If you're traveling to or from a European airport with Vueling, you may be entitled to compensation according to your European air passenger rights. Read on to learn how this works and how to make your Vueling EU 261 compensation claim.
Air Passengers Rights. What Is Vueling EU261 Compensation?
So, what exactly is EU 261? Well, you might also hear this EU regulation referred to under other names, like EC261 (Flight Compensation Regulation 2004). It's a part of EU legislation that helps to provide protections for passengers faced with flight issues.
Thanks to this law, it's possible to obtain delayed or cancelled flight compensation if you’re booked on a flight in Europe that has some sort of serious disruption (including denied boarding because of overbooking). EU 261 has helped many travellers receive reimbursement after their travel plans were ruined or interrupted because of flight issues.
One of the primary rights that air passengers in the EU enjoy in case of flight delays is the entitlement to information and assistance. Airlines are obligated to provide you with timely and accurate information about the cause and expected duration of the delay. Additionally, if the waiting time is expected to be for two hours or more, you should be offered free meals and refreshments, access to communication facilities, and accommodation if necessary by the Vueling customer service team.
Another crucial aspect of air passenger rights in the EU is the right to Vueling compensation. Depending on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay, the carrier could be required by law to pay compensation related to the flight delay ranging from €250 to €600. This indemnification is applicable if the delay is more than three hours and is not caused by an extraordinary circumstance or force majeure, such as extreme weather conditions or political unrest. Technical problems with the plane or flight crew caused delays are not considered extraordinary circumstances.
Furthermore, passengers have the right to choose between a full refund or re-routing to their final destination if the delay is more than five hours. In cases where re-routing is chosen, passengers are entitled to the same assistance mentioned earlier, including meals, refreshments, and accommodation.
Flight delayed over 3 hours or canceled? See if AirAdvisor can get you compensation.Check Your Flight
Types of Compensations Covered by EC 261
EC 261 offers quite broad coverage and will help you in a wide range of situations. Here are the four main cases in which passengers can typically make a claim under EC Regulation 261.
- Flight delay - you can claim delay compensation with the help of EU 261 2004 in situations where your flight was delayed for three hours or longer.
- Flight cancellations - passengers can claim flight cancellation reimbursement if their flight was cancelled by the airline. You might also be able to get a full flight refund in this case.
- Overbooking - you can also request compensation in situations of overbooking. This is when an airline sells too many tickets for a flight and you are denied boarding.
- Missed connection flight - if you have a delayed flight, you might fail to arrive in time for a connection later in your journey. In this situation, passengers are also protected by EC Regulation 261.
Vueling Flight Delay Compensation - How Much Can You Claim?
In the table below, you can find the amount you are owed in case Vueling has to pay indemnification for the flight delay, according to the rules set out in EU 261. The same amount of compensation applies in case of a cancelled flight, but we will cover that more in-depth below.
Vueling delay compensation | Flight distance | Delay time |
Up to €250 per person | <1500 km | More than 3 hours |
Up to €400 per person | Between 1500 and 3500 km | More than 3 hours |
Up to €400 per person | Over 3500 km within the EU | More than 3 hours |
Up to €300 per person | Over 3500 km, outside the EU | 3-4 hours |
Up to €600 per person | Over 3500 km, outside the EU | More than 4 hours |
However, you’ll still need to make sure that your flight situation meets the necessary requirements for reimbursement. We’ve compiled a list of all Vueling flights that you can check and see how much compensation you are owed in case of disruption.
You can also use our flight delay checker to find out if your flight’s delay was long enough to qualify. Then, you can use our flight delay compensation calculator to work out how much money you might be owed.
With cancellations, it’s usually much simpler, as the airline should have to pay out indemnification for almost any kind of cancellation, unless “extraordinary circumstances” are involved(which are outside the airline's control). Use our flight cancellation compensation calculator to work out how much compensation you could claim.
If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.Check Your Flight
Compensation For Vueling Cancelled Flight
Since it's one of the biggest low-cost carriers in Europe, it shouldn't be a surprise when Vueling Airlines cancels flights due to its busy schedule. Just know that in such cases, according to your EU air passenger rights, you may be entitled to compensation.
Passenger Rights for Cancelled Flight
One of the primary entitlements of air passengers in the EU is to receive information about the cancellation and the reason behind it. Airlines must inform you about the cancellation at least 14 days before the scheduled departure date.
If the notice is given less than 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to compensation if the airline cannot provide a suitable alternative flight. In case of flight cancellation, you are offered a choice between a full refund of the ticket price or re-routing to your final destination with a new flight as soon as possible.
If you opt for re-routing, the airline is responsible for providing you with assistance, including meals, phone calls, and even accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary.
Cases When You Are Not Entitled to Compensation
However, you cannot claim compensation in the following circumstances:
- You are informed of the cancellation of the flight at least two weeks before the scheduled time of departure;
- You are informed of the cancellation of the flight between 2 weeks and seven days before the initial time of departure and are given redirection, allowing you to leave no more than 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure and to reach the destination less than 4 hours after the scheduled time of arrival;
- You are informed of the cancellation of the flight less than seven days before the initial time of departure and are given redirection, allowing you to leave no more than one hour before the scheduled departure time and arrive at your final destination less than 2 hours from the scheduled time of arrival.
If you encounter difficulties within the procedure of filing a complaint in case of a delay, cancellation or need of any information regarding reimbursement, documents or refund policy, AirAdvisor specialists are always ready to help you.
Vueling Refund
Regarding Vueling ticket refunds, the process of requesting a refund depends on the circumstances of the flight cancellation. If the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as extreme weather or political unrest, you may not be entitled to compensation, but you can still request a Vueling refund for the unused portion of the ticket, in case you missed your connection. On the other hand, if the flight cancellation falls within the airline's responsibility, you can claim both indemnification and a Vueling ticket refund.
Denied Boarding in Case of Overbooked Flights
Sometimes, even if the Vueling flight takes off on time, you could still find yourself in the situation of not leaving the departure airport. This can happen because you are denied boarding due to overbooked flights. Airlines, Vueling included, often sell more tickets because not all passengers end up checking in. But if more passengers than the total number of seats come to their Vueling flight, then boarding is denied to some of them.
Find out if you are owed compensation for a disrupted flight.Check Your Flight
Other Care Services Vueling Airlines Should Offer
Additionally, to delayed, canceled, or denied boarding Vueling compensation, you will benefit from Vueling Air care services, which include:
- Free meals and soft drinks and two phone calls, telex or fax or email;
- Free accommodation and transportation to the hotel and transport between the airport and the accommodation - when the airline reasonably expects the actual departure time to be later than the scheduled departure date;
- Reimbursement of the full cost of the ticket, or a return flight to the first point of departure as soon as possible - if the delay, cancellation is at least 5 hours;
- Re-routing under comparable transport conditions to their final destination;
- Coverage of the cost of transferring the passenger from that alternative airport either to that for which the booking was made or to another close-by destination, agreed with the passenger.
What Should You Do in Case of Vueling Flight Disruptions
- First, we recommend speaking with airline staff. They'll be able to tell you more about the situation and explain why your flight was disrupted.
- Next, you'll need to make sure to collect as much evidence as you can to support your case later on when you claim Vueling compensation.
- While you wait at the airport, you can also claim basic services and necessities like food and water or even hotel accommodation at no extra expense to yourself. This is part of every traveller's passenger rights, according to EU rules.
- Finally, you can make use of our handy Compensation Calculator to find out how much money you can get in compensation, as well as checking your eligibility for EU261 refund.
Vueling EU261 Claim Form - How to Fill Out
In order to make a claim for EU 261 compensation, you'll need to fill in a relevant form. This can be done on the official Vueling website, and it involves filling in various pages and providing information and evidence to support your claim.
This can be quite a complicated process, and it's easy to make a mistake. That's why we recommend using the AirAdvisor site to make your claim instead, as our experts can help to ensure that you get the reimbursement you deserve without any hassle.
However, we recommend you to submit a claim form directly with Vueling first, as this is what UK law now requires, and only after that to submit a claim with AirAdvisor. We require evidence of prior direct submission (screenshot and airline reference number sent by Vueling to your email).
Also note that you should allow Vueling 30 days to respond to your complaint first before we AirAdvisor can step in. This protocol is important as this is what the law requires now before a legal claim can be litigated. This passenger unfriendly rule is a result of a Vueling court precedent in English court, aiming to discourage passengers seeking justice with professional service providers.
The good thing is that it’s really simple to fill out our EC261 Vueling compensation claim form. All you have to do is click on our Check Compensation tool and then tell us a little bit about your flight. You'll be asked for simple info, like the departure airport, destination, and the type of disruption you experienced.
Once you've provided the relevant details, our experts will start work on your case and help you make a claim for compensation with the airline. We can do the hard work for you and give you the best chance of a proper payout.
What to Do if Vueling EU261 Form Not Working
Sometimes, due to technical issues or other reasons, the EU261 form on Vueling's site might not work.If this happens, don't despair. You can simply fill out the EC261 form via the AirAdvisor site instead, and our team will start the claims process for you.
AirAdvisor Can Increase Your Chance of Success
Many carriers, Vueling Airlines included, often deny passengers their claims if you decide to do the whole process on your own. Airlines rely on the fact that many don't know their passenger rights. This is where AidAdvisor comes to help. At no extra cost to you before the win we may handle your Vueling flight compensation claim. We've successfully handled over 180,000 cases so far.
Figuring out how much you are owed for a disrupted flight can be complicated. We're here to help. Let us assess your compensation for you.Check Your Flight
FAQ
Can you get a refund on Vueling?
Yes, you can get a Vueling refund if the airline cancelled your flight or if the flight has been delayed by more than 5 hours.
Does Vueling cancel a lot of flights?
Usually, Vueling doesnʼt cancel too many flights, but this can change depending on what time of the year you are flying. During vacation seasons the number of flights increases and so does the risk of cancellation.
Has anyone received EU261 Vueling compensation?
Yes, many travellers who have suffered delays, cancellations, and other issues have received compensation from this airline.
How do I file a claim with Vueling?
To file a claim you can use our services for free. Just go to the "check compensation" button on the top of the page and we’ll start working on your case free of charge.
How do I get my money back from Vueling?
If you want to increase your chances of getting your money back from Vueling all you have to do is to submit your case through us. Our team of legal experts will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
Should Vueling compensate under EU261 for strikes?
No, EU261 doesn't usually cover flight problems caused by strikes. Worker strikes fall into the category of "extraordinary circumstances", which prevents airlines like Vueling from having to pay. However, in the case of a Vueling strike, you could be owed compensation.
Why can’t I fill in the EU261 form on the Vueling website?
Sometimes, the form might not work on the official site due to technical issues. You can always choose to fill in your form here at Air Advisor instead.
Recent Comments
Original delay time was 5 hours 18 minutes, then a further mechanical fault on take-off led to further 1hour 45 minute delay on the tarmac, leading to a total delay time of circa 7 hours from the original departure time. Booking code: XXUUXX Flight Number: VLG7815/VY7815 Original arrival time: 14:15 Actual arrival time: 21:00 No ground staff present at airport. No food or drinks vouchers issued. No food available on aircraft. Yueling website does not accept flight number or booking code within the compensation claim platform. No explanation is given.
My original flight was delayed 9 and a half hours and was meant to depart at midnight on August 29th, 2023. However at 17:00, 7 hours before the flight was meant to depart, I was notified that the flight was cancelled without any reason.
I and my family got to the airport on time at 6:10am for a flight flying at 7:45am. We were flying to Disney land Paris for my sons 5th birthday on the same day which was the 16/08/2023. We had checked in and revived our boarding pass. We grabbed some food and took our children to the toilet before going through security at 7:05, only for the airport staff to turn us back stating passengers are boarding now and we were too late to go through security, therefore they couldn’t allow us on the flight. My children were devastated as we had planned this trip for them for a while. We had no choice but to book another flight to Paris for the same day as we fuming and the same time sad that our children were crying. I had to book the next flight to Paris via easyJet. I was told by the easyJet staff that that was mean of Vueling as you have 45 minutes to go through security and board the plane. I am absolutely disappointed and the service revived by vueling staff as a whole I’ll appreciate if my complaint could be looked into please and get a refund for the new ticket I had to purchase.