Bulgaria Air Missed Connection Compensation

Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation.

How much can you claim? What happens if you miss your connecting flight?

A missed connecting flight can be a major setback, throwing our travel plans off course and leaving us with a sense of frustration. Thankfully, regulations exist to protect passengers and provide fair treatment and compensation in such situations. In this blog post, our primary focus will be on missed connecting flight compensation. Importantly, it’s worth noting that your nationality, ticket price, and travel insurance coverage do not impact your eligibility for compensation.

You can either file the claim on your own or seek assistance from professionals.

1. EU Missed Flight Connection Compensation

If you miss your connecting flight with Bulgaria Air, you might be eligible for compensation.

Let’s explore the laws that protect air passengers in these situations.

1.1 Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay: Compensation 

You miss your connecting flight due to delay.

If your Bulgaria Air flight arrives at your final destination three or more hours later than planned due to the airline’s fault, you may be eligible for compensation under EU regulations. This applies to all Bulgaria Air flights, including connecting flights.

If the delay is attributable to the airline’s fault, you can claim up to €600. Legally, there is no such thing as “Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation,” as it falls under the same category as Bulgaria Air flight delay compensation.

Conditions for receiving compensation:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay – you must arrive at your final destination 3+ hours later than scheduled;
• It’s the fault of Bulgaria Air;
• Flight is to/from Europe.

The same rules apply to Bulgaria Air connecting flights. Keep in mind that in this case, your destination is your final destination (not any of the layover airports).

Connecting flight example: Bulgaria Air connecting flight Amsterdam Schiphol – Varna with a stop in Sofia. Your final destination is Varna. Sofia Airport is a just a layover airport. If your flight arrives in Varna 3 or more hours later than scheduled, and it is due to the airline’s fault, you are entitled to compensation for the whole “Amsterdam – Varna” journey.

Don’t forget to file a compensation claim!

1.2 Missing a Connecting Flight Due to Cancellation

One of your flights is canceled, resulting in a missed connecting flight and arrival at your final destination three or more hours later than scheduled. In such cases, you may be eligible for flight compensation.

This compensation applies when the cancellation is caused by the airline’s fault. The specific amount of compensation is determined according to the distance of your flight, with a maximum payout of €600.

To summarize, you can get missed connection flight compensation if:

• Your preceding flight is canceled (or delayed) due to the airline’s fault.
• You experience a delay of three or more hours upon reaching your destination.
• The flight is to or from Europe.

If you have a self transfer, it’s essential to note that the regulations mentioned earlier may not apply in such cases. In instances where one of your flights is canceled or delayed, you will not be eligible for compensation for the other flight.

For instance, let’s say you have booked one flight with Bulgaria Air and another with Wizz Air, and Bulgaria Air cancels their flight. In this scenario, you may be entitled to compensation for the canceled Bulgaria Air flight. However, it’s crucial to understand that Bulgaria Air is not responsible for your Wizz Air flight, and they will not provide any assistance if you happen to miss it.

When making separate flight bookings, it is important to keep this in mind and be aware of the potential limitations and responsibilities associated with each airline.

Want to claim compensation? Make sure you file a compensation claim!

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.

2. Extraordinary Circumstances

There are certain circumstances that are beyond the control of Bulgaria Air, known as extraordinary circumstances.

In these situations, compensation is not applicable. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include severe weather conditions or a pandemic. To ensure accurate information, it is advisable to confirm any details provided. Double-checking with the airline can help prevent receiving incorrect information regarding compensations.

Alternatively, you can consider seeking assistance from a flight compensation company. They can review your case and ensure you are not being misled. It is important to note that technical issues with the aircraft are typically the responsibility of the airline and should not be considered extraordinary circumstances, despite some airlines claiming otherwise.

3. Right to Care

You have a right to care if you are stranded at the airport.

If your flight with Bulgaria Air is delayed, cancelled, or causes you to miss a connecting flight, and you have to wait for hours at the airport, Bulgaria Air is obligated to provide you with care.

• Once you have been waiting for 3 hours, the airline must offer you complimentary meals and beverages that are reasonably proportionate to the waiting time. Furthermore, you are entitled to two free phone calls, emails, or faxes during this period.
• If the delay extends overnight, Bulgaria Air is also required to provide you with free hotel accommodation, including free transportation to the hotel.

If you miss your connecting flight due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight, the airline must issue you a new boarding pass for the next available flight without any additional cost to you.

4. How to Claim Bulgaria Air Flight Compensation?

There are two ways of claiming Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation.

1. You can choose to contact Bulgaria Air directly if you wish. You can do this by emailing their customer support center or by using the contact form on their website. Be sure to reference Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 when requesting compensation and provide all the relevant details about your flight, including the reason for the delay and how long the delay lasted. Please note that it may take some time for the airline to respond to your message.

2. The simpler option is to work with a flight compensation company which will take care of all aspects of your claim. Our partners provide legal representation services, which you can find more information about below.

Please note that the compensation for missed connections is equivalent to compensation for flight delays, and the regulations for this compensation are identical.

Read more:

• Is Your Bulgaria Air Flight Compensation Claim Denied? What’s Next?
• Your Bulgaria Air Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?

4.1 How Long Does It Take?

How long does it usually take to receive Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation?

Normally, it takes a few months. However, if your case needs to be referred to a national enforcement body or court, it may take a couple more months, sometimes up to six months.

The time it takes to receive compensation can vary based on multiple factors. If an airline acknowledges your claim and promptly agrees to pay compensation, the process can be faster.

However, if the airline disagrees with your claim, it may take longer, and you may need to go through a legal process to receive compensation. Additionally, the complexity of your case can also affect the time it takes to receive compensation since each case is unique.

5. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

Here is how you can calculate the amount of your Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the distance is 3500 kilometres or more and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later, you are entitled to compensation of €300, not €600. If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of €600.

5.1 Bulgaria Air Voucher Refund or Cash?

Bulgaria Air may provide you with a voucher instead of cash compensation, which has been a common practice among airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You have the option to decline Bulgaria Air vouchers and choose to receive compensation via bank transfer instead. It’s essential to understand that airlines are obligated by European law to provide refunds and compensation in the form of cash or bank transfer, not vouchers or coupons.

6. Connecting Flights

6.1 What Is a Connecting Flight?

A connecting flight is a flight where passengers need to change planes at an intermediate airport to reach their final destination. In a connecting flight, passengers need to disembark from one plane, go through the airport security check (if they change terminals), and board another plane to reach their destination. Connecting flights are often used when your final destination does not have a direct flight from your origin city. 

The major difference between a connecting flight and a direct flight is that a connecting flight requires a layover at an intermediate airport, while a direct flight takes passengers from their origin to their final destination without any layovers.

Direct flights may make stops at other airports for refueling or to pick up more passengers, but passengers do not need to change planes to reach their final destination.

6.2 Connecting Flight Types

There are two types of connecting flights: airline-protected transfer and self-transfer.

1. Airline-protected transfer: In airline-protected transfer, the airline is responsible for transferring you and your baggage to your connecting flight. This means that your baggage will be checked through to your final destination, and you do not need to recheck it in at the intermediate airport. Depending on the journey, you may not need to go through security again. Unless you are transferring between terminals.
2. Self-transfer: Self-transfer is a type of connecting flight where you are responsible for transferring yourself and your bag to your next flight. In this case, you need to collect your checked baggage at the intermediate airport and recheck it in for your next flight. You may need to go through passport control, if you are traveling internationally. You will also need to go through airport security again.

6.3 Airline-Protected Transfer

How to find out if you have an airline-protected transfer?

1. You have made a booking for a connecting flight, either with the airline or a third-party service like Kiwi, Expedia, or eDreams.
2. Your itinerary includes two or more flights and has a single booking reference number assigned by the airline (not a travel agent). To confirm, go to the airline’s website and enter your booking reference number to view and manage your itinerary.

6.4 Self Transfer

How can you determine if you have a self-transfer flight?

1. Check if you have multiple separately booked flights in a row, each with its own reservation number.
2. Check if you paid for each flight separately.

If these conditions are met, then you are on a self-transfer flight.

Online travel agencies such as Kiwi or Expedia normally indicate whether the flight is a self transfer or a connecting flight.

7. Missed Connection

What is meant by missed connection?

A missed connection is an event where a passenger fails to board their connecting flight due to arriving late at the airport or failure to make it on time to the gate, and the aircraft takes off without them.

There are several reasons why missed connections occur. Firstly, it can be due to airline delays or cancellations, which can affect the timing of the flight and lead to missing connections. Secondly, a missed connection can happen due to mistakes on a passenger’s part, such as missing flight announcements or underestimating the time it takes to navigate through an airport.

If you missed your connecting flight due to flight delay or cancellation, you may get assistance and care from the airline. Unless it’s a self-transfer flight.

In some cases, you may be entitled missed flight compensation of up to 600 euros per person.

Cancelled or delayed flight causes missed connection?

7.1 Airline-Protected Transfer

Choosing an airline-protected transfer is the most secure option for travelers.

Most airlines have procedures in place that help passengers who have missed their connecting flight due to flight delay or cancellation. Upon arrival at the airport, alert the airline of your missed connection, and they will advise on the best course of action.

If a new flight is required, the airline may book you on the next available flight without charging you a rescheduling fee. If the next available flight is a few hours later, the airline may provide you with meal vouchers, accommodation, and transportation to the hotel. If you missed your connecting flight, you have a right to care.

If your flight falls under the EU Regulation 261/2004, you may be eligible for missed flight compensation for your entire journey (that’s the same as flight delay compensation / flight cancellation compensation).

Don’t forget to file a claim for compensation!

Connecting flight example: Bulgaria Air connecting flight Amsterdam Schiphol – Varna with a stop in Sofia. Your final destination is Varna. Sofia Airport is a just a layover airport. If your flight arrives in Varna 3 or more hours later than scheduled, and it is due to the airline’s fault, you are entitled to compensation for the whole “Amsterdam – Varna” journey.

7.2 Self Transfer

A self-transfer involves booking multiple flights separately.

When booking multiple flights separately, neither airline is responsible for missed connections due to delays, cancellations or denied boarding. Compensation may be available for individual flights that are delayed or cancelled. Missed flight connections are the responsibility of the traveler.

If you missed a flight on your self-transfer itinerary, it’s your responsibility to book a new flight.

Travel insurance may provide assistance in certain situations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Bulgaria Air Delayed Flight > Missed Connection

Flight Cancellations

Other Situations

Have you ever missed a connection? Was it a connecting flight with Bulgaria Air? Share your experience. Do you have any questions about Bulgaria Air missed connection compensation policies? Ask in the comments.

Featured photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels