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What is EC 261 Airline Compensation for a Downgraded Flight from Europe?
Joseph writes: “Paid for premium economy for myself and my wife from Frankfurt to Tampa. Due to a technical problem, a change of plane with different seat plan. We got downgraded to the worst seats in economy for 10 hours. They told us we would be compensated 400 euros each which is peanuts. What can I do?”
EC261 Article 10 provides: “If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class
lower than that for which the ticket was purchased, it shall within seven days, by the means provided for in Article 7(3), reimburse
(a) 30 % of the price of the ticket for all flights of 1 500 kilometres or less, or
(b) 50 % of the price of the ticket for all intra-Community flights of more than 1 500 kilometres, except flights between the European territory of the Member States and the French overseas departments, and for all other flights between 1 500 and 3 500 kilometres, or
(c) 75 % of the price of the ticket for all flights not falling under (a) or (b), including flights between the European territory of the Member States and the French overseas
departments.
Since Frankfurt FRA and Tampa TPA are 7754 km apart, Joseph is due a 75% refund of the ticket price (excluding taxes) for his and his wife's Frankfurt to Tampa flight. If the ticket purchase was for a roundtrip flight FRA-TPA-FRA or TPA-FRA-TPA, then deduct taxes, divide by half, and take 75% of that as the refund due. For example, if the roundtrip base fare (excluding taxes) was EUR 1260, half of that is EUR 630, and 75% of that is EUR 472.50, which would be the refund due.
Have you ever been downgraded on a flight covered by EC 261/2004, and if so, did the airline provide the appropriate compensation within the seven day deadline?
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