Premium flights, passenger rights: Your Air India experience
Even established, full-service airlines like Air India (founded in 1932, headquartered in Nueva Delhi, India) experience operational issues. When you book a flight with a premium carrier, you expect reliability.
If your Air India 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 Air India 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.
Air India Operational Performance
Based on our latest data, out of 4600 recent departures:
- 77% of Air India flights departed on time.
- 4.5% were cancelled.
- 18.5% suffered significant delays.
Your passenger rights with Air India
Under EU and UK law (EC 261), Air India's passengers are entitled to financial compensation in specific scenarios:
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Delayed Flights
If you arrived at your final destination over 3 hours late, you could claim from Air India.
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Cancelled Flights
Air India must compensate you if they cancelled your flight less than 14 days before departure.
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Denied Boarding
If Air India overbooked the flight and denied you boarding against your will, you have full rights to compensation.
How much Air India compensation can you get?
As a legacy carrier, Air India 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 Air India flights over 3,500km.
Lost baggage with Air India
If Air India 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 Air India disruption
Follow these steps if your Air India flight is interrupted:
- 1 Keep your documents: Save your Air India booking reference and boarding pass.
- 2 Ask for the reason: Ask Air India staff at the gate exactly why the flight is delayed or cancelled.
- 3 Request care: Ask Air India for food and drink vouchers during long waits.
- 4 Don't sign waivers: Be careful not to sign away your rights in exchange for Air India air miles or vouchers.
- 5 Keep expense receipts: Keep receipts for any extra expenses incurred.
When Air India cancels your flight
If Air India 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 Air India
For flights delayed by more than 3 hours at arrival, Air India is required by European law to pay compensation. The amount depends strictly on the flight distance, not the ticket price.
Bumpped from a Air India flight?
Overbooking is a known practice. If Air India denies you boarding due to overcapacity, you are entitled to the same high levels of compensation as if the flight had been cancelled.
When Air India doesn't have to pay
Compensation is not applicable in 'extraordinary circumstances' – events outside of Air India's control. Examples include severe adverse weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, or medical emergencies. Air India must prove these circumstances to deny your claim.
Can you claim for Air India staff strikes?
Yes. If the strike involves Air India'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 Air India
Depending on the jurisdiction, you usually have between 3 to 6 years to submit your claim against Air India for a past flight disruption.
Let us deal with Air India
Don't get bogged down in Air India's customer service queues. We operate on a 'No Win, No Fee' basis, meaning we take all the financial risk.