Is your Bulgaria Air flight compensation claim denied? What’s next?
So, your request for compensation was turned down. That can be quite disheartening, especially when you’re dealing with the request for Bulgaria Air compensation by yourself, or you’re unsure about your entitlement to compensation. What should you do now? Is it even worth the hassle? Absolutely, it is! You can certainly turn it over to a flight compensation agency to carry on in your stead. But, there are other approaches you can consider.
You can continue to advocate for your rights independently.
Is Your Bulgaria Air Flight Compensation Claim Denied? What’s Next?
Was your Bulgaria Air flight compensation claim denied? Can you do something about it?
There exist other methods to receive compensation from Bulgaria Air. But initially, prior to escalating the matter, reread the law and reassess your rights.
1. Collaborating with Flight Compensation Agencies
The most straightforward approach would be to collaborate with a flight compensation agency.
Your task is simple – complete an online form, provide them with a copy of your boarding pass and passport, and sign the claim. Mostly, you don’t have to worry about anything thereafter. The agency handles everything else. You don’t need to correspond with Bulgaria Air anymore. If there are any further queries, something that only you can respond to, the agency will get in touch with you.
The only downside is the service charge. A majority of flight compensation firms charge roughly 25-45% of the compensation.
Our partners provide such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
What is the cost?
Usually, the cost is roughly 25 to 45 per cent of the compensation. The remainder is forwarded to you. If you don’t receive compensation, you won’t be charged.
Read more:
- How to Claim Bulgaria Air Compensation?
- Your Bulgaria Air Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
2. Reaching Out to the NEB of the Country Your Flight Originated From
Collaborating with a flight compensation firm isn’t the sole option.
Once you’ve made an attempt to contact the airline on your own and the response has been either a denial or complete silence, your next step could be to contact your country’s NEB (National Enforcement Bodies). This option is free of charge. However, it may not be as simple as dealing with a flight compensation company, and it could be time-consuming. Typically, they take about 2 months to process your compensation request.
The biggest disadvantage — a favourable response to your request doesn’t guarantee that you will receive compensation. Bulgaria Air can still turn down the request.
You can locate a list of National Enforcement Bodies here.
The National Enforcement Bodies assist passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight delay or cancellation, as well as enforces the regulation Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and makes sure passengers are treated according to these rules.
3. Escalating the Case to Court
Was your Bulgaria Air flight compensation claim denied?
The subsequent step would be to escalate it to court.
It’s highly recommended to secure a positive ruling from the NEB prior to proceeding. This will significantly bolster your case against the airline (Bulgaria Air in this instance).
This is the most challenging method, but it can also be very effective. Before proceeding with a court complaint, confirm the validity of your claim. Review your rights and craft your argument. Only then can you be certain that it’s worth escalating to court. If you have a ruling from the NEB that validates your entitlement to compensation, attach it to the court paperwork.
Keep in mind, proceeding with a court complaint will incur costs.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Airlines, more often than not, avoid explicitly stating the actual reason for denying your claim.
They provide you with a vague explanation, and that’s the end of it.
They have a tendency to label “everything” as extraordinary circumstances.
The reason for this is apparent — compensating passengers is not a lucrative practice for any company. Hence, airlines try to evade compensating. Airlines are aware that most passengers don’t fully understand their rights. And airlines take advantage of this lack of knowledge. Be sceptical when you come across this term the next time.
As per EU regulation 261/2004, airlines are exempt from compensating for flight disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances. These include severe weather, civil and political unrest, and hidden manufacturing defects. That’s correct, only concealed manufacturing defects are deemed extraordinary circumstances.
Most technical issues are considered the responsibility of the airline (airline’s liability).
Also, adverse weather isn’t always qualified as an extraordinary circumstance. In certain instances, the weather is absolutely predictable. For instance — snowfall during the winter months (unless snowfall is uncommon there). In such instances, the airline is expected to take the necessary steps to operate the flight punctually.
Uncover the true reason for the delay or cancellation. It’s important.
When Can You Get Flight Compensation From Bulgaria Air?
There exist numerous situations where you are eligible to demand flight compensation from Bulgaria Air. These circumstances encompass flight delays, last-minute flight cancellations and cases of being denied boarding due to the flight being overbooked.
1. Flight Delays
As per EU regulation 261/2004, you are privileged to claim compensation if your flight reaches its designated destination over three hours behind schedule.
The compensation sum depends on both the extent of the delay and the distance of the flight. To illustrate, let’s say your flight from Sofia to Belgrade, a distance less than 1,500km, is delayed by four hours, then you are entitled to compensation of €250.
Further Information: Bulgaria Air Flight Delay Compensation
2. Flight Cancellations
Are you faced with a situation where your flight is cancelled without a minimum of 14 days advance notice? If this is the case, you qualify for compensation.
The compensation amount depends on the flight distance and the delay in reaching your endpoint. For instance, if your flight from Frankfurt to Bangkok, a journey exceeding 3,500km, is cancelled without the minimum notice of 14 days and you arrive at your final destination more than four hours late due to a substitute flight, you are qualified to receive €600 in compensation.
You may also opt for a full Bulgaria Air refund, instead of an alternative flight.
Further Information: Bulgaria Air Flight Cancellation Compensation
3. Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
Overbooking flights in anticipation of no-shows is a common practice with airlines.
If you find yourself unable to board due to overbooking and you haven’t voluntarily given up your seat, you can claim compensation.
The compensation sum is determined by the distance of the flight. Suppose you are set to fly from Sofia to Madrid, a moderate distance between 1,500km and 3,500km, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking. Should you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late, you are eligible to receive €400 in compensation.
Further Information: Bulgaria Air Denied Boarding Compensation
Was your Bulgaria Air flight compensation claim denied? What were your experiences in dealing with Bulgaria Air compensation claims? Did you resort to NEB or court?
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