons by the airline.

Alongside a refund, you may also claim financial compensation for the inconvenience, the amount of which is based on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay, as mentioned above.

Denied Boarding Compensation Rights

As a passenger, you're usually eligible for compensation under EU261 if you're denied boarding your KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight. Boarding denial typically occurs if an airline overbooks a flight and there aren't enough seats for all passengers. Unless you voluntarily give up your seat or your boarding denial results from your actions, you can claim compensation for denied boarding from the airline.

The amount of KLM denied boarding compensation you can claim depends on the distance of your flight. For instance, you can expect to receive €250 (£220) for short-haul, €400 (£350) for medium-haul, and up to €600 (£520) for long-haul flights.

Missed Connection Compensation Rights

Under EU261, you can claim compensation if you miss your connecting flight because of a delay or cancellation of your initial KLM flight, provided all flights are under one reservation. The key here is the impact of the initial KLM Royal Dutch Airlines disruption on your final arrival time at your intended destination. If it caused you to reach your final destination 3 or more hours later than scheduled, you're eligible to claim.

Depending on the total delay at your final destination and the total distance of your flights, you can claim compensation if you missed your flight that was connecting you to your final destination. The KLM missed connection compensation you can claim ranges from €250 (£220) for short-haul and €400 (£350) for medium-haul to €600 (£520) for long-haul flights.

Extraordinary Circumstances

When discussing flight disruptions like delays, cancellations, or denied boarding with KLM, the term extraordinary circumstances plays a significant role. It denotes scenarios that are beyond the airline's control and ability to manage, for example, events that couldn't have been averted even if all conceivable measures were put into place. These events can include severe meteorological events such as heavy snowstorms that make flying unsafe, air traffic control restrictions imposed for safety reasons, pressing security risks, or periods of political instability that may impact air travel.

In these extraordinary circumstances, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, like other airlines, is typically exempt from the obligation to provide compensation to impacted passengers. The priority in such instances remains the safety and well-being of passengers, even though it may cause substantial inconvenience. Always remember to clarify the specifics of your flight disruption situation, as each case is unique and may be subject to different considerations under EU261.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below, you can review some commonly asked questions about KLM flight disruptions:

What is the Time Limit for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Compensation Claims?

When it comes to the timeframe for KLM compensation claims, EU261 regulation provides a clear guideline. You're permitted to lodge a claim for compensation for up to 6 years from the date of the flight disruption. This means you have a considerable duration during which you can seek compensation for any inconvenience experienced due to KLM delays, cancellations, or denied boarding.

With that being said, it's generally advisable to initiate your claim process as swiftly as possible post-disruption. An expedited claim submission not only improves the fluidity of the process but also reduces the chances of misplaced or forgotten information related to the disruption.

It's worth noting that memories fade and documents can get misplaced over time, so the quicker you start, the more accurate and complete your claim is likely be, increasing the likelihood of a successful resolution.

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How to Claim Compensation for KLM Delays and Cancellations?

You can claim compensation directly through the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines website, by filling out a complaint form. Alternatively, you can use a reputable flight compensation service like AirAdvisor, which can handle the process on your behalf and increase the likelihood of a successful claim.

Can I Get a Refund From KLM Royal Dutch Airlines?

Under certain circumstances, you're entitled to receive a full refund from KLM. Specifically, if your KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight experiences a significant disruption such as an abrupt cancellation or a delay exceeding 5 hours, you have the right to request a full refund for your ticket. This refund policy is a part of your passenger rights, ensuring that you aren't left out of pocket due to circumstances beyond your control.

What Happens if I Miss a KLM Flight?

If you miss your KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight due to circumstances beyond your control such as sudden delays, cancellations, or overbooking, there are measures in place to protect your passenger rights. EU261 covers such situations and may entitle you to compensation based on the specifics of your case.

In addition to this, KLM provides other remedial options. For instance, you could potentially receive a full refund for your flight ticket if the disruption meets certain criteria. This refund offers immediate financial relief and flexibility to make alternative arrangements. Alternatively, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines might offer you the opportunity to be rebooked onto another flight, typically on the same day if feasible. This ensures that despite missing your original flight, you're still able to reach your destination with minimal delay.

EU 261 Compensation Claim KLM: How to Do it?

Filing a compensation claim for a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight disruption via AirAdvisor is a straightforward and user-friendly way to do it. Here's how:

1. Visit our AirAdvisor website and locate the 'Check Compensation' section.
2. Enter your flight details, including the flight number and date of your disrupted flight.
3. Our online tool will quickly evaluate if you're eligible for compensation and estimate the potential amount.
4. If you qualify for compensation, you can proceed to submit your claim. Do this by simply filling out the form with the necessary details such as your personal information and evidence to support your claim.
5. Our team of experts will then handle all the necessary paperwork and negotiations with the KLM on your behalf.
6. If the claim is successful, we'll transfer your compensation to you, minus a pre-agreed service fee (which we only charge for successful claims).

The AirAdvisor process takes the stress and effort out of claiming compensation and provides you with experienced advocates to secure what you're entitled to.

Why is KLM always late?

Labelling KLM as "always late" might not be a fair characterisation. Like any airline, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines can experience delays, but these instances are typically the result of a diverse array of factors, many of which are beyond the airline's immediate control. For example, adverse weather conditions such as storms or high winds can delay flights for safety reasons. Similarly, restrictions imposed by air traffic control for various reasons, like crowded airspace or safety considerations, can also lead to delays.

It's crucial to remember that airlines, including KLM, prioritise safety above all else. So while delays can be frustrating, they're often necessary for ensuring you have a safe journey. Moreover, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, as a reputable and long-standing airline, strives to maintain its schedule as closely as possible and manages its operations to minimise disruptions, ensure passenger satisfaction and adhere to regulatory standards.

How to Find Out if There Are Any KLM Cancelled Flights Today?

To find out if there are any KLM Royal Dutch Airlines cancelled flights today, you can check the status of your flight on KLM's official website or through their mobile app. You can also set up flight status notifications to get updates via email or text message.

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