Airline Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is the national airline of Turkey. Founded in 1933, it is one of the oldest airlines in the world.
Although it is not part of the European Union, Turkey is a neighbouring state. Therefore, it maintains regular exchanges with the EU. Turkish Airlines operates numerous flights between Europe and Turkey. It also offers many connecting flights to other destinations.
It is therefore almost certain that your Turkish Airlines flight is subject to European regulations. We explain everything in this article.
What are the refund options with Turkish Airlines?
More and more airlines are offering options for you to get a refund for your ticket. Turkish Airlines is no exception.
However, like other airlines, given the additional cost involved, the value of such options is debatable. In economy class, you have three fare options:
- EcoFly
- ExtraFly
- PrimeFly
Only the last option entitles you to a partial refund (with fees). For a full refund, you need to book a Business class ticket.
However, the airline offers a cancellation insurance, allowing you, under certain conditions, to get a refund.
If you paid for your ticket with a Visa Premier card, it is likely that it offers the same guarantees.
If you decide to cancel your flight, the airline usually considers it your responsibility.
However, in certain cases, a refund is a right provided by law. This applies regardless of the options you selected for your ticket.
If your flight is cancelled, delayed by more than 5 hours, or overbooked, a refund is also possible.
Turkish Airlines and Regulation (EC) No 261/2004: which flights are covered?
According to the European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 defining air passenger rights, the following flights are covered:
- any flight departing from an airport within the European Community (including Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland)
- any flight arriving at an airport within this same community space, operated by an airline based in that community space.
Turkish Airlines is notanEuropean airline, so this regulation only applies to flights departing from a European airport. However, for connecting flights, the departure airport is considered.
Your Turkish Airlines flight is disrupted: what are your rights?
If your Turkish Airlines flight is covered by European regulations, here are your rights:
- care until your arrival
- re-routing under similar conditions
- financial compensation for incurred expenses (meals, drinks, hotel, and two phone calls).
Your delay upon arrival is a disadvantage. If Turkish Airlines is found responsible, they must compensate you accordingly.
Compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 indeed provides for a fixed compensation based on specific criteria. This is determined by the delay upon your arrival.
In case of delay
If your flight is delayed, you are eligible for compensation based on the following amounts and criteria:
- €250 for a flight less than 1500 km with a delay of 2 hours or more
- €400 for a non-EU flight between 1500 and 3500 km or an EU flight over 1500 km with a delay of 3 hours or more
- €600 for a non-EU flight over 3500 km with a delay of 4 hours or more.
No compensation is due for delays shorter than the specified durations.
In case of cancellation
Your flight is considered cancelled when it is removed and replaced by another.
If this happens to you, you are eligible for compensation, regardless of the delay. However, if the airline re-routes you within a reasonable time, the compensation may be reduced.
The compensation then changes from:
- €250 to €125 for a flight less than 1500 km with less than 2 hours delay
- €400 to €200 for a non-EU flight between 1500 and 3500 km or an EU flight over 1500 km with less than 3 hours delay
In case of overbooking
Sometimes a flight experiences overbooking, also known as overselling: the airline issues more tickets than there are seats on the plane. If everyone shows up for boarding, some passengers may be denied boarding.
If this happens to you, the good news is that you are almost certainly entitled to compensation. This is calculated using the same scale as for a flight cancellation.
Cases where compensation is excluded
In the event of an incident on your flight, the airline is responsible for taking care of you. And if this incident entitles you to compensation, it is again the airline that must pay it.
However, this assumes the airline is responsible and the damage is real. In the event of flight disruption, this is not always the case. Therefore, compensation is not due in the following cases:
- the airline informed you at least 15 days before the flight date
- you are re-routed at the originally scheduled departure and arrival times
- extraordinary circumstances (strike, bad weather, risk to crew or passengers).
What if there is a strike by Turkish Airlines staff?
A strike is an extraordinary circumstance that exempts the airline from compensating you. However, this does not apply to a strike by its own staff.
We are referring here to a strike by third-party staff: air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, etc.
If Turkish Airlines' own staff go on strike, the airline is indeed responsible and must compensate you.
Your Turkish Airlines flight is disrupted: what should you do?
Your flight may encounter various disruptions, whether with Turkish Airlines or another airline. These disruptions may or may not be the airline's fault.
In any case, the airline remains your point of contact. They are best placed to answer your questions and requests.
Generally, if your Turkish Airlines flight is disrupted, we recommend the following:
- find out the type of incident (delay, cancellation, overbooking...) and its reason*
- request re-routing as soon as possible
- do not sign any document that waives your rights (refund offer, in cash or credit)
- keep all your flight documents (boarding pass and incident notifications)
- note your actual departure and arrival times.
Once you arrive at your destination, you can assess whether your delay entitles you to compensation.
Want to claim compensation from Turkish Airlines? Delayed is here to help
Did your Turkish Airlines flight experience a delay, cancellation, or overbooking? You may be eligible for compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
However, knowing your rights and enforcing them can be worlds apart. The process can be lengthy and complicated.
Why not let specialists handle it for you? Delayed, an expert in air passenger rights, assists you with your claims.
Contact us and claim up to €600 on your flight ticket.