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.
In the case of Vueling flight delays, cancellations, or last-minute changes, you are entitled to receive adequate care. This means that certain services should be provided to you free of charge. If your waiting time exceeds 3 hours, you should receive free meals and drinks. Additionally, if there is an overnight delay, Vueling is responsible for arranging a complimentary hotel stay for you.
Right to Care From Vueling
In accordance with European law, air passengers are guaranteed essential protection and care. This legal provision guarantees passengers traveling on European airlines the right to receive adequate care and assistance during their journey. In certain cases, these customer protections may also apply to non-European airlines, such as when the flight departs from Europe.
These obligations are specified under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
Short Delays (3+ Hours)
You can get: food and refreshments.
If your Vueling flight is delayed for three or more hours during the daytime, you have a right to care from Vueling. They are obligated to offer you complimentary meals and refreshments. In addition, they should provide you with two free phone calls, emails, or faxes. Usually, all of these services will be provided through coupons.
Long Delays (Overnight)
You can get: food, drinks, hotel stay and airport transfer.
If your Vueling flight is delayed overnight, the airline is responsible for offering you free accommodation, airport transfers, food, and drinks. In case you haven’t been informed of these arrangements, it is advisable to contact Vueling immediately.
How to Get Free Meals and Free Hotel Accommodation?
During extended waits at the airport due to flight delays or cancellations, Vueling is responsible for ensuring your comfort by providing essentials such as complimentary meals, accommodation and transportation to and from the airport. These services are provided without requiring a specific request from you during the delay.
If these facilities aren’t promptly offered, ensure that you have a word with the Vueling customer service desk and ask about them. As per European regulations, the airline is obliged to offer these services free of cost for delays that qualify.
In the uncommon event that the airline doesn’t arrange these amenities for you, you may need to make arrangements on your own. Remember to retain all receipts and proofs of purchase related to meals, beverages, transportation, and hotel stays. This documentation will allow you to submit a reimbursement claim to Vueling, showcasing your expenses during the delay.
Providing all necessary details will expedite the reimbursement process.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Firstly, let’s understand the meaning of this term.
What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?
Extraordinary circumstances are events beyond the airline’s control.
In our context, these are events that may lead to flight delays, cancellations or changes. These include severe weather conditions, strikes not related to the airline, security threats, political unrest, or unforeseen technical issues that could interfere with the flight’s safety.
In such cases, although passengers may experience inconvenience, the airline is not required to offer compensation as these conditions are exempt under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. However, the right to care as outlined above, still stands.
Are Technical Problems Considered Extraordinary Circumstances?
Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, technical issues are usually not categorised as extraordinary circumstances. The regulation clearly states that technical problems that arise from an airline’s regular operations do not qualify as extraordinary, as they are within the control of the airline.
Routine maintenance or minor repairs fall under this category. As these tasks are within the airline’s standard responsibilities, they cannot be used as exemptions to avoid offering compensation or care to passengers.
But, if the technical problem is a hidden manufacturing defect that could affect flight safety, then it may be considered extraordinary. This is because these scenarios are infrequent, immediately affect the aircraft’s safe operation, and do not form part of the airline’s regular technical duties.
Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances
Passengers have the right to care even during extraordinary circumstances.
Even though Vueling may not be obliged to provide compensation for delays or cancellations that arise from uncontrollable situations, the airline is required to provide for your comfort during the waiting period. The provision of meals, refreshments and, in case of significant delays, accommodation, is included in this obligation.
The same rule applies when providing an alternative means of transport in the event of flight cancellation – passengers are entitled to this. You are entitled to new flight.
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 Vueling.
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, Vueling is required to ensure passengers’ comfort during these circumstances, which includes providing free meals, refreshments, and accommodation in the case of significant delays, flight cancellations and overbookings.
How Do I Get My “Right to Care” If My Flight Is Delayed?
If your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more, Vueling 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 Vueling 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 Vueling 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 not related to the airline, 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 Vueling’s failure to do so, keep all receipts and proof of purchase. You can submit these, along with a detailed account of your expenses during the delay, to Vueling for reimbursement.
Please note that this policy only applies to essential expenses, not anything else. Don’t expect to spend large sums on extravagant meals and get reimbursement from the airline.
Does the Right to Care Apply to All Vueling Flights?
The right to care applies to all Vueling flights to and from Europe.
Since Vueling 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 All Of This Apply Only to Europeans?
No, the right to care applies to all passengers on Vueling 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 Vueling 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.