It seems like your Qatar Airways refund isn’t arriving as quickly as you’d hoped…
You’ve submitted a request for a full refund for cancellation, yet you’re left hanging. Maybe you’ve received an update explaining the circumstances, or perhaps you’re still waiting for communication. Regardless of your specific scenario, it’s important to be aware of this: within the European Union, refund policies are clearly defined. As per the law, if it’s a Qatar Airways flight from Europe, your refund should be processed within a time frame of 7 days.
What actions can you take if the waiting time extends beyond this?
Qatar Airways Refund Delays: Your Action Plan
Whenever there’s a flight cancellation, the airline is obligated to propose a refund.
To illustrate, in the European Union, if an airline cancels a flight, they are required to offer you a choice between a full refund and an alternative flight. It’s crucial to know that there are instances where you may be eligible for a refund alone, and other times when you can also claim compensation for flight cancellation. This law applies to all European airlines.
These refund laws also extend to certain non-European airline flights. If Qatar Airways cancels your flight departing from Europe, you have the right to receive a Qatar Airways refund or be offered an alternative flight. In certain situations, you may also be eligible for flight cancellation compensation.
As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Step 1: Reach Out to Qatar Airways
Your Qatar Airways flight departing from Europe is cancelled.
And your Qatar Airways refund is taking forever. What can you do?
Get in touch with Qatar Airways’ customer support through their website.
Unless the situation involves a large-scale unexpected event, like the onset of a global pandemic, they should revert back to you within a week. If you don’t receive any response after a week, send additional messages. Continue this process after a few days, if necessary to grab their attention.
Step 2: Employ Social Media to Contact Qatar Airways
If your attempts to reach Qatar Airways are falling on deaf ears, turn to social media.
If weeks pass and your emails and messages go unanswered, resort to Facebook and Twitter to contact Qatar Airways. Remind them about the stipulated 7 day deadline. Make references to the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5 and 8.
As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Step 3: Say No to Vouchers
If it’s a flight from Europe, your refund should be credited directly to your bank account.
There’s no obligation for you to accept Qatar Airways vouchers or coupons.
If it’s a flight from outside the EU, accepting vouchers may be your only choice, as flights from third countries are not regulated by these EU laws. It is because Qatar Airways is not a EU airline.
Step 4: Approach the National Enforcement Body (NEB)
Each member state of the EU has this institution.
Get in touch with the NEB of the country from where your flight originates. If your flight is taking off from Germany, get in touch with the Nationale Beschwerde- und Durchsetzungsstelle Fluggastrechte. For more information on this, click here.
Though the fourth option delivers the best results, it’s the most time-intensive. It usually takes about 2 months for the respective NEB to make a decision. And then you have to wait for Qatar Airways to process the payment. To achieve the best outcome, keep reminding them about your request on Qatar Airways’ social media pages and through other communication channels.
As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.
Qatar Airways Refund: When Are You Entitled to a Refund?
As per EU laws, you qualify for a full refund if Qatar Airways cancels your flight from Europe.
In case of a flight cancellation, Qatar Airways must present you with the option to choose between an alternate flight (free of cost) or a complete refund of your ticket price. This applies regardless of the reason for the cancellation, including extraordinary circumstances. The refund for flight cancellation must be processed within seven days.
Any delay on the part of the airline in processing these refunds is a violation of EU laws, and passengers can consider pursuing additional actions.
As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.
What If You Decide to Cancel the Flight?
If you choose to cancel the flight, the refund process becomes slightly more complex.
Here are some factors to consider:
- Flexible tickets. If you’ve opted for a flexible ticket, you are likely eligible for a refund, but always verify the airline’s terms and conditions to confirm.
- Non-refundable tickets. In the case of non-refundable tickets, you typically won’t be able to get a full refund. However, airlines may agree to refund the taxes included in your ticket price.
- Travel insurance. If you’ve purchased travel insurance that covers cancellations, you may be able to secure a refund from your insurance provider, depending on the cancellation reasons.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Some airlines offer a complete refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, given that the booking was made at least 7 days prior to the flight’s departure.
- Unexpected circumstances. If you are forced to cancel due to unexpected circumstances, such as illness or a death in the family, the airline may offer a refund or credit for future travel; this depends on the airline’s policy.
Flight Cancellation due to Extraordinary Circumstances: Can You Get a Refund?
Unforeseen events such as severe weather situations, strikes by airport staff (not the airline’s own crew strikes), or safety issues often lead to flight cancellations. In such situations, the airline is typically not held responsible for the cancellation, and therefore compensation is not provided.
However, European Union legislation (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004) mandates that passengers are given an alternative — a complete refund or the possibility of re-routing, irrespective of the reason behind the cancellation. Thus, even when cancellations occur due to extraordinary circumstances, you retain your eligibility for a refund.
Remember, the Qatar Airways refund must be processed within a seven-day timeframe. If you find the refund process being delayed, feel free to implement the step-by-step strategy detailed above.
As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.
What is your experience with Qatar Airways refunds? Have you ever received a refund from Qatar Airways? Share your experience in the comments!
Featured photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels