Being late for a meeting is a nightmare scenario for every single one of us who goes to work. If you’ve ever been one of those unlucky passengers traveling for work who got stuck waiting for take off, you could be owed up to €600 in business trip compensation.
Even though you were traveling on behalf of your company, the money owed for the inconvenience belongs to you. When traveling for work leads you to Europe, you’re protected by a European law called EC 261.
Delayed flights. You’re on your way to an important meeting but you’ve just been notified that your flight is delayed. We all know that a delayed flight can cost business travelers a lot more than just time. That’s why you can claim for compensation when your flight delay exceeds 3 hours.
Canceled flights. A last-minute flight cancellation can throw out months of preparation on an upcoming work trip. Under EC 261, if the airline notifies you of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure, and they can’t offer you a comparable alternative flight, you could be eligible for compensation.
Denied Boarding. You’re ready to get your business trip off the ground, but the airline has made some business decisions of their own and oversold your flight. If you’re denied boarding because of overbooking don’t settle for a flight voucher.
No matter where do you live, if you’re departing from Europe or traveling to Europe on a European airline, you are protected by EC 261.
- Flights within the EU on any airline
- Flights that depart from the EU on any airline
- Flights to the EU with an EU airline
It also applies to the Azores, Canary Islands, French Guiana and Martinique, Guadeloupe, Iceland, La Réunion, Madeira, Mayotte, Norway, Saint-Martin and Switzerland.
How much are travelers owed in business trip compensation?
Under EC 261, each passenger could be owed up to €600 in compensation. The amount depends on how far you’re flying, and how late you are arriving at your final destination. The compensation amounts are listed as euro as EC 261 is a European legislation, the actual amount you will receive depends on the current exchange rates.
Keep in mind that a compensation is different from a refund. Business travelers are entitled to business trip compensation, as they are the ones who suffer the inconvenience of flight issues. But in some cases, your employer is also entitled to a refund. Claiming compensation does not affect your employer’s claim – they could make a separate claim to recoup the cost of the replacement flight.
How do I apply for compensation?
Hold on to your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any documentation the airline gives you about why you couldn’t take off on time.