Delayed Flight Compensation in UAE: Can You Claim AED 21,000 for Airport Flight Delays?

If a plane is late or cancelled during a vacation, or on a business trip, it can be quite an ordeal. If you’re flying out of Dubai, into Abu Dhabi or connect via one of the other UAE airports, both UAE aviation regulations and international passenger rights apply to protect you. These rules guarantee that the airline will not strand passengers without assistance.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority Passenger Welfare Programme and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, offer significant safeguards to passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. These regulations, in conjunction with the Montreal Convention, cover your rights to refunds and payment and help if and when you have grounds for financial compensation.

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What Are Your Rights If Your Flight Is Cancelled?

No matter why your flight has been cancelled, your airline has to give you clear options to choose from.

Passengers will receive a full refund on the unused applicable portion of the ticket and/or will be re-booked for the next available flight, as applicable, or will be routed by the other airlines if applicable under the necessary agreements. Travel vouchers might also be provided, however not pushed on to passengers as a default.

Airlines Must Provide Immediate Assistance

When there are any delays, the priority is passenger welfare. The airlines will be expected to offer free food and beverages after about two hours. Passengers should be provided with communication support (internet access, phone calls etc) after three hours if still waiting. 

If the delays last longer than 6 hours or an overnight period, the airline will usually make the arrangements for hotel bookings and transfers to and from airports. If the airline doesn’t provide the meal, transportation or accommodations, there are all the more reasons to keep receipts.

Can You Really Claim Up to AED 21,000?

Some visitors assume there is compensation only following a flight error by the carrier. The situation is actually more complicated.

Flight delay or cancellation compensation can be requested under Article 357 of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 50 of 2022 (Commercial Transactions Law) in conjunction with Article 19 of the Montreal Convention, which provides for the compensation of commercial aircraft passengers for any intentional or unintentional financial loss.

As of now the maximum liability under the Montreal Convention is about 4,150 Special Drawing Rights or AED 21,000, on the basis of exchange rates).

What Expenses Can Be Claimed?

There is no automatic payout for compensation. The loss of financial savings on the passenger side will be a required element in the disruption. A few of these expenses can include non-refundable hotel accommodations, booked tours, lost business meetings, extra transportation costs or emergency hotel expenses due to the delay.

Almost any flight or boarding pass, or airline notices, etc. with amounts and dates will be of helpful evidence. Helpful evidence will include amounts and dates on a flight or boarding pass and airline notices.

When Airlines May Not Have to Pay Compensation?

Airlines do not have to pay monetary damages in certain situations. Even if the airline establishes that the disruption could only have happened as part of some extraordinary event beyond its control, it will not be liable for any monetary compensation. But despite these, one should in fact be able to claim a refund and rebooking, and services such as the “duty of care” which passengers should receive.

How to Submit a Compensation Claim?

The first step in recovering evidence is to collect it as soon after a disruption as possible.

Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation, screenshots of cancellation messages and all receipts of expenses you do incur. Make a written complaint directly to the airline involving Article 357 of the UAE Commercial Transactions Law and Article 19 of the Montreal Convention.

If the airline is not responding sufficiently, then passengers can escalate to the General Civil Aviation Authority or for flights arriving using Dubai airports, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

Tips to Strengthen Your Claim

When you are organized, you have far greater chances of success. When possible, ask in writing for the reason when a delay is experienced. Save digital copies of all documents and do not throw away any small receipts. If the airline will only pay you a travel voucher, note that taking a travel voucher will impact the interest of any related compensation claims in the future and you need to review the conditions carefully before accepting.

FAQs

Is it guaranteed that AED 21,000 is paid if I miss my flight?

No. The AED 21,000 amount is meant to be the maximum liability limit on the Montreal Convention. The delay or cancellation must result in actual financial losses and each case is handled individually.

Will I receive a refund if my flight is cancelled?

Yes. In case of cancellation, the airline is obliged to provide the choice of full refund, rebook onto the next available flight or an alternative route, if possible. It may not be the only remedy and must be offered by means of a travel voucher.

What help should be accorded by the airlines in prolonged delays?

Airlines normally must furnish meals, refreshments, communication service and, for longer or overnight delays, hotel accommodation and transportation.

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