threeoh

No. That provision is for if you decide not to travel to your destination.

Imagine you are to fly CDG-SFO-LAX for a conference. You are delayed by more than 5 hours and, while sitting in SFO, you realize you will have missed the important parts of the conference, so you want to just return to CDG.

Not only will they refund you for SFO-LAX leg you won't fly, they will refund you for your CDG-SFO leg (which you flew, but is no longer useful to you) and for a flight back to CDG.

This is also called "trip in vain" in most USA carrier's CoC.

I'm 99% sure this does not apply for flying back home to SFO and remaining in SFO, just because you were delayed over 5 hours. The only case it would apply is if you returned to CDG and abandoned your trip.

busyizzy

That's what I thought about the outbound flight! Bummer since I missed my dinner. Hope United will come through on the 600 euros. The person at the check-in counter said it was definitely not weather issue and completely United's fault. If they say no, I'll have to fight them on that. Thanks for the quick reply!

busyizzy

Hi guys, follow-up question! I thought I read multiple times on this thread that people were able to get the EU261 compensation AND the compensation from the Unitedcares website if it is emailed to customers after the flight. I have tried to access this website (https://www.united.com/unitedcares/) multiple times but it keeps giving me an error when I put in my information. Separately, I also heard back from United that they will compensate me EU261 and I can chose 600 euros OR chose $900 travel voucher or 27,5k miles. If I reach out and ask about the Unitedcares website via their feedback form, will that count as my EU261 compensation? Can I try to claim both? What is the order to try to get this? Thanks!

Aussienarelle

I have done both but always claim the United Cares comp first.

Although one has nothing to do with the other, the United Cares is voluntary and EU261 is compulsory.

I personally have always been concerned if I claimed the voluntary compensation after the compulsory amount they may not pay on the basis they already gave me something. No personal experience with that scenario but always been concerned they would not pay voluntary after compulsory payment.

Silver Fox

To claim their compensation I still don't know my name according to their website and after trying each and every combination of letters that would put Bletchley Park to shame, I still cannot. As I just filed for court proceedings against them I am not going to bother pursuing this just in case it may affect the outcome.

BaconSF

LondonElite

jsloan

Since UA doesn't fly BRU to SFO, and they don't use he 737 MAX on EWR to SFO, I'm a mite confused. What was the actual routing, and what makes you think it was related to the MAX?

The EU generally hasn't recognized the inability to position an aircraft as an exceptional event. I would certainly ask for compensation -- the worst that could happen is that they say 'no' and you have to decide whether or not to go to court.

If this is MAX-related, I'd watch to see how EU MAX operators are responding. If they're all paying the compensation, that would give me increased confidence.

BaconSF

Kacee

That has nothing to do with United. If you have a claim (I don't think you do) it would be with AC.

jsloan

OK, then your claim would be against Air Canada, even though you booked through United. EC.261 claims are made against the operating carrier.

LondonElite

In this case, as Kacee says, you have no claim at all with UA as only the operating carrier matters. Take your claim to AC, but I expect you'll have an uphill battle.

Kacee

I'm usually in "the airline should pay" camp, but I do think aviation authorities grounding aircraft type is an extraordinary circumstance.

ozflier

I agree .
The situation is a very exceptional one.

cfischer

extremely unlikely. AC is difficult to start with and this is clearly extraordinary and outside the control of the airline. Frankly, I wouldn't even submit a claim.