Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation.
How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?
Yes, Turkish Airlines is not a European airline. The company is registered in Turkey. But — they do have flights to and from countries of the EU, EEA and UK, and that means they have to follow the local laws. If your flight with Turkish Airlines departs from Europe, and it gets delayed, in many situations you have a right to flight delay compensation. It does apply only to flights departing from Europe. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?
One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.
Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.
1. Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations
Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.
These rules are about the same both in the EU and the UK. If you reach your destination 3 or more hours late, and it is due to airline’s fault, you have a right to delay compensation. With non-EU and non-UK airlines such as Turkish Airlines, it applies only to flights departing from Europe.
You may receive up to 600 euro per person (per flight).
Could you be entitled to Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation?
Yes, if:
- Your delay is 3 or more hours;
- Your delay is due to airline’s fault;
- Your flight is from Europe.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) 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.
1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances
There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation.
If, for example, your flight is delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances”.
These are the worst situations. These are situations that are out of airline’s control. It’s something no airline has control of. It includes but isn’t limited to extreme weather conditions, nationwide strikes, terrorism threat or other security issues at the airport. Speaking of strikes, remember this — the exemption applies only to strikes that aren’t airline staff strikes. Because airline staff strikes aren’t considered “extraordinary circumstances”.
When in doubt, double check what you’re told (if your claim is rejected).
Your flight was delayed due to bad weather? Check if the weather really was that bad. Check what other airlines were doing at the same time, when your flight got heavily delayed or cancelled. Were there other flights operating from the same airport? Or, hand the case over to professionals for closer investigation. Our partners offer such service.
Just fill in the claim form on our website, and our partners will do that for you.
1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?
What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.
The same applies both to direct flights and connecting flights. With connecting flights your destination is your final destination, not layover airport. See at the planned time of arrival and the actual time of arrival at the destination. This is how you know, how long is the flight delay.
Another thing to remember — your actual time of arrival is the moment, when the doors of the airplane are opened and passengers are free to go, not the moment of landing.
1.3 Right to Care
In Europe you also have a right to care.
With Turkish Airlines it applies to flights departing from Europe. If your flight is delayed, and you have to wait for more than 3 hours, you have a right to care from the airline. The same applies also to flight overbookings and last-minute flight cancellations.
Turkish Airlines must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well.
All passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.
2. How to Claim Turkish Airlines Compensation For Delayed Flight?
How to claim flight delay compensation Turkish Airlines owes you?
There are two ways you can do it online.
One of the options is to contact Turkish Airlines yourself. Get in touch with Turkish Airlines, claim compensation and wait! If you can’t find a special form, use a regular contact form. Be prepared for a likely lengthy process. In may take months.
The second option is — legal representation.
It’s the easiest of the two options.
In this case everything is done by a team of legal professionals. You fill in a single flight delay compensation claim form, and the rest is handled on your behalf.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more:
- How to Claim Turkish Airlines Compensation?
- Turkish Airlines Missed Connection Compensation
- Your Turkish Airlines Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
- Your Turkish Airlines Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process.
The length of the process can vary a lot. For some it takes weeks, for others — 6+ months. That’s why it’s a good idea not to set your expectations too high and be prepared for at least 2-3 months of waiting — until your Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation is transferred to your bank account. Sometimes a case has to be taken to court or national enforcement body. That usually adds at least a few months to the whole process, depending from the country.
That’s also one of the main reasons why many choose to work with flight compensation companies — because it saves time, and it’s hassle free (you file a claim and wait).
3. How Much Can You Claim?
The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.
How to calculate your Turkish Airlines delayed flight compensation?
Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).
3.1 Turkish Airlines Voucher Refund or Cash?
You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.
Majority of airlines were offering coupons during the COVID crisis.
You may accept a coupon or discount code. It’s up to you. But you may also refuse the offer and ask for money transfer. In the European Union and the UK flight compensations we are talking about has to be paid to bank account (unless the customer agrees to something else, like a voucher).
Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ
My flight was very cheap. It was a holiday sale. Can I still get full flight delay compensation?
Yes, absolutely — you can.
That’s because the amount of the compensation is fixed. Hence the price of the ticket doesn’t matter. Even if your flight was only 20 or 30 euro, you can still get up to 600 euro from the airline. Remember — you are paid for the inconvenience.
What if I don’t have travel insurance?
For this compensation you don’t need an insurance.
All thanks to the Regulation EC 261/2004 (and Regulation UK261). That is also one of the reasons why these laws have been created — to protect all air travellers equally. If your flight is 3+ hours late at the destination, you may have a right to flight delay compensation from Turkish Airlines.
You don’t need travel insurance for this.
Can my child get compensation from Turkish Airlines?
Yes, 100%.
The age doesn’t matter, same like the price of the ticket and insurance. If the flight is late, all passengers have equal rights to care from the airline and compensation for delay. The same rules apply also to infants without a dedicated seat.
As of 2020 rules are the same also in the UK.
Can I claim compensation for someone else? How it works?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
There is only one but. But you have to have a boarding pass and passport or ID copy. And the person you are claiming for will still have to sign the claim. Apart from that, yes, you can file a claim for delayed flight for another person.
How far back can I claim compensation? What about 2-3 year old flights?
It depends on the laws of the country.
Mostly 2-3 year old flights will be okay. You should definitely try to make a claim and / or let the professionals check the flight. But, of course, the sooner you make a claim, the better.
What to do if Turkish Airlines is refusing to pay compensation?
Turkish Airlines is refusing to pay compensation.
There are two best options, how you can proceed. You can hand over the case to a flight compensation company, for them to continue the negotiations with the airline.
Or, you can contact the national enforcement body of the country your flight was from. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists From Abroad
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get UK/EU flight delay compensation?
If you’re flying with Turkish Airlines then no, you can’t.
But remember this — here we are speaking only about European flight compensation regulations (Regulation 261/2004 and UK261). Some other regulations may apply to your flight, and you may have a right to compensation. When it comes to European laws, with Turkish Airlines, you are protected only on flights departing from Europe.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get UK/EU flight delay compensation?
Yes, you can.
The same applies to all Turkish Airlines flights from the UK.
I am not a European citizen. Can I get compensation?
Yes.
The UK Regulation UK261 and Regulation 261/2004 protect all passengers. In this case your nationality doesn’t matter. Everyone has the same rights.
Other Situations
Turkish Airlines provided me with a free hotel room and a free alternative flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes, if the flight departed from the EU / UK.
Because in this case, you are entitled to both right to care and a new flight to your destination. You can receive all of this — that’s the rules in Europe.
Turkish Airlines took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
Did you arrive late? Was it at least 3 hours later than planned?
If the answer is yes to both, you might be entitled to flight delay compensation from Turkish Airlines. As long as the flight was from Europe and it was delayed due to airline’s fault.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Turkish Airlines compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.
Featured photo by Kürşat Kuzu from Pexels