I was returning home to Atlanta from Florence Italy connecting through CDG Paris and on to Atlanta. It was already a tight connection; we flew this same route to Florence 2 weeks earlier and made the connection because our Delta flight from Atlanta arrived in CDG 30 minutes early. On April 20 in Florence, our plane sat on the tarmac for about 30 minutes, and we knew it was unlikely we would arrive in time to make our connection in CDG. The pilot said despite the unavoidable delay, they would fly as fast as possible to get to CDG on time. Alas, that did not happen. Air France (AF) had a waiting bus for us to speed us from Terminal 2F to 2E. This part is a blur as we presented our passports, etc. and then raced as fast as we could through the Terminal to our gate, the farthest one away, of course! Delta had delayed takeoff to 3:50 pm from the original 3:40 pm to accommodate us from the AF flight. They must close the doors for boarding 20 minutes before the stated takeoff time, of 3:50 pm. Meaning they closed the doors at 3:30 and we arrived huffing and puffing about 3:35! I can’t explain how that felt knowing we had made our maximum effort and still didn’t make the flight.
Then we trudged our disappointed selves to the AF desk to receive vouchers for an overnight airport hotel stay including meals and to rebook our morning Delta flight to Atlanta. The Ibis Hotel is a clean, basic hotel perfect for this purpose with a dedicated desk with a big sign: Vouchers. There must be many people in our same situation.
I have omitted all the time going back through the airport and on trains and finally the CDG-Val that took us to the Ibis Hotel. 6 pm! Over 2 hours. I was exhausted.
One of my friends said we were entitled to compensation because of EC Regulation no. 261/2004 for our delayed/missed connection of over 3 hours.
Both my friends applied to AF and received their 600 Euros/$700 within days. However, my request took 2 weeks to be approved. The most frustrating process. I submitted my first claim on April 30 and was denied on May 1. I submitted a second claim and then a third this week. I called AF several times and was unable to reach an English-speaking agent. They clearly state they speak French, English and Spanish on their English website. I eventually called KLM since they coordinate with AF with customer care and speak English.
I submitted my boarding passes on my 3rd claim which document what happened, no response for at least 2 days. On the phone with KLM, the agent said we can’t open your files with the boarding passes. It needs to be jpeg, docx, etc. I went to my computer again and converted them to docx. They never told me why they didn’t respond, I had to call days later to learn that. Should I have known?
The bottom line is I had not put in all my names from my passport; I was using my first and last name as they asked for on the form. I probably should have known they wanted all three names, my problem I admit.
All in all, they kindly apologized for my trouble and after I submitted my bank details, I received an email from this morning. $707 USD will be deposited in my bank account. I am looking forward to seeing the money there.
By sharing my experience, I hope it may help someone in pursuing compensation from an airline within the EU when flights intra Europe are delayed more than 3 hours. You are due compensation.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
5283 posts
I hope this $700 is not taxed by federal and state in US. If not taxed, that's not a bad payday for your trouble.
Posted by
USA/SF Bay Area
359 posts
Thank you for taking the time to share. I am glad you persisted and got your compensation. And good to know about the type of file to submit documents and using all names! I would have used my first and last as well to match ticket.
Many years ago when I was 20 weeks pregnant, I had a connection in JFK coming from an 8 hour flight. My checked bag took 1 hour to appear in the carrousel after immigration, and by the time I arrived at the Delta gate (after running through the airport), they had "just" closed the door. Like a couple of minutes. I feel your frustration, Judy B.
I was so out of breath and just burst into tears, all that pregnancy hormones at the peak. They had to call someone to calm me down and check my blood pressure. That plane ended up with some delay getting out of the gate which was frustrating to watch. I finally went to the Delta lounge (they had automatically rebooked me on a flight 4 hours later to SFO). I only got a few miles as compensation for the trouble which they blamed on JFK staff handling suitcases. Fast forward 10 years, my daughter and I had a 2 hour delay leaving SFO with connection at JFK (the reverse itinerary when I was pregnant with her). Thank goodness no need to get our bag or go through security. We huffed and puffed and made it JUST as they were about to close the door. We were the last ones to board. I joke she got experience from the womb.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
2689 posts
Joy,
I chuckled when you said your daughter learned in the womb! I had a vague thought that we were entitled to some kind of compensation but when AF put us up overnight in a hotel with meals, I thought that was the extent of their responsibility to us. I have read on this forum about EU compensation for delayed flights and missed connections, etc. but I wasn’t aware that it applied to us. Thank goodness the AF agent at the AF service desk in CDG airport telling us.
Cala, I hope it isn’t taxable, I certainly am not going to volunteer it to the IRS. I will see.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17102 posts
Judy, thanks so much for taking the time to post your cautionary tale. I'd probably not have thought of using my full name either especially since when it's printed on the boarding passes part of it is left off, hahaha.
I'm glad you've got the money...or will get the money soon!
And laughing that the Ibis has a dedicated "Vouchers" desk, hahaha. I've stayed in a couple of Ibis Styles - Edinburgh and Carcassonne - and had good experiences.
Posted by
AZ 🌵
3616 posts
Judy, thanks for sharing your airline misadventure. What a fiasco! I’m so glad you finally got your compensation. I’m bookmarking your post in the “lessons to learn” file.
My United flight home from Munich a few years ago was one problem after another but I made the flights and swore never to connect through SFO again.
Posted by
PA
3137 posts
Cala. Re income taxes, this is considered a form of damage compensation, and not taxable. It is not in lieu of otherwise lost taxable income. And certainly not reported to the US by the EU.
Posted by
Duluth, MN🌲
12084 posts
hope this $700 is not taxed by federal and state in US. If not taxed, that's not a bad payday for your troubl
It's not taxed. I received that $700 back in 2024 when my Delta flight was cancelled from Schiphol to MSP, and did not receive any kind of 1099 for it. I had actually booked it through KLM, but Delta operated the flight.
Luckily, I didn't have to go through all the rigmarole Judy did to get the money. I received an email from Delta 2-3 days after I landed at MSP, they asked me for my direct deposit information and it was in there a couple of days later.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
2689 posts
I have a policy with Travel Guard for this trip and will call them soon to see if I'm covered under their policy. I certainly paid enough for it! I will let you know what I learn.
Larry, that's what I thought about the payment - it is similar in intent to insurance, it's a payment to make me whole as insurance does.
My room at the Ibis Hotel had wonderful bedding, very luxurious! It was soothing after our exhausting day.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
17102 posts
"My room at the Ibis Hotel had wonderful bedding, very luxurious! It was soothing after our exhausting day."
I am not really one who goes for luxury bedding at home but honestly, the first hotel I usually stay at in Paris has beautiful linens and towels and it is so wonderful after a long travel day/days to towel off with those thick towels and get between lovely sheets! I'm glad the Ibis made you feel pampered!
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
2689 posts
Pam,
It was a surprise to have such wonderful bedding given the basic nature of the hotel. It was clean and the room was organized well to accommodate a transient traveler. I agree with the comment that it would have been nice to have coffee in the room but it did hurry me along to get to breakfast where the plentiful buffet and coffee choices awaited me. My purpose was to get to my departing Delta flight home to Atlanta.