TAP Flight Cancellation Compensation

TAP flight cancellation refund. TAP flight cancellation compensation.

What is the difference? When can you get the refund, and when — compensation? In which cases can you get both? How much is the compensation? These are the questions we are going to discuss in this article. There are many different reasons why your TAP flight can be cancelled — if it is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to both a full refund from TAP and cancellation compensation up to €600.

With TAP, it applies to most flights to and from the EU, and the UK.

There are two ways you can claim flight cancellation compensation.

1. TAP Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU Regulations

What happens if your TAP flight is cancelled?

Will you be provided with a new ticket free of charge? Can you get a full refund if the new flight doesn’t meet your needs? Are you entitled to flight cancellation compensation?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to TAP flight cancellation compensation? 

Yes. As long as the following conditions are met:

• Cancellation must be due to the fault of TAP;
• It must be a last-minute flight cancellation (up to 14 days before departure);
• Flight must be to/from Europe or the UK.

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.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

Sometimes reasons for flight cancellations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disaster, national strike, terrorism threat, civil unrest or security issues at the airport, you can’t get flight cancellation compensation from TAP. These events are outside of the airline’s control, so the airline is not obligated to pay compensation.

What about strikes? Are all airport strikes are considered to be extraordinary circumstances? If it’s a strike of TAP employees, you might be entitled to compensation. TAP has control over their employees. It’s not something unavoidable.

Are you claiming compensation on your own?

Make sure to double check what you’re told.

Because not always airlines are telling the truth. To avoid paying compensation, airlines often wrongly refuse compensations by telling wrong reasons for delay. You always have to be persistent and ask for proof. If that sounds like a hassle, you can choose to work with a flight compensation company. They will check your flight and request compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services. 

1.2 Right to Care

Your TAP flight is cancelled last-minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

In this case you have a right to receive care from the airline. According to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, if you have to wait 3+ hours at the airport for your replacement flight, you have a right to receive certain services for free. What are those services?

TAP must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free transfer) must be offered.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

1.3 TAP Flight Cancellation Refund, TAP Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

If your flight has been cancelled, you either get a refund or a new flight. These are the laws in the EU. And these laws aren’t affected by TAP internal policies (TAP refund policy). According to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, if your flight is cancelled, TAP should offer you either a new flight or a full refund. It applies to most TAP flight cancellations. 

If you choose the refund, it has to be paid within 7 days.

You don’t have to agree to an TAP voucher refund.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t cover cases when you yourself cancel a TAP flight.

2. How to Claim TAP Compensation?

There are two ways how you can claim TAP flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact TAP directly. Use the contact form on the website of TAP to contact TAP customer support center and request compensation for cancellation. Refer to above mentioned European regulations when making a claim. If you are claiming compensation on your own, the process might take a few months and a few reminder emails until you receive your money. Don’t be surprised if the airline is not cooperating. Be persistent. 

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

It’s the hassle-free option. All you have to do is to fill in and sign one form. The rest will be done for you, on your behalf. Register your TAP compensation claim, and wait for the money. Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• Your TAP Refund Is Taking Forever? Here’s What You Can Do!
• Your TAP Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What Now?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

On average — 2 to 3 months.

2 to 3 months from the moment you file a compensation claim until your TAP flight cancellation compensation is transferred in your bank account. Note that in some situations it might be necessary to take your case to a national enforcement body or even court. If this is the case, it will lengthen the process for at least a couple of months, or even more.

If you do it yourself and for the first time, it takes longer than that.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount in the EU is up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your TAP compensation:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 TAP Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a voucher instead of compensation?

You don’t have to accept vouchers as a compensation. Your TAP flight cancellation compensation has to be paid by bank transfer. In fact, all airline compensations and refunds in the EU have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

4. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your TAP flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from TAP. 

This email most probably will include information about all the things you need to know. Like when is the next available flight and how to get a refund if you don’t wish to take that flight. But what if it’s a very last-minute cancellation and you only find out about it at the airport? There’s nothing much you can do. Wait for the announcement from the airline.

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and full refund. If you choose a refund, take into account that you won’t receive it right away. Usually the refunds are made within 7 days.

Keep in mind that there are situations when you are entitled to TAP flight cancellation compensation. In case of flight cancellation, compensation has to be paid when the flight is cancelled less than 2 weeks before departure date, and it is due to the airline’s fault.

Do you need to be on time for another flight? If it’s a TAP connecting flight, don’t worry. If you miss your connection because your previous flight was delayed or cancelled, TAP will book you on another flight free of charge. But if it’s a self transfer (separately booked flights), it’s your responsibility.

TAP Flight Cancellation Compensation and Refund: FAQ

TAP Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received TAP flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about TAP compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.