GULF AIR FLIGHT DELAY COMPENSATION: HOW DOES GULF REIMBURSEMENT WORK FOR DELAYED OR CANCELLED FLIGHT?

This is not limited only to Gulf Air; prospective passengers are expected to understand how a particular airline's reimbursement process works. Passengers are eligible for compensation if their Gulf Air trip is planned to leave from an airport in the EU or the UK, and their flight is delayed more than 3 hours, or they happen to find out about the cancellation less than two weeks before their departure.

Depending on whether the airline is at fault for the cancellation, you can be eligible for monetary compensation, a ticket refund, or a rebooked flight if you are informed of the cancellation with less than 14 days' notice. The same rules apply if passengers get to know about the cancellation of their Gulf Air flight when they're already at the airport. They will be given the option of rebooking or receiving a refund.

Suppose you board a different Gulf Air flight and anticipate a lengthy wait. In that case, the airline must offer hotel accommodation, food, and drinks if your new trip leaves early the following morning. In addition to these services, you might be entitled to monetary compensation if Gulf Air is at fault for the cancellation.

Check Your Flight

Read More

Check Your Flight

Read More

Who's Eligible for Gulf Air Delayed Flight Compensation?

The answer is anyone whose delay is caused by the airline. Passengers can be eligible for flight delay compensation if Gulf Air is at fault for delaying their flight for at least three hours. You are entitled to monetary compensation, for example, if the delay was caused by a strike of airline staff/pilots or mechanical problems that should have been fixed during standard maintenance. But if the wait is longer than three hours, you are still entitled to care compensation even if unusual circumstances brought on the delay.

How Long of a Delay Before Compensation is Paid on Gulf Air?

If a Gulf Air flight is delayed, it's advisable to see if you qualify for reimbursement. In compliance with EU and UK legislation, travelers may be eligible to receive up to €600 (£520) per person if Gulf Air caused a delay lasting three hours or longer.

Certain considerations also need to be made by the airline before the compensation process can commence. Gulf Air will consider your final destination's arrival time when you file a claim for compensation for flight delays. This is because the amount of money awarded in compensation is determined by the passenger’s time of arrival instead of the time they departed.

What Are Some Exceptions to Gulf Air Flight Delay Compensation?

As much as airlines bear full responsibility for compensating qualified passengers, there are still some exceptions. If outside circumstances cause a delay, airlines such as Gulf Air are not obligated to reimburse passengers. More exceptional conditions that can cause delays include extreme weather, airport mishaps, wars, natural disasters, and air traffic control strikes. Any event beyond the airline's control is considered an exception.

What are My Air Passenger Rights, and How Does it Work with Gulf Air?

Passengers on flights leaving from European Union or UK airports are entitled to the protections provided in these territories, even if Gulf Air is headquartered in Bahrain. Regulations like UK261 and EU261 protect passengers in the event of aircraft delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.

According to the EC 261/2004 and UK-261 regulations, as a passenger on an airline, you have the right to be treated with respect while you wait at the airport. If delays exceed two hours, you will receive food and drink and hotel accommodation if necessary. The regulation also states that the flight distance affects the amount of compensation.

How Does the EU 261 And UK 261 Regulation Work?

Whether you live in the UK or the EU, you are still protected by these rights. Similarly, both rules provide passengers with care and money if their aircraft is delayed. Gulf Air complies with European and UK laws when operating out of European or UK airports despite not being a European airline.

This guarantees that Gulf Air travelers departing from a European airport are covered by one of the world's most extensive aviation passenger rights regulations, EC 261 or UK-261. In addition to receiving a flight refund, passengers may be eligible for compensation for flight delays, cancellations, or overbooking if Gulf Air is at fault.

These protections do not cover planes arriving in the European Union from non-European Union airports. So, EC 261 or UK-261 do not apply to Gulf Air passengers arriving in the EU or UK from outside Europe. It's crucial to confirm whether any additional air passenger rights may apply for these journeys. Unfortunately, if you travel to the UK or EU on an airline headquartered outside of these territories, your rights as a passenger under UK/EU law are not ensured.

What Are the Types and Examples of Gulf Air Compensation?

Below are some examples based on different scenarios that may qualify Gulf Air passengers for compensation based on the specifics of their flight delay or cancellation:

1. Flying with a UK Carrier:
   • Example: Should you be traveling with British Airways from Bahrain to London, you are qualified for reimbursement under UK-261.
2. Flying with an EU Carrier:
   • Example: You are also eligible for compensation if you are using KLM or Lufthansa to go from Bahrain to Amsterdam or Frankfurt under EU 261.
3. Flying with a Non-UK/Non-EU Carrier from the UK or the EU:
   • Example: Compensation is available to passengers traveling with Gulf Air from London or Frankfurt to Bahrain.
4. Flying with a Non-UK/Non-EU Carrier to the UK or EU:
   • Example: You are not eligible for reimbursement if Gulf Air is your airline for your trip from Bahrain to London or Frankfurt.

Note: These illustrations show how passengers flying on Gulf Air and other airlines may or may not be entitled to reimbursement. Eligibility is usually determined by the airline, the destination, and the flight's location within EU or UK authorities.

What’s Gulf Air's Compensation Amount as Regards EC261 Regulation?

Passengers' rights are protected in the event of flight disruptions, including delays, cancellations, or denials of boarding, by European Regulation EC261/2004.

In the Case of Delayed Flight

If a flight is delayed by more than two hours for flights up to 1,500 km, three hours for flights within the EU or up to 3,500 km, and four hours for longer flights, affected passengers are eligible for food, accommodation, and drink if there are needs. Unless "extraordinary circumstances" exist, passengers may also be entitled to compensation if their flight arrives more than three hours late.

In A Case of Cancellation

If a flight is canceled, customers are entitled to a full refund or another flight, unless they were informed of the cancellation more than 14 days in advance or if there were unusual circumstances behind the cancellation. However, flight cancellation is said to happen if the plane doesn’t leave the tarmac. Also, according to EC 261, passengers’ flights are said to be canceled if they bought a ticket. According to the EC 261 regulation, passengers have the choice to pick from either re-routing or cash compensation.

It was formally disputed if “wildcat strikes” by airline workers were to be included among “extraordinary circumstances” for compensation by airlines. After much deliberation by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which insists that airlines must comply with the EC 261 regulations (which explain that passengers cannot be blamed for such events), it was resolved that airlines should compensate passengers for cancellations and delays caused by strikes.

In A Case of Overbooking

Passengers who are denied boarding because of overbooking are entitled to reimbursement, assistance, rerouting, and compensation. The amount of compensation varies depending on the distance traveled; it ranges from €250 for flights under 1,500 km to €600 for trips more than 3,500 km.

Note:

Airlines are not required to reimburse customers for delays brought on by unforeseen circumstances, such as severe weather or strikes by air traffic controllers. Also, Gulf Air won’t be paying compensation to passengers if it provides an alternative flight that has the same route as the former.

Also, according to EC 261, passengers can choose to upgrade or downgrade their tickets. If the airline offers to give out an alternative flight, and a passenger from the lower class is fortunate enough to be rebooked in the upper class, unlike what they’d booked, the carrier is not required to charge them extra cost. However, if the class is relatively lower, passengers can get compensated with between 30-75% of the price they bought.

How long back Can Passengers Claim Compensation?

Affected passengers can request compensation according to the regulations of departure or arrival countries. Please check the table for time limitations in different countries. There's no specific time the request is expected to be completed, and it may take months especially if the passenger applied directly, thus it may require a legal assistance of a professional company.

What Happens in Case of Flight Cancellation?

This is not necessarily limited to Gulf Air; some known factors can lead to flights getting canceled. A sudden pilot strike demanding better working conditions and greater compensation has grounded several aircraft. As a result, the airline is forced to cancel its flights. Compensation is due to those who were impacted by the cancellation. They are qualified for cash compensation and can submit a complaint against the airline.

What Happens in the Case of Overbooking on Gulf Air?

Sometimes, airlines may need to sell more seats to increase income, and Gulf Air is no exception, which may result in passengers being bumped from their flights. If you are removed from your current trip and have to wait for one, it usually takes four to five hours to book a new ticket to the same location. This waiting period gives you the right to compensation.

What Should I Do If I Suffer from Overbooking on Gulf Air?

If overbooking prevented you from boarding, your new reservation should be on the earliest available flight. Alternatively, you can ask for a ticket refund if you decide not to go; this will be handled in seven business days.

You have the right to free requests for meals and drinks, two phone calls, emails, or fax services, hotel accommodations with transportation for an overnight delay, or if a stay is required, if you are left stranded at the airport while you wait for your replacement aircraft.

Are Passengers Who Missed Connection Flight on Gulf Air Entitled to Reimbursement?

Yes, they are. Many people choose one-stop flights over direct ones because they are frequently less expensive. A passenger is entitled to compensation as well if they miss their connecting flight due to the delay of the first flight.

How Do I Go About Requesting Gulf Air Compensation?

On a normal day, calling Gulf Airways customer support would have been the way to go, but there are too many bureaucratic processes involved these days. Third-party sources are always recommended. When done through the direct channel, it takes longer and requires too much documentation. However, that only applies to third-party agents, whose process is a lot faster. This is where Click2Refund comes in, a company known for its sound reputation in fastening the process.

How Many Countries Does Gulf Air Cover?

Based in Bahrain, Gulf Air flies to over 45 cities in 26 countries. It provides daily flights to Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Gulf Air's fleet of contemporary aircraft includes Airbus and Boeing 787s.

Some of the Approved Destinations of Gulf Air:

Addis Ababa, Casablanca, Khartoum, London, Athens, Baku, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, Malaga, Milan (Malpensa), Moscow, Munich, Mykonos, Paris, Tbilisi, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Dubai, Gassim, Jeddah, Kuwait, Medina, etc.

A Brief History of Gulf Air and Operations

Bahrain International Airport is home to Gulf Air’s headquarters and primary base. Gulf Air was founded in 1953. Despite not being a Star Alliance member, Gulf Air has a 3-star rating on Skytrax. Gulf Helicopters and Gulf Air Company are among the company’s subsidiaries, both under the management of CEO Krešimir Kučko.

Some of its major routes are Delhi-Dubai, Muscat-Dubai, Kuwait-Mumbai, Dubai-Karachi, and Kuwait-Bahrain. The airline’s fleet’s average age, mainly consisting of Airbus A320 aircraft, is 8.9 years old. However, the company has added the Boeing 787, which is less than two years old, and the newest aircraft to its fleet of aircraft.

With 16 aircraft in its fleet, Gulf Air is ranked second out of 54 airlines using the Boeing 787 and 97th out of 259 airlines using the Airbus A320. The airline has had three incidents; the most recent was an Airbus A320 in Bahrain in 2000.