Compensation Pro-tips
 

Mr. Cheeto (DM) had a delay today in Europe and will miss his connection home this evening. Diamond line once again was stellar in getting him booked on the earliest flight home tomorrow. The agent told him to see a red coat once he lands to get a hotel voucher. From my experience, we haven't had much luck with this, standing in long lines only to be told no hotels are available, even at the sky club where we were told the app manages it. I booked him a hotel at the airport. I know, first world problems, and I don't expect full compensation, but truly what is the best method to get at least partial remuneration?

EU261 may be at play depending on more details.

You should get a hotel voucher depending on the details. Unless there’s a weather event at the airport you’re connecting at, they should be available. He should also get food vouchers.

Otherwise, pick a reasonably priced convenient hotel and submit your receipts after he’s back. Same for food.

Just save receipts and send them in here after he gets home.

https://www.delta.com/reimbursement/

This! Thank you so much!

Definitely mention EU 261 in the note if Mr. Cheeto began his travel day in an EU country or UK 261 if he started in the UK. There is a duty of care requirement that kicks in regardless of the reason for the delay and covers both hotel and meals without alcoholic drinks. (The cash part of EU/UK 261 is what's only for delays that are the fault of the airline.) E-mail in any receipts, and then it will typically take 30-60 days to get a non-automated response and instructions on how compensation is paid out- typically a choice between setting up a digital transfer process through Chase to your bank accourt or a paper check in the mail.

Thank you all for enlightening us on EU261 and the Delta claim process. This has been very helpful to us and others who may read this post. Mr. Cheeto had one of those joyous travel days where you get to the airport early at 6:00 am, only to be advised of IRROPS, so you change flights thinking you will win and can still make it home, only to be "IRROPED" again on the new flight, finally leaving late afternoon! Certainly not his first rodeo, but it is good to know about compensatory rights. Now, if we can just locate his luggage....

Seems like we should get something like EC261 passed in the U.S.

The reimbursement form is very quick for turnaround, but fairly strict on the reimbursement policies. If you don’t receive full (or adequate in your opinion) reimbursement from this form, submit a follow up request to the standard customer service form. Last time I had IROPS from Europe, EU261 wasn’t paid until I submitted the claim through normal customer service.

I’ll also note that any miles or other compensation that Delta proactively throws at you for an ex EU/EK flight is in addition to EU/UK 261 and not a substitute for it.

Update: It has been one week since Mr. Cheeto experienced IROPS out of Europe. Since that time he has been fully reimbursed for his airport hotel cost as well as compensated for EU261! I am very impressed with how Delta handled this and so grateful to you all for your guidance here! Thank you all so very much!

Delayed flight – European compensation?
 

I recently flew a segment BZN-MSP-AMS-ZAG. DL162 from MSP-AMS on April 4 was delayed by maintenance in MSP and arrived 2 hours late at 120PM in AMS. I would have missed my connection to KL1967 which departed on time at 207PM and arrived 16 minutes late at 346PM, however I was already rebooked while in the air for a new flight on KLM1969 which did not leave until nearly 9PM and arrived around 11PM. This resulted in a delay of of over 7 hours to ZAG.

Am I due compensation under EU rules from Delta due to this delay? What is the best way of requesting compensation for this?

Thanks
Swinster

No. Though duty of care would still apply and rerouting, even on non-partners.