Premium flights, passenger rights: Your Aer Lingus experience
Even established, full-service airlines like Aer Lingus (founded in 1936, headquartered in Dublín, Irlanda) experience operational issues. When you book a flight with a premium carrier, you expect reliability.
If your Aer Lingus flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
If your Aer Lingus flight has been disrupted, you are covered by the European EC 261 Regulation. You could be owed up to €600 per passenger. We help you enforce your rights against major airlines without the stress of dealing with their complex legal departments.
Aer Lingus Operational Performance
Based on our latest data, out of 1700 recent departures:
- 82% of Aer Lingus flights departed on time.
- 3.1% were cancelled.
- 14.9% suffered significant delays.
Your passenger rights with Aer Lingus
Under EU and UK law (EC 261), Aer Lingus's passengers are entitled to financial compensation in specific scenarios:
schedule
Delayed Flights
If you arrived at your final destination over 3 hours late, you could claim from Aer Lingus.
cancel
Cancelled Flights
Aer Lingus must compensate you if they cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure.
group_off
Denied Boarding
If Aer Lingus overbooked the flight and denied you boarding against your will, you have full rights to compensation.
How much Aer Lingus compensation can you get?
As a legacy carrier, Aer Lingus operates many long-haul flights where the maximum €600 compensation applies. The payment tiers are:
- euro_symbol€250: For short flights up to 1,500km.
- euro_symbol€400: For EU flights over 1,500km, and non-EU flights between 1,500km and 3,500km.
- euro_symbol€600: For long-haul Aer Lingus flights over 3,500km.
Lost baggage with Aer Lingus
If Aer Lingus loses or damages your luggage, you must fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before leaving the airport. You could be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention.
How to handle a Aer Lingus disruption
Follow these steps if your Aer Lingus flight is interrupted:
- 1 Keep your documents: Save your Aer Lingus booking reference and boarding pass.
- 2 Ask for the reason: Ask Aer Lingus staff at the gate exactly why the flight is delayed or cancelled.
- 3 Request care: Ask Aer Lingus for food and drink vouchers during long waits.
- 4 Don't sign waivers: Be careful not to sign away your rights in exchange for Aer Lingus air miles or vouchers.
- 5 Keep expense receipts: Keep receipts for any extra expenses incurred.
When Aer Lingus cancels your flight
If Aer Lingus cancels your flight abruptly, you have the right to either a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination. In addition, if you were informed less than 14 days prior, you can claim up to €600 in cash compensation.
Severe delays with Aer Lingus
For flights delayed by more than 3 hours at arrival, Aer Lingus is required by European law to pay compensation. The amount depends strictly on the flight distance, not the ticket price.
Bumpped from a Aer Lingus flight?
Overbooking is a known practice. If Aer Lingus denies you boarding due to overcapacity, you are entitled to the same high levels of compensation as if the flight had been cancelled.
When Aer Lingus doesn't have to pay
Compensation is not applicable in 'extraordinary circumstances' – events outside of Aer Lingus's control. Examples include severe adverse weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, or medical emergencies. Aer Lingus must prove these circumstances to deny your claim.
Can you claim for Aer Lingus staff strikes?
Yes. If the strike involves Aer Lingus's own employees, such as their pilots or cabin crew, it is considered within their control, and you are eligible for compensation.
Time limits for claiming against Aer Lingus
Depending on the jurisdiction, you usually have between 3 to 6 years to submit your claim against Aer Lingus for a past flight disruption.
Let us deal with Aer Lingus
Don't get bogged down in Aer Lingus's customer service queues. We operate on a 'No Win, No Fee' basis, meaning we take all the financial risk.