If you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to care.
In most cases, this means free food and free hotel accommodation.
If your Brussels Airlines flight experiences a delay, last-minute cancellation, or schedule alteration, you have the right to certain services without any additional cost. If your waiting time exceeds 3 hours, you should be provided with complimentary refreshments and meals. In the event of an overnight delay, Brussels Airlines is obligated to offer you a complimentary hotel stay.
Right to Care From Brussels Airlines
European legislation guarantees air travelers with specific rights and protections in the event of flight disruptions.
Consequently, individuals who fly on European airlines have a right to care, i.e., are entitled to receive assistance. These European laws apply to the majority of Brussels Airlines flights – those to, within, and from the European Union.
This obligation is enforced by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
Short Delays (3+ Hours)
You can get: meal and refreshments.
If your flight with Brussels Airlines experiences a delay of three hours or more during daylight hours, you are entitled to receive complimentary meals and beverages (as per the waiting time). You will also be given two opportunities to make phone calls, send emails, or facsimiles at no charge.
Coupons will be provided to access these benefits.
Long Delays (Overnight)
You can get: food, drinks, hotel stay and airport transfer.
In the event of an overnight delay of your flight, Brussels Airlines will provide you with free accommodation, airport transfers, as well as food and drinks. If you have not been notified about these arrangements, please get in touch with Brussels Airlines at the earliest opportunity.
How to Get Free Meals and Complimentary Hotel Stay?
When confronted with significant delays at the airport, Brussels Airlines should proactively provide passengers with free meals, complimentary hotel stay and free airport transfer. You should not need to prompt them for these; they should be granted to you during your waiting period.
In instances where these services aren’t proactively offered, it’s crucial to head to the Brussels Airlines customer service desk and ask about them. As per European law, the airline is obligated to offer these services without charge for qualifying delays.
In the unlikely event that the airline doesn’t make these arrangements, you might have to organize them on your own. Retain all bills and proof of purchase for food, beverages, transfers, and hotel accommodation. Once you have these documents, you can lodge a reimbursement claim with Brussels Airlines, specifying your expenses during the delay. Ensure you provide all necessary details to facilitate a smooth reimbursement process.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Let’s delve into the details.
What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?
Extraordinary circumstances refer to situations that are beyond the airline’s control.
These can include extreme weather conditions, strikes unrelated to the airline, security threats, political instability, or hidden technical issues that threaten flight safety.
In these scenarios, despite the inconvenience caused, the airline is not mandated to provide compensation as they are deemed exempt under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Nonetheless, passengers still possess the right to care, as detailed earlier.
Are Technical Issues Considered Extraordinary Circumstances?
Generally, technical problems do not fall under the category of extraordinary circumstances as per Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. The regulation specifically states that technical issues that emerge from the usual operations of the airline are not considered extraordinary, as they are within the control of the airline.
Such issues include all minor repairs, and more. These tasks are part of the standard responsibilities of an airline and consequently, cannot be used as a reason to waive off the provision of compensation or care to passengers.
However, if there’s a hidden manufacturing defect that poses a threat to flight safety, this might be classified as extraordinary. Such situations are rare, pose an immediate risk to the safe operation of the aircraft, and do not fall within the daily technical operations of the airline.
Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances
Even amidst extraordinary circumstances, passengers maintain their right to care.
While Brussels Airlines may not be required to offer compensation for delays or cancellations stemming from situations beyond their control, they are still obligated to ensure your comfort during the waiting period. This entails providing meals, refreshments, and accommodation in case of significant delays.
The same principle applies to offering an alternate mode of transport if the flight gets cancelled – passengers have a right to this. You have a right to this.
Right to Care: FAQ
In this section, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions about passengers’ right to care during flight delays and cancellations with Brussels Airlines.
What Is the Right to Care?
The right to care refers to the obligations airlines have towards their passengers in case of flight delays, overbooking and flight cancellations.
Under European law, Brussels Airlines is required to ensure passengers’ comfort during these circumstances, which includes providing free meals, refreshments, and accommodation in the case of significant delays and last-minute flight cancellations that can’t be solved right away (it takes a lot of time for the airline to book you a new flight).
How Do I Get My “Right to Care” If My Flight Is Delayed?
If your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more, Brussels Airlines should automatically provide you with amenities such as free meals and refreshments, and necessary accommodation in the case of overnight delays.
If these services are not offered, approach the Brussels Airlines customer service counter at the airport to inquire about them. Alternatively, you can personally cover the cost of the services and then file a claim for reimbursement at a later time. The sooner you do the latter, the better.
Do I Have the Right to Care If My Flight Is Cancelled?
Yes, if your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to the right to care.
This means Brussels Airlines is required to provide you with meals, refreshments, and accommodation (if necessary), as well as an alternative method of transportation to your destination. If the cancellation is due to the airline’s fault, you also have a right to flight cancellation compensation.
Are Extraordinary Circumstances an Exception to the Right to Care?
No, even in the event of extraordinary circumstances, which are situations beyond the control of the airline, the right to care still applies.
This means that even if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions, security risks, or labor strikes, you are still entitled to free meals, refreshments, and accommodation (if necessary).
How Do I Request Reimbursement If I Had to Arrange for My Accommodation and Meals?
If you had to arrange for your meals, accommodation, or airport transfers due to Brussels Airlines’ failure to do so, make sure to keep all receipts and proof of purchase. You can submit these, along with a detailed account of your expenses during the delay, to Brussels Airlines for reimbursement.
Please note that this policy only applies to essential expenses, not anything else.
Does the Right to Care Apply to All Brussels Airlines Flights?
The right to care applies to all Brussels Airlines flights to and from Europe.
Since Brussels Airlines is an EU airline, the right to care under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to all of its flights both departing from and arriving in Europe. However, it’s crucial to note that with non-European airlines, this regulation only applies to flights that are departing from Europe. Flights on non-European airlines that are arriving in Europe from other parts of the world are not covered under this European law.
Does the “Right to Care” Apply Only to Europeans?
No, the right to care applies to all passengers on Brussels Airlines flights regardless of their nationality.
The laws that give passengers the right to care are Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and Regulation UK261, which were created by the European Union and UK government. These regulations state that any airline operating in Europe must provide care and compensation for affected passengers when applicable. This means that the right to care applies to all passengers on Brussels Airlines flights, regardless of their nationality.
The only exception is in the case of non-European airlines, where this regulation applies only to flights departing from Europe and not those arriving in Europe from other parts of the world.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.