Most Asked Questions

The AirLawyer's fee forms as follows: A. In out-of-Court cases: 1. Euros 80, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 250, 2. Euros 130, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 400, and 3. Euros 190, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 600. B. In cases with Court proceedings: 1. Euros 110, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 250, 2. Euros 180, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 400, and 3. Euros 270, when the passenger receives compensation in Euros 600. The above fees include any applicable V.A.T., so these fees are final. For any other compensation amounts or refunds, our fee amounts to 24.80% (any applicable V.A.T. included) of the total amount of the compensation paid by the airline to the passenger either in an out of Court settlement or following legal proceedings. In cases of Business Clients, different fees may apply according to any custom agreement. We get paid only if your claim is successful. We do not charge you anything upfront. If our claim is rejected you don’t pay anything. Checking your compensation in our on-line platform is absolutely free of charge.

If we have to go to the Court our fee will also be 20% (plus V.A.T. 24% on the fee). Again you pay us only in case of success. We will not proceed to any Court procedure unless we have your consent.

According to our payment policy, we will receive the compensation from the airline and ask you immediately for your bank account details in order to transfer you the money. Usually it takes between 1 and 3 days for the compensation to be reflected to your bank account. If you have any questions on the available payment methods, please contact us at [email protected] or at +302109818688.

You can check if you are entitled to compensation and claim you compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

We are experienced aviation lawyers who cover passengers’ claims for all sorts of flight accidents and incidents, including delays, cancellations and overbookings, baggage claims, on board the aircraft injuries and unfair practices. We act as your attorneys and represent you against the airline. We insist on the pursuit of your claim and put even the most complicated cases under the available provisions of the law to get the most out of the available legislation. We defend your rights to the maximum and claim not only your compensation based on EU261/2004, but also all additional damage. Along the way, we provide you support and regular updates and get paid only in case of success.

If the airline rejects your claim we examine the legibility of the reason presented by the airline. If we believe that the airline’s allegations have no real ground, we usually suggest that we prepare and file proceedings before the competent Court. Before commencing any Court preparation we always ask for your consent.

If your flight is delayed and you are still at the airport you can follow the steps below:

• Hold tickets and boarding passes related to the disrupted flights and to any other alternative flights offered.
• Ask the ground crew why the flight is delayed.
• Keep a note of the actual arrival time at your final destination. Remember that arrival time is when the airplane opens its door for disembarkation, and not when the airplane lands or parks at the gate. If you can, collect some proof, like photos of the departure board or any communication with the airline confirming the disruption.
• Ask the airline to cover your meals and refreshments.
• Keep all receipts from costs that occurred due to the delay (including hotel bookings, rent car bookings, taxis, meals etc.)
• Be careful with what you sign – do not sign anything or accept offers that may waive your rights (for example vouchers for future flights).

After reaching your destination you may check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

If your flight is cancelled and you are still at the airport follow the steps below:

• Hold tickets and boarding passes related to the disrupted flight and to any other alternative flights offered.
• Ask the ground crew why the flight is cancelled.
• If you eventually travel keep a note of the actual arrival time at your final destination. Remember that arrival time is when the airplane opens its door for disembarkation, and not when the airplane lands or parks at the gate. If you can, collect some proof, like photos of the departure board or any communication with the airline confirming the disruption.
• Ask the airline to cover your meals and refreshments.
• Keep all receipts from costs that occurred due to the cancellation (including hotel bookings, rent car bookings, taxis, meals etc.)
• Be careful with what you sign – do not sign anything or accept offers that may waive your rights (for example vouchers for future flights).

You may check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

If you are still at the airport and boarding was denied to you against your will, you should ask the airline to be re-routed to your final destination at your convenience or to be reimbursed for the full cost of your ticket.

• Additionally, remember to keep the following documents in order to support your claim:
• Ask for the airline’s confirmation that you were denied boarding, including the reason for that.
• Hold tickets and boarding passes related to the missed flights and to any other alternative flights offered.
• If you are offered re-routing keep a note of the actual arrival time at your final destination. Remember that arrival time is when the airplane opens its door for disembarkation, and not when the airplane lands or parks at the gate. If you can, collect some proof, like photos of the departure board or any communication with the airline confirming the disruption.

In case of boarding denial you can check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

If you are still at the airport and discover that your baggage is missing, follow the steps below:

• Report it immediately to the lost luggage desk of your operating carrier and make sure you fill a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Keep a copy and note your PIR reference number in order to track the status of your baggage.
• If you paid to replace missing items contained in your delayed baggage, keep all related receipts in order to use them for claiming your financial damage.
• Attention! Once the baggage is delivered to you, you have 21 days to file a claim against the airline. You can submit your claim either online or via email. Try to make a full list of all the items contained in the baggage and attach all relevant receipts of the new items you had to buy, including invoices, bank or credit card statements. Once the airline admits the loss or 21 days pass from the day of your travel without receiving your baggage, you can claim any damages caused by the loss of your baggage.

If you want AirLawyer to represent you before the airline because of baggage loss, you can submit your application here.

If you are still at the airport and discover that your baggage is damaged, follow the steps below:

• Take photos of the damage of your baggage and any items contained therein and report the damage to the luggage desk of your operating carrier. Fill a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and attach to is the photos of the damage. Keep a copy and note your PIR reference number as evidence of the timely notice of your complaint to the carrier.
• If you paid to replace damaged items contained in your baggage, keep all related receipts in order to use them for claiming your financial damage. Also, keep the receipt for the replacement of your destroyed baggage.
• Attention! In case you did not submit a PIR at the airport you have only 7 days from the delivery of your damaged baggage to make your complain to the carrier. Make sure that you create a full list of all the items contained in the baggage and attach all relevant receipts of the new items you had to buy, including invoices, bank or credit card statements.

If you want AirLawyer to represent you before the airline because of baggage damage, you can submit your application here.

If you suffered bodily injury or health risk during your journey for which you are not responsible, follow the steps below:

• Once the accident happens, try if possible to keep the contact details of any eye-witnesses who will be able to provide evidence of the circumstances surrounding the accident. If possible, take photos of your injury and the environment within which it happened and keep it as evidence.
• Before leaving the airport, report the accident to your carrier’s office and to the Civil Aviation Authority office in the airport. Make sure to keep copies from both reports and note their reference numbers.  
• Keep record of all medical examinations that prove your injury and its development. Also, retain all receipts for medical expenses and other costs that were necessary for your recovery.

If you want AirLawyer to represent you before the airline because of bodily injury, you can submit your application here.

You are entitled to compensation, if all of the conditions below apply:

• You had multiple flights booked under the same booking reference and you missed one of them because the previous flight was cancelled or delayed.
• You never arrived at your final destination or you arrived 2 or more hours later.
• The delay or cancellation of the flight was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, like general strikes, serious weather conditions, technical problems at the airport, Air Traffic Control restrictions, political unrest etc.

You can check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

You are entitled to compensation under the following conditions:

• The delay at your final destination is 3 hours or more.
• You either departed from an airport within the EU or your flight was operated by a European airline.
• The delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, like general strikes, serious weather conditions, technical problems at the airport, Air Traffic Control restrictions, political unrest etc.

You can check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

You are entitled to compensation under the following conditions:

• The airline did not inform you about the cancellation or informed you less than 14 days before the scheduled departure date.
• The departure airport was within the EU or your cancelled flight was operated by a European airline.
• The cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, like general strikes, serious weather conditions, technical problems at the airport, Air Traffic Control restrictions, political unrest etc.

You can check if you are entitled to compensation at AirLawyer’s Compensation Check platform.

If boarding was denied to you against your will, you are entitled to compensation as if your flight was cancelled and also to be reimbursed for the full cost of your ticket or to be re-routed to your final destination at your convenience.

If your flight was over-booked and you volunteered to surrender the reservation in exchange for a travel voucher, airline miles or other sort of compensation, you are no longer eligible under the Regulation.

You are also not entitled to compensation if you didn’t check-in or present at the gate on time, you didn’t have the proper documentation or you created a health, safety or security concern.

According to Montreal Convention you can claim any damage caused by the delay of your baggage as long as there is evidence that this delay forced you to pay for the replacement of any items carried in your baggage. Additionally, if the delay of the baggage and the items within it resulted in your suffering of any kind you can claim moral damage as well. The maximum overall claim is limited to the amount of SDR 1,131 – around € 1,362.

If your baggage is delayed by more than 21 days, it is considered as lost. According to Montreal Convention you can claim the value of your baggage itself and of any items contained in the baggage for which evidence of purchase exists. Additionally, if the loss of the baggage and the items within it resulted in your suffering of any kind you can claim moral damage as well. The maximum overall claim is limited to the amount of SDR 1,131 – around € 1,362.

According to Montreal Convention you can claim the repair or replacement of the baggage if the baggage is destroyed. If any items contained in the baggage are also affected, their value is also recoverable to the extent that you present related evidence. Additionally, if the damage of any contained items resulted in your suffering of any kind you can claim moral damage as well. The maximum overall claim is limited to the amount of SDR 1,131 – around € 1,362.

According to Montreal Convention, if you suffered an injury on board the aircraft or during your embarkation or disembarkation for which you were not responsible, you can claim moral damage and any costs incurred from your injury up to amount of SDR 113,100 – around € 136,265.

“Extraordinary circumstances” are circumstances beyond the airlines’ inherent control that exempt them from the obligation to compensate you in case of flight cancellation. Such circumstances might occur due to general strikes, serious weather conditions, technical problems at the airport, Air Traffic Control restrictions, political unrest etc.

Internal strikes by airline staff of the air carrier are not considered as “extraordinary circumstrances”. In these cases airlines should compensate their passengers according to EC 261/2004.

Your claim is time limited according to the law of your country, provided that either the place of departure or the place of destination is situated in that country. Otherwise, your claim will be time limited according to the law of the country where the carrier has its headquarters.

For baggage delays, loss or damage and health risk claims, you can claim your compensation within a period of 2 years reckoned from the date of arrival at your destination.

You as the passenger should claim and receive compensation, even if you are not the buyer of the ticket. The buyer of the ticket can collect the refund of the ticket and any other financial damage suffered by the buyer of the ticket, where a refund or further compensation are applicable.

Even if you have been compensated for your additional expenses and accommodation, you are still entitled to receive compensation as provided in Regulation EC 261/2004.

A booking reference is the airline's internal identifier for your flight booking within their computer system. It is a unique combination of 6 symbols – letters and numbers – which you can find on your e-ticket and any other document that confirms your booking. If you cannot find your ticket, you might be able to find your reference number in your email history, including booking receipts, any kind of reminders about the journey etc.

Sometimes airlines might not respond at all. In this case we proceed (a) to submit an infringement report to the competent National Enforcement Body, which is responsible for the enforcement of Regulation 261/2004, or (b) to claim in Court, always after asking for your consent.

You should tell them that you are represented by an attorney and that they should contact AirLawyer regarding your claim. Sometimes after filing a claim on behalf of a passenger the airline contacts him/her directly offering them to close the case by paying an amount of money or making an alternative offer, like vouchers or tickets. The compensation offered might be much lower than the one you are entitled to. In any case, we advise that you inform us of any direct contact you may have with the air carrier.

It is sufficient, if one passenger who travels with others files an application to AirLawyer and includes the names of all the other co-passengers. In this case AirLawyer will contact each passenger personally to get their authorisation in order to pursue their claim.

Yes, minors who have had a seat reserved in their name are also entitled to compensation. In this case Authorisations can be signed by their parents or legal guardians.