Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation

Croatia Airlines flight cancellation refund.

Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation. What is the difference? In which situations can you get a refund? When are you entitled to compensation? How much is it? These are the main questions we are going discuss in this article. There are various reasons why airlines cancel their flights. All you need to know is, if your flight is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to both – a refund from Croatia Airlines and compensation of up to €600.

It applies to most Croatia Airlines flights to and from the EU.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled?

Will you be booked on a new flight for free? Can you get a refund if you don’t want to take that flight? Are you entitled to flight cancellation compensation?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation? 

Yes, if your Croatia Airlines flight meets these requirements:

• Cancellation must be due to the fault of the airline;
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 2 weeks before departure);
• Flight must be to/from Europe (EU, UK, EEA).

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.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disasters, terrorism threats, security issues, civil or political unrest, or certain types of strikes, you can’t get Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation. These events are out of the airline’s control. The airline is not responsible for flights cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances.

What about strikes? Not all strikes qualify as extraordinary circumstances. If your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled due to a Croatia Airlines staff strike, you will most likely get compensation from the airline, since this is considered the carrier’s responsibility. However, if a countrywide strike causes a delay or cancellation, it will be considered extraordinary circumstances (over which the airline has no control).

Keep in mind that aircraft technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances.

Make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling you the truth. 

If you are claiming compensation on your own, don’t forget about it. The airline might not tell you the right reason for cancellation. Airlines tend to avoid paying compensation saying that your flight was cancelled due to “extraordinary circumstances” when in fact it wasn’t. Also airlines might state that technical problems are “extraordinary circumstances”, too. But it’s not true. Airlines often take advantage of their customers’ lack of knowledge about their rights. Know your rights and be persistent when claiming compensation. 

If you don’t want to claim compensation yourself, you can hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will pursue compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services.

Just fill in the claim form on this website, and our partners will claim compensation on your behalf.

1.2 Right to Care

Your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case, you have a right to receive care from the airline.

The EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 states that all passengers in the EU have a right to care. If you have a last-minute cancellation, and you have to wait at the airport for your new flight for 3 or more hours, you have a right to receive care from the airline. What does this mean?

Croatia Airlines must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Refund, Croatia Airlines Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

If your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled, you can request a replacement flight or a full refund. The replacement aeroplane ticket must be issued at no cost. If you choose the cancellation refund, you must pay in full. These are the EU’s legislation. Internal airBaltic regulations (Croatia Airlines refund policy) have no bearing on these laws.

It applies to most flight cancellations in Europe. It doesn’t matter what is the reason for cancellation. Even if it’s due to extraordinary circumstances. 

If a passenger chooses a full refund, it has to be made within 7 days.

You don’t have to agree to a Croatia Airlines voucher refund.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you cancel your Croatia Airlines flight yourself. 

2. How to Claim Croatia Airlines Compensation?

There are two ways you can claim Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time-consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact Croatia Airlines directly. Use the contact form on Croatia Airlines website to request flight cancellation compensation from the airline. Or write an email to one of the email addresses mentioned on the website. When submitting a Croatia Airlines flight compensation claim, refer to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and mention your rights. If you are claiming compensation by yourself, be prepared that it may take a few months, and, possibly, several reminder emails, until you receive compensation from Croatia Airlines.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

If you want to avoid all the hassle, this is the best option. In this case, everything is done by a flight compensation company. All you have to do is to register your Croatia Airlines compensation claim, by filing and signing one form.

Our partners offer such services.

Read more: 

• How to Claim Croatia Airlines Compensation?
• Your Croatia Airlines Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
• Croatia Airlines Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

If the airline cooperates, 2 to 3 months.

2 to 3 months from the moment you file a compensation claim until your Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation is transferred to your bank account.

Note that not always airlines are cooperative. If the airline refuses your claim wrongly, you will need to take your case to a national enforcement body or even court. It could add at least a couple of months, sometimes even 6+ months, to the whole process.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in the EU is up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Croatia Airlines compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Croatia Airlines Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if Croatia Airlines offers you a voucher instead of compensation?

You don’t have to accept Croatia Airlines compensation voucher. Airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Croatia Airlines flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from Croatia Airlines. 

This email will include all the necessary information, such as, what are the replacement flight options, how can you get a refund, etc.

If you are already at the airport, and it’s a very last-minute cancellation, wait for the announcement from Croatia Airlines. Do not proceed through airport security while you wait for the accouchement. Your flight is cancelled, and if you plan to take another flight, you will have to check in for that flight. You can’t do it after you go through airport security.

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and full refund. If you choose the refund, keep in mind that you won’t receive it right away. Usually the refunds are made within 7 days.

If your flight is cancelled last-minute (less than 2 weeks before departure) due to the fault of the airline, Croatia Airlines is also obliged to pay compensation. 

4.1 Connecting Flights

Do you need to be on time for another flight?

If it’s a Croatia Airlines connecting flight, don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, Croatia Airlines will book you on another flight free of charge. 

How to tell it’s a connecting flight? Have you booked it as one flight, under one booking reference number? Then it’s a connecting flight. 

But it’s your responsibility if it’s a self-transfer (separately booked flights). Even if these are separately booked Croatia Airlines flights. If you haven’t booked your flights under one booking reference number, the airline is not responsible for missed connections. You will have to book the flight yourself and pay for it yourself. Travel insurance might cover the costs though. 

Croatia Airlines Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Croatia Airlines Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Croatia Airlines flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Croatia Airlines compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.