Is flight compensation per person or per booking?

Flight Compensation: Per Person or Per Booking?

When an airline disrupts a passenger’s journey, it has a legal obligation to provide compensation. But how is the compensation amount determined? Is it based on the number of people traveling together or the booking reference?

Compensation is Individualized

Contrary to common belief, flight compensation is not determined per booking. Instead, it is calculated individually for each affected passenger. This means that every passenger on the same disrupted flight is entitled to their own compensation, regardless of whether they booked together or separately.

Factors Determining Compensation

The amount of compensation a passenger receives is based on several factors, including:

• The distance of the disrupted flight
• The severity of the disruption (e.g., delay, cancellation, denied boarding)
• The passenger’s ticket class

Fair Treatment for All

By calculating compensation individually, airlines ensure fair treatment for all passengers. This prevents group bookings from unfairly benefiting from higher compensation than individual passengers. It also compensates each passenger for the specific inconvenience and financial loss they have suffered.

Example

For instance, if a group of three passengers books a flight together and the flight is delayed by four hours, each passenger would be entitled to compensation of €250. The total compensation payout for the group would be €750, regardless of whether they booked together or separately.

Conclusion

Flight compensation is an individual right that is calculated based on the specific circumstances of each passenger’s disrupted journey. This ensures that all affected passengers receive fair treatment and appropriate compensation for the inconvenience and financial loss they have experienced.