Headquartered in Dubai, Emirates Airlines is the largest carrier in the Middle East. Emirates also makes hundreds of flights to and from the EU every week, flying to both primary and secondary airports in 20 member states. Worldwide, Emirates flies more than 58.6 million passengers per year.
Nearly 85 percent of Emirates flights arrive on time, which is a relatively high number. But because they fly so many passengers, there are still quite a few who may still experience Emirates delayed flights and cancelled flights. If you’re flying Emirates, it’s important to be prepared for any situation that might arise. And if you’ve already experienced a delay or cancellation, you’ve come to the right place for information on Emirates flight compensation.
Whether you were on an Emirates delayed flight or your travel was cancelled altogether, there are essential criteria you must fulfill to be eligible for compensation. Make sure you can check all these boxes:
This last criteria is one of the most important. The airline only owes compensation under EU 261 if the reason for your Emirates delayed flight or cancelled flight was within its control. This includes reasons like mechanical and maintenance issues, lack of passengers, being understaffed or a pilot that is not fit to fly. These are not considered “extraordinary circumstances.”
Extraordinary circumstances are outside the airline’s control, including weather, airport closures, airspace restrictions, employee strikes, political instability, and birds flying into the engine. If the reason falls within one of these categories, you may not be able to claim Emirates flight delay compensation.
If Emirates claims extraordinary circumstances, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a case. An investigation may reveal both a primary and secondary reason for the delay or cancellation. For example, if there aren’t enough passengers to fill the plane, and there is also a weather event at the destination airport, the airline may try to claim the weather as the cause. But the lack of passengers, which is within their control, may be the primary reason the plane didn’t fly.
Do you meet the above requirements? Then it’s time to determine how much Emirates flight delay compensation you’re eligible for. It depends on the length of your delay, as well as the length of your flight:
Keep in mind that whether your flight meets the criteria of being delayed 3 hours or more is measured by its arrival time. That is, your flight must arrive at its destination more than 3 hours after its initial scheduled arrival. If your flight leaves its origin point more than 3 hours late, but still arrives less than 3 hours after its scheduled time, you may not be able to claim Emirates delayed flight compensation.
However, the exact time of arrival may be up for debate. Courts have ruled that a plane has “arrived” when it opens at least one of its doors. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on your watch when those doors open. If your flight is cutting it close to the 3-hour mark, you may have a case.
Cancelled flights are also subject to the extraordinary circumstances criteria. If your flight was cancelled due to a reason within the airline’s control, you’re eligible. The Emirates flight compensation you are owed will then depend on the length of your flight.
| Flight Length | Amount Owed |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500km | € 250 |
| 1,500km – 3,500km | € 400 |
| More than 3,500km | € 600 |
You’ll also be able to get a refund of your original ticket price, regardless of the reason for the cancellation. This refund is in addition to the compensation you may be owed under EU 261. The airline may also offer to re-route you on the next available flight, however, if that doesn’t work for you, you can choose to receive a refund instead.
These rules only apply if the airline cancels your flight with less than 14 days notice. If you change plans, get sick or have another reason not to travel and you cancel your own flight, you won’t be protected under EU 261. You may still be able to get a refund or reschedule your flight, but you won’t be entitled to additional compensation.
What if you were denied boarding? Are you eligible for Emirates flight compensation? The answer depends on the reason for the denial. If the crew judges you to be too inebriated or too sick to fly, they may deny you boarding. You can also be denied if you don’t have the right documents, like a valid passport and visa for your destination. EU 261 does not cover you if you were denied boarding for these reasons.
Another common reason for denied boarding is overbooking. Overbooking is when an airline sells more tickets than it has available seats on the plane. Sometimes airlines do this on purpose to ensure they make the most profit possible, even if passengers don’t show up or cancel. When all passengers do show up, the airline has to “bump” some of them to another flight that isn’t as full. Overbooking is nearly always the airline’s fault, and you are probably eligible for compensation if this is the reason you were denied boarding. Get a professional opinion from a reliable source like TravelRefund.
EU 261 also provides additional rights for passengers, above and beyond the compensation you may be owed.
Whether your flight is cancelled or delayed, you’re also entitled to “assistance” while you wait at the airport – regardless of the reason. Even if your Emirates delayed flight is due to circumstances outside the airline’s control, you can still receive:
Emirates should provide you with vouchers to use while you wait. If they don’t, be sure to save your receipts. You may be able to get reimbursed for these expenses in addition to your Emirates delay compensation.
Emirates delay compensation isn’t guaranteed. As you can tell, there are many variables that determine how much you will receive, if anything. But there are things you can do to help. Here’s how to be prepared and ensure your Emirates delayed flight claim moves smoothly.
Always arrive at your gate early and be on the lookout for any updates or unusual activity. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you notice something amiss. By staying on top of your flight status, you can help ensure you’re first in line if your flight is cancelled or delayed. That means you’ll be on the next flight out – instead of being stuck at the airport.
Ensure you’re familiar with the different types of compensation you may be entitled to, including while you’re in the airport. Request vouchers for food and refreshments. Let the airline know you’ll require a refund if the next available flight isn’t soon enough. Be assertive, but not pushy. Educated passengers are more likely to get assistance.
Educated passengers also know to save all documentation. As soon as you learn about your Emirates delayed flight or cancellation, ask the airline desk for the reason. Write it down, along with the name and contact information of the person who told you. Or, get it in writing from the airline. Also save your travel documents, booking confirmation, and boarding pass.
At TravelRefund, our sole purpose is to get you the Emirates flight delay compensation you’re owed. We have legal expertise and years of experience in the industry that is invaluable for passengers seeking compensation. It’s always a good idea to have a professional on your side.
It’s easy to get started with TravelRefund. You can make a claim right on our website, and we’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible. We’ll also contact the airline to open the lines of communication. In fact, communication is the number-one reason you’ll want a professional. Airlines may cause delays and slow down the process in the hopes that you’ll forget about your claim, or simply give up.
TravelRefund won’t give up. We’ll continue to fight for you, and even take your claim to court if needed. We’ll always determine the correct reason for your Emirates delayed flight. And if your case doesn’t win, you don’t owe us anything. You only pay a small percentage if you get compensation.
Contact us today to get started. We can help you determine if you’re eligible and go over everything you need to know about filing a claim for Emirates delay compensation.