Experiencing a delay with your Croatia Airlines refund?
You have filed a request for a full refund due to flight cancellation, and you are left waiting. Perhaps you’ve received a notification informing you about the delay, or perhaps you’re still waiting for a response. Regardless of your current scenario, there’s one key detail you should be aware of: EU regulations govern these matters. According to these regulations, your Croatia Airlines refund should be processed within 7 days.
So, what happens if the process extends beyond this period?
Croatia Airlines Refund Is Taking Forever: Step-By-Step Plan
It’s a requirement for airlines to provide a refund when they cancel flights.
As an example, within the European Union, if Croatia Airlines cancels a flight, they are obligated to offer you a choice between a full refund and an alternate flight. It’s crucial to remember that sometimes the option is only a refund, but occasionally, it can be both a refund and flight cancellation compensation.
Step 1: Contact Croatia Airlines
Reach out to Croatia Airlines customer service via their website.
Attempt to communicate with them via WhatsApp or Messenger.
Unless there’s an unforeseen event, such as the onset of a global pandemic, you should receive a response within a week. If a week passes without a response, don’t hesitate to send more messages. Repeat this process every few days if necessary to get their attention.
Step 2: Contact Croatia Airlines via Social Media
If Croatia Airlines remains unresponsive, turn to social media.
If after several weeks of emails and WhatsApp exchanges, you’re still without a response, use platforms like Facebook and Twitter to get in touch with Croatia Airlines. Remind them of the 7-day deadline. Point out the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Articles 5 and 8.
Yes, you may have to do some messaging in order to get your flight cancellation refund – in this case, Croatia Airlines refund.
Step 3: Don’t Agree to Vouchers
Ensure your reimbursement is made to your bank account.
There’s no obligation to accept Croatia Airlines vouchers.
Step 4: Contact the National Enforcement Body (NEB)
Each member state of the EU has this kind of establishment.
You should reach out to the NEB situated in the country of your flight’s origin. For instance, if your flight begins in Germany, get in touch with the Nationale Beschwerde- und Durchsetzungsstelle Fluggastrechte. For flights starting outside the EU, the NEB of the destination country should be contacted. The contact information for these bodies is available here.
However, bear in mind that this process can be quite lengthy. It usually requires around 2 months for the NEB to make a decision. Then, you need to wait for Croatia Airlines to proceed with the payment. To obtain optimal results, keep voicing your concerns on Croatia Airlines’ social media pages and engage through other communication channels.
Croatia Airlines Refund: Under Which Circumstances Can You Obtain It?
EU laws state that passengers are entitled to a full refund if Croatia Airlines cancels their flight.
When a flight cancellation occurs, Croatia Airlines is obligated to provide you with a choice between re-routing (complimentary rescheduling) or a full ticket refund. This is applicable despite the cancellation cause, even when it’s due to extraordinary circumstances. The airline should process the refund within seven days. The same applies to last-minute flight cancellations.
If the airline delays the refund process, they are in violation of EU regulations, and passengers can consider escalating the matter.
What If You Cancel the Flight Yourself?
In case you decide to cancel the flight yourself, the refund process becomes a bit more intricate. Here’s what to take into account:
- Flexible tickets. If you’ve booked a flexible ticket, you’re likely eligible for a refund but always cross-check with the airline’s terms and conditions.
- Non-refundable tickets. With non-refundable tickets, you typically won’t receive a full refund. However, it’s possible that the airline might agree to refund the taxes included in your ticket price.
- Travel insurance. If your travel insurance policy covers cancellations, you might be able to claim a refund from your insurance provider, depending on the cancellation cause.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Some airlines will grant you a full refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, provided the booking was made at least a week prior to the flight’s departure.
- Exceptional circumstances. If cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, such as sickness or a family member’s death, the airline may provide a refund or travel credit for future use, subject to the airline’s policy.
Flight Cancellation Due to Extraordinary Circumstances: Can You Get a Refund?
In situations where unforeseen events, such as severe weather conditions, strikes by airport personnel (excluding strikes by airline staff), or safety issues lead to a flight being called off, it is generally not the responsibility of the airlines.
Regardless, EU regulations, specifically Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, dictate that when an airline, in this case Croatia Airlines, cancels a flight, passengers must still be given the choice of a complete refund or re-routing. This means that even when the cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances, passengers are still eligible for a refund.
It’s essential to remember that the refund should be carried out within a week. If you experience any delay in receiving your refund, don’t hesitate to adhere to the above-mentioned step-by-step guide.
What is your experience with Croatia Airlines refunds? Have you ever received a refund from Croatia Airlines? Share your experience in the comments!