Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation

Qatar Airways flight cancellation refund.

Qatar Airways flight cancellation compensation. What is the difference? Which one can you get? In which situations can you get both? How much is compensation? How refunds are paid? These are the main topics we are going to discuss in this guide. Because, yes, even though Qatar Airways is not a European airline, in some situations you can receive both — a full refund from Qatar Airways and compensation up to €600.

With Qatar Airways it applies to flights from the EU, and the UK.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your Qatar Airways flight is cancelled?

Will there be a new flight? Can you request a refund instead? In what situations can you get flight cancellation compensation from Qatar Airways?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Qatar Airways compensation? 

Yes, if your flight meets the following requirements:

• It’s a cancellation due to the fault of Qatar Airways;
• It’s a last-minute flight cancellation (flight cancelled not earlier than 14 days before departure);
• It’s a flight departing from Europe (the EU, EEA, UK).

Qatar Airways is a Qatari company. While you aren’t protected as a passenger on all of their flights, the airline has to comply with the European regulations on their flights departing from Europe. If your Qatar Airways flight departs form a European airport, you are protected under the EU/UK Regulation 261.

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.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. It isn’t the airline’s fault, so the airline is not responsible for flights cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disaster, pandemic, terrorism threat, security issues at the airport, civil unrest, or a strike unrelated to the airline, you can’t get compensation for cancellation.

Keep in mind that staff strikes are not extraordinary circumstances. If your flight is cancelled due to a staff strike, you may be entitled to compensation.

Make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling the truth. To avoid paying compensation, airlines might try to make things look worse. Airlines often tell wrong reasons for flight delays and cancellations. For example, you flight was cancelled due to technical issues with the aircraft (not extraordinary circumstances), but the airline tells you that it was cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances. This is how airlines try to avoid paying compensation. This is why you need to be persistent and ask for proof. 

Feeling stuck? Your case is going nowhere? Work with a flight compensation company. Our partners offer such services.

Fill in the claim form on our website, and our partners will check your flight on your behalf.

1.2 Right to Care

Your Qatar Airways flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for your new flight.

If your flight is from Europe, you have a right to care from the airline. According to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and the UK Regulation UK261, if you have to wait for 3 or more hours, you have a right to certain services for free. What exactly are you entitled to?

Qatar Airways must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation Refund, Qatar Airways Refund Policy

And again, in Europe rules are very specific.

These rules aren’t affected by Qatar Airways refund policy. If your Qatar Airways flight departing from a European airport is cancelled (any reason), you are protected by European Regulation No 261/2004 and the Regulation UK261. Qatar Airways should offer you either a new flight or a full refund for cancellation.

If you choose a refund, it must be paid within 7 days.

Apart from that, you might still have a right to compensation.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you cancel your Qatar Airways flight.

As Qatar Airways is a non-European airline, these EU regulations apply only to Qatar Airways flights departing from the EU and the UK.

2. How to Claim Qatar Airways Compensation?

How to claim Qatar Airways flight cancellation compensation?

There are two ways how you can do it.

One of the options is to contact Qatar Airways directly. Get in touch with Qatar Airways. You can use “Talk to an Agent” option on the airline’s website to request flight cancellation compensation. Be prepared for a lengthy process. In could take months until you receive your compensation from Qatar Airways.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

This is the easiest and most hassle-free option. In this case you are working with a flight compensation company. You submit Qatar Airways claim by filling in one form, and the company does the rest on your behalf. Our partners offer such services. You can use the links below, if you prefer this option.

Read more:

• How to Claim Qatar Airways Compensation?
• Your Qatar Airways Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
• Qatar Airways Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

It isn’t a short process.

The length of the process can vary a lot. 

For some it takes weeks, for others — several months. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to be prepared for at least 2-3 months of waiting.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in Europe go up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Qatar Airways compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Qatar Airways Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a voucher instead of compensation?

Do you have to accept a Qatar Airways compensation voucher, or can you say no?

You can say no. You don’t have to accept it. However, as with everything we have talked here, this applies only to Qatar Airways flights departing from Europe.

On other flights you might not have a choice.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Qatar Airways flight is cancelled?

First of all, contact Qatar Airways. You may have already received an email from the airline, explaining the situation and your options.

If you are already at the airport, and it’s a very last minute cancellation, do not proceed through airport security. Wait for the announcement from the airline. There will be a new flight, and you will need to check in for that flight. 

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and refund. If the flight is from Europe, you can also ask for a refund.

If it’s a flight from Europe, and it’s cancelled less than 2 weeks before departure, you may also have a right to European flight cancellation compensation.

Do you need to be on time for another flight? If it’s a Qatar Airways connecting flight, don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, Qatar Airways will book you on another flight free of charge. It’s their responsibility.

But if it’s a self transfer (separately booked flights), it’s your responsibility.

If you miss your self transfer, you have to book a new flight.

Qatar Airways Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

Qatar Airways Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Qatar Airways flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Qatar Airways compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.