What does it mean when a flight is diverted? Why do flights get diverted? What happens if your flight is diverted?
A diverted flight happens when a plane is required to land at an airport other than the one originally scheduled, often due to weather conditions, safety concerns, or other events. If your flight is diverted, you have specific rights. The airline is obligated to transport you to the destination listed on your ticket without additional charges. Additionally, you may be eligible for compensation if the diversion results in a delay.
Continue reading to learn more about your rights.
What Is a Diverted Flight?
A diverted flight occurs when a plane is redirected to land at an airport different from its original destination.
This can occur due to bad weather, mechanical or safety issues, medical emergencies, or air traffic restrictions. Instead of landing as scheduled, the plane is redirected to another location. There, passengers receive assistance from the airline to reach their final destination. If it’s a European airline or a flight departing from Europe (for non-European airlines), the airline must help passengers reach their destination.
What happens if your flight is diverted?
Read on to lean more.
What Happens if Your Flight Is Diverted?
When a flight is diverted, the plane lands at a different airport than planned.
Flight diversion often happens due to bad weather, technical problems, medical emergencies, or safety concerns. After landing at the alternate airport, the airline will either fix the issue or arrange for passengers to reach their final destination. This could mean waiting for repairs, switching to another flight, or providing other transport such as bus, train or taxi.
If you had a connecting flight, you might receive a new ticket from the airport to continue to your final destination. The airline must ensure passengers get to their original destination without extra cost.
If you have to wait at the airport, you have the right to care.
If you arrive more than 3 hours late, remember to file a compensation claim. You might be eligible for easyJet diverted flight compensation.
For flights with easyJet, these rules apply to all flights to and from Europe.
If you are flying with a non-European airline, these rules only apply to flights leaving from Europe.
If a technical issue occurs during a flight, the pilot and crew will evaluate the situation to ensure safety. For minor issues that do not affect safety, the flight may continue as planned. However, for more serious problems, the pilot may decide to either return to the origin airport if it’s nearby, or divert to the nearest suitable airport for an emergency landing. The decision is based on ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew, following strict safety protocols.
When a flight returns to its starting airport, the airline must ensure passengers reach their destination, similar as with flight diversion. Passengers are usually rebooked on the next flight, with the same airline or another if needed. For long delays, the airline might offer food, drink vouchers, and hotel accommodations for overnight stays.
EasyJet Diverted Flight: Your Rights
If you’re waiting at the airport due to flight diversion, remember you have a right to care.
This can include food and drinks, and sometimes accommodation if you need to stay overnight because of changed travel plans.
Also, easyJet must help you arrange alternative travel options.
If easyJet can’t arrange alternative transport for you, you may need to organise your own travel. In this case, easyJet will cover reasonable costs for options like trains, buses, or a new flight/flights. However, they won’t cover unreasonable expenses like long-distance taxis or private limousines.
If you reach your destination three or more hours late due to a flight diversion, you may qualify for flight compensation under EU regulations.
Easyjet Flight Diverted: Compensation
Are you eligible for easyJet diverted flight compensation?
If your flight is redirected due to an issue caused by the airline you may be eligible to claim up to 600 Euros for each passenger.
Here’s a breakdown of the compensation you can receive under EU rules:
- Short Flights (up to 1,500 km): €250
- Medium Flights (1,500 km to 3,500 km): €400
- Long Flights (over 3,500 km): €600
However, if your flight is diverted due to reasons that the airline cannot control, like bad weather or unexpected events, you may not be eligible for any compensation.
To claim diverted flight compensation, you have two main ways to do it: contact easyJet directly, or contact a flight compensation company.
The second option is easier and faster.
Remember, understanding your rights regarding easyJet diverted flight compensation is important to ensure you get what you’re entitled to.
Do you have more questions about what happens if your flight is diverted? Do you have more questions about flight diversion compensation & UK/EU regulations? Ask in the comments.
Featured photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels