Iberia missed connecting flight compensation.

If an airline has made a mistake and caused your flight to be delayed or cancelled, thereby making you miss your connection, then the European Union regulations may entitle you to compensation from the carrier. In this article we explain what is required for such requests, how you can ask for compensation and provide helpful tips on avoiding similar delays in future trips. This applies not only to Iberia flights within Europe but also those headed towards other continents as well!

You are protected on all Iberia flights.

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Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.

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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. Iberia Missed Connecting Flight Compensation

Iberia is the flag carrier of Spain.

If Iberia is to blame for flight delay or cancellation, you might be entitled to EU flight compensation. Similarly, you might be entitled to compensation if you miss your connection due to the delay or cancellation of your previous flight leg, as long as it’s an Iberia connecting flight. You can call it “missed connecting flight compensation”, but it’s actually the same flight delay compensation.

To put in simply: if you arrive at your destination late, and this delay is caused due to the Iberia’s fault, this entitles you to receive compensation from Iberia. However, the delay must be at least 3 hours long for you to qualify for compensation.

As you can see, there are two conditions that must be met:

• Your flight must be at least 3 hours late. Don’t forget that delay time is calculated at the moment of arrival to your destination.
• It must be an airline-protected connecting flight. Keep in mind that these rules don’t apply to self-transfer flights. A self transfer is a DIY connecting flight – and it is when you book several flights separately. Self transfer connections are not the airline’s responsibility but yours.

1.1 European and non-European airlines

The country of origin of your airline matters.

When you travel with Iberia — an airline registered in the EU — your rights are protected no matter if you’re flying to Europe or leaving from there. You are protected on all Iberia flights. This is possible thanks to the Flight Compensation Regulation 2004 (EC) No 261/2004 which is a regulation that is designed to protect the rights of passengers when travelling by air within/to/from the EU, regardless of their nationality. This set of laws gives passengers the right to be compensated if their flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked.

But what if your flight is with a non-European carrier such as Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines? Then this regulation only applies when travelling FROM a European airport. See the table below for details

	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

With self transfer, it’s not as easy and stress-free.

For example, one of your flights is with Iberia and the other with Ryanair, Wizz Air, or any other airline. Such flights are called ‘self-transfer flights’. You’ve booked these flights separately, not from the airline as a single booking. So these flights are not protected by the carrier.

That’s why you are less protected with self transfers. For instance, if your flight delay falls short of three hours but still causes you to miss your next flight, neither compensation nor another ticket will be provided by the airline. So it’s essential that you consider this potential risk before deciding on booking a self transfer.

• You won’t get a new flight to your destination for free, because it’s a self transfer. Airlines aren’t responsible for self transfers.
• What if your flight is delayed slightly, but it still makes you miss your connection? What if the delay time is not the minimum of 3 hours? So, even though this causes you to miss your connecting flight, you won’t get any flight compensation. Because self transfer flight legs are considered individual entities, and are not protected by the airline.

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:

1. You can file a claim with compensation company.
2. Or, you can do it all on your own.

If you choose the latter (option number 2).

Filing a compensation claim for a flight delay from Iberia can be done in just a few easy steps:

1. Visit Iberia.com and find a complaint and claim form. Alternatively, you can contact the airline using WhatsApp or social media channels.
2. Gather your paperwork to begin the claim process. It’s important to have proof of purchase (e.g., a ticket or boarding pass), travel itinerary with flight numbers and dates, a valid email address, and an ID or passport.
3. File your claim with Iberia. Be sure to provide all the necessary information and proof of purchase when submitting your claim.
4. Wait for the claims process to be completed. The airline will review your claim and decide whether or not to grant you the compensation. If approved, you should receive a confirmation email from the airline.
5. If your compensation is denied or delayed, contact Iberia’s customer service department for further information. They may be able to provide additional help or advice on how to proceed.
6. If you aren’t happy with the outcome, contact a National Enforcement Body or work with a flight compensation company (see Option No 1).

4. Right to Care from Iberia

On all Iberia 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. So you can get in touch with your family and friends and notify about the changes in your travel plans.

It applies to all domestic and international flights with Iberia. Again, it’s because Iberia is a European airline. With non-European airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and American Airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.

5. Tips on Flight Delays and Missed Connections

While there is no foolproof way to avoid delays altogether, following a few guidelines can help minimize your chances of getting stuck waiting in the airport.

The key thing to remember – more informed you are, the better.

• Don’t risk with short layover times. When booking a connecting flight (especially a self transfer), make sure you have enough time between the flight legs. This ensures that you have enough time to make your connection and board your next flight without missing it. If you don’t allow enough time between connecting flights, you run the risk of running late, missing your connection and potentially, in case of self transfer, paying expensive change fees.
• Before booking a flight, it’s important to check the airline’s on-time record. This information is available online and can give you an indication of how reliable a particular airline is when it comes to avoiding delays.
• Additionally, you should research the airports that are included in your flight itinerary to make sure they have good weather records and don’t experience frequent delays.
• Before going to the airport, check the airline’s or airport’s website for any warnings of potential delays or cancellations. You won’t be able to avoid a delay, but you will feel more in control when arriving at the airport informed.
• Get ahead of any potential issues with your journey by regularly monitoring flight status via FlightStats. This way, you can stay updated on changes that could have an effect on your travel plans and ensure a smoother voyage.
• Invest in travel insurance. If your plans change, travel insurance will provide financial protection to re-book a ticket and any related additional costs like hotel accommodations or transportation – especially useful if you have a self transfer.
• Know your rights! If something goes wrong with your flight and it’s not a result of anything you did, airlines are legally obligated to provide assistance according to European laws. Being aware of this beforehand can give you peace-of-mind during times of travel disturbance and equip you with the knowledge necessary for effective problem solving. We all want that feeling – the one where we remain in control no matter what life throws at us.

By taking these simple steps, you can increase your chances of avoiding flight delays and ensure that your travel experience is as smooth as possible. With some careful planning and a bit of research, you’ll be able to minimize the risk of being delayed on your next trip.

What is your experience with Iberia? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Iberia? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive missed connection compensation from Iberia?

Featured photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on Unsplash