If you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to care.
In most cases, this means free food and free hotel accommodation.
If your Jet2 flight experiences flight delay, cancellation or last-minute changes, Jet2 is required to provide you with adequate care. This includes certain free services. If you have to wait for more than three hours, you should be provided with free meals and drinks. Furthermore, if there is an overnight delay, Jet2 is accountable for arranging a complimentary hotel stay for you.
Right to Care From Jet2
If you are flying with a EU or British airline, you have a right to care.
Air passenger rights are protected under the EU Regulation 261/2004 and the UK Regulation 261. If you are traveling with Jet2, know that these laws apply to most of its flights. Because Jet2 is a British airline.
Short Delays (3+ Hours)
You can get: food and refreshments.
If your flight delay is rather short and occurred during the day, Jet2 should provide you with vouchers for a free meal, refreshments, and two phone calls, emails, or faxes, or internet access. These are usually given if the delay exceeds 3 hours.
Contact Jet2 if you have not received any vouchers.
Long Delays (Overnight)
You can get: food, drinks, hotel stay and airport transfer.
If you have to wait several hours because your flight is scheduled for the next day, Jet2 should provide you with a complimentary hotel stay and transportation to and from the airport. The airline is also required to provide you with complimentary meals and refreshments.
If you haven’t received any such offer, you can contact Jet2 for assistance.
How to Get Free Food and Free Hotel Accommodation?
During an extended delay at the airport, Jet2 should automatically provide you with services like free food, free hotel stay, and free airport transfer. You do not need to ask for these benefits; they should be offered to you while you wait.
If these amenities are not extended, it’s crucial to approach Jet2’s customer service desk to ask about them. European law mandates the airline to offer these services at no cost for eligible delays.
In rare circumstances, if Jet2 doesn’t organize these services for you, you might have to make the arrangements yourself. Preserve all receipts and evidence of purchase related to meals, drinks, transfers, and hotel stays. With these in hand, you can then submit a claim for refund to Jet2, detailing your expenditures during the delay. Ensure that you provide all necessary details to expedite the reimbursement process.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Let’s delve into the meaning first.
What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?
Extraordinary circumstances refer to any situations that are outside the control of the airline, resulting in flight delays, cancellations or alterations. These may encompass extreme weather conditions, strikes that are not related to the airline, security threats, political disruptions, or hidden mechanical issues with the airplane that impact flight safety.
In such scenarios, despite the disruption caused, the airline is not obliged to provide compensation as they are exempt under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. However, the right to care, as detailed above, continues to apply.
Are Technical Problems Considered Extraordinary Circumstances?
Normally, technical issues are not categorized as extraordinary circumstances under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. The regulation clearly mentions that technical problems that occur as a part of the airline’s regular operation are not deemed extraordinary, as they are within the control of the airline.
These might include regular maintenance or minor fixes. Such issues are part of the airline’s routine responsibilities and hence cannot be used as a reason to deny compensation or care to passengers.
Nonetheless, if the problem is a hidden manufacturing defect that affects flight safety, this might be categorized as extraordinary. This is because such situations are unusual, immediately threaten the safe operation of the aircraft, and are not part of the airline’s regular technical activities.
Right to Care in Extraordinary Circumstances
Even during extraordinary circumstances, passengers retain the right to care.
While Jet2 may not be required to provide compensation for delays or cancellations caused by situations beyond their control, they are nonetheless expected to ensure your comfort during the waiting period. The provision of food, drinks, and accommodation, in case of substantial delays, falls under this obligation.
The same principle applies when it comes to arranging an alternative mode of transportation if the flight is cancelled – you are entitled to that. You have a right to it.
The same apply to both European and UK flights.
Right to Care: FAQ
In this section, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions about passengers’ right to care during flight delays and cancellations with Jet2.
What Is the Right to Care?
The right to care refers to the obligations airlines have towards their passengers in case of flight delays, overbooking and flight cancellations.
Under European law, airlines are required to ensure passengers’ comfort during these circumstances, which includes providing free meals, refreshments, and accommodation in the case of significant delays.
How Do I Get My “Right to Care” If My Flight Is Delayed?
If your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more, Jet2 should automatically provide you with amenities such as free meals and refreshments, and necessary accommodation in the case of overnight delays.
If these services are not offered, approach the Jet2 customer service counter at the airport to inquire about them. Alternatively, you can personally cover the cost of the services and then file a claim for reimbursement at a later time. The sooner you do the latter, the better.
Do I Have the Right to Care If My Flight Is Cancelled?
Yes, if your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to the right to care.
This means Jet2 is required to provide you with meals, refreshments, and accommodation (if necessary), as well as an alternative method of transportation to your destination. If the cancellation is due to the airline’s fault, you also have a right to EU/UK flight cancellation compensation.
Are Extraordinary Circumstances an Exception to the Right to Care?
No, even in the event of extraordinary circumstances, which are situations beyond the control of the airline, the right to care still applies.
This means that even if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to severe weather conditions, security risks, or labor strikes, you are still entitled to free meals, refreshments, and accommodation (if necessary).
How Do I Request Reimbursement If I Had to Arrange for My Accommodation and Meals?
If you had to arrange for your meals, accommodation, or airport transfers due to Jet2’s failure to do so, keep all receipts and proof of purchase. You can submit these, along with a detailed account of your expenses during the delay, to Jet2 for reimbursement.
Please note that this policy only applies to essential expenses, not anything else. Don’t expect to spend large sums on extravagant meals and get reimbursement from the airline.
Does the Right to Care Apply to All Jet2 Flights?
The right to care applies to all Jet2 flights to and from Europe.
Since Jet2 is a European airline, the right to care under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 applies to all of its flights both departing from and arriving in Europe. However, it’s crucial to note that with non-European airlines, this regulation only applies to flights that are departing from Europe. Flights on non-European airlines that are arriving in Europe from other parts of the world are not covered under this European law.
Does All Of This Apply Only to Europeans?
No, the right to care applies to all passengers on Jet2 flights regardless of their nationality.
The laws that give passengers the right to care are Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and Regulation UK261, which were created by the European Union and UK government. These regulations state that any airline operating in Europe must provide care and compensation for affected passengers when applicable. This means that the right to care applies to all passengers on Jet2 flights, regardless of their nationality.
The only exception is in the case of non-European airlines, where this regulation applies only to flights departing from Europe and not those arriving in Europe from other parts of the world.
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.