Crotatia Airlines missed connecting flight compensation.
If the airline’s negligence leads to a cancelled or delayed flight, and as a result, you miss your connection, you could be eligible for compensation under EU laws. In this article, we will outline how you can request it, plus provide tips on avoiding future delays and missed connections. Follow our advice and make sure your journey is as stress-free as possible!
It applies to all Crotatia Airlines flights to and from Europe.
Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.
UK / EU Flight Compensation
We have several articles on these topics.
Here is a full guide on UK / EU flight compensation regulation. There we talk about all situations, when you can get compensation from the airline and when you have a right to care. We also have separate guides on what to do if you miss connection due to delay, strike, or cancellation of one of your flights.
Here, in this article, we will focus more on the compensation – UK / EU Missed connecting flight compensation.
1. Crotatia Airlines Missed Connecting Flight Compensation
Croatia Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Croatia.
When your connecting flight with Croatia Airlines is interrupted due to a delay or cancellation, you might be eligible for flight compensation. This compensation is called “missed connecting flight compensation,” but ultimately it’s the same as flight delay compensation.
To summarize, Croatia Airlines might compensate you for delays of at least 3 hours when your destination is not reached on time. Put simply, if the flight delay isn’t your fault then it’s theirs – and they should be held accountable!
There are two conditions that must be met though:
- Your flight must be at least 3 hours late. Delay time should be calculated at your destination airport (not when you depart from the origin airport).
- It must be an airline-protected connecting flight. These rules don’t apply to self-transfer flights (flights booked separately). Self transfer flights are not airline’s responsibility but yours.
1.1 European and non-European airlines
The country of origin of the airline matters.
When flying with a European airline (an airline registered in EU, EEA or UK), know that you can rest assured as your passenger rights will be protected, regardless if you arriving to Europe or departing from there. As Croatia Airlines is a European airline, you are protected on all their flights.
But if your flight is with a non-European carrier such as Qantas, Delta or Turkish Airlines – the EU regulations only apply when travelling FROM Europe but not on journeys originating from a country outside of Europe. Keep this in mind when taking a flight with a non-European airline!
| EU/UK to EU/UK | EU/UK to Other countries | Other countries to EU/UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU airlines | + | + | + |
| UK airlines | + | + | + |
| Other airlines | + | + | – |
1.2 Self-Transfer Flights
If it’s a self transfer, it’s not as easy and stress-free.
For example, one of your flights is with Croatia Airlines and the other – with Ryanair, easyJet or any other airline. This is a self transfer as you have booked these flights separately.
You are less protected with self transfers. Let’s assume, your first flight is delayed for less than three hours, and you miss your connection. What happens in this case? As it’s a self transfer, the airline is not responsible for your connection. It is not obliged to pay you any compensation, nor book you on another flight for free. Therefore it’s essential that you consider this potential risk before booking a self transfer option.
- You won’t get a new flight to your destination for free. No airline is responsible for self-transfer flights. You have planned and made this connection, not the airline.
- Your flight isn’t delayed for 3 hours which is the minimum in order to be eligible for compensation. So, even though this caused you to miss your connection, you won’t get any flight compensation. Because your journey is considered to be separate flights, not a proper connecting flights.
When it comes to air passenger rights, unless otherwise stated, we talk about air passenger rights in the EU, EEA and UK. When we say Europe or European, we mean EU, EEA or UK. This is done for the simplicity, since the according laws in these countries are about the same.
2. How Much Can You Claim for Missed Connecting Flight?
Mostly it’s 250, 400 or 600 euro per person.
The amounts are regulated by flight compensation regulations.
The longer the flight, the more you can get.
- 250 EUR – if the flight distance is less than 1500 km;
- 400 EUR – if the flight distance is between 1500 and 3500 km;
- 600 EUR – if the flight distance is more than 3500 km.
3. How to File a Claim for Missed Connection Compensation?
There are two options:
- You can file a claim with compensation company.
- Or, you can do it all on your own.
If you choose the latter (option number 2):
- Contact Croatia Airlines. The best way is to make a claim using the contact form on their website.
- Provide evidence of your missed connection, such as boarding passes and proof of arrival at the final destination.
- Submit a written complaint via message or email with all relevant information including how much you are claiming and why. Make sure you mention your rights and cite the Flight Compensation Regulation 2004 No 261/2004, so that the airline knows that you are informed about your rights.
- Wait for a response from Croatia Airlines – they should provide an answer within a few weeks.
- If you don’t receive a satisfactory response, keep records of any correspondence between you and the airline and contact your local aviation authority (National Enforcement Body).
- If you don’t receive any response at all, do not hesitate to follow up with the airline.
- If necessary, take legal action against Croatia Airlines in court or work with a flight compensation company (see option No 1).
4. Right to Care from Croatia Airlines
On all Croatia Airlines flights you have a right to care.
According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:
- Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
- Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
- Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
- Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.
It applies to all domestic and international flights with Croatia Airlines. Again, it’s because Croatia Airlines is a European airline. With non-European airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.
5. Tips on Flight Delays and Missed Connections
The more information you have, the better.
Here are some tips on avoiding future delays and missed connections.
- Allow yourself plenty of time for your layover. When you book your connecting flight, always make sure you have enough time between the flight legs, especially if you have a self transfer. This will help you avoid missed connections, and messed-up travel plans. If there is an issue with any leg of your journey – such as a flight delay or cancellation – you might make it in time for your next flight. Unless it’s a very long delay.
- Before you go to the airport, check the airline’s or airport’s website for any potential delays or cancellations. Still, you won’t be able to avoid a delay altogether, but you will also feel more in control when arriving to the airport informed.
- Use flight trackers. When you use a flight tracker app such as FlightStats, you will be informed about your flight. Keep an eye on your flight status, and you will know about any changes that could mess up your travel plans.
- Buy good travel insurance. It will come in handy if you have to book a new ticket or book yourself into a hotel (in the event of flight cancellation or delay). Travel insurance is especially beneficial if you traveling on a self-transfer flight (it will make your connection safe).
- Don’t forget to learn more about your rights! If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you should know that you might be entitled to compensation from the airline. As well as to receive care from the airline. All thanks to European laws and regulations! Most of us need that – to feel in control of a situation.
What is your experience with Croatia Airlines? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Croatia Airlines? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive missed connection compensation from Croatia Airlines?
