Air Malta Missed Connection Compensation

Air Malta missed connection compensation.

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

Should you happen to miss a connecting flight with Air Malta, you may be entitled to compensation. The compensation amount you can claim is subject to the particular conditions of your situation. It’s crucial to understand that your nationality, ticket cost, and insurance coverage don’t impact your compensation eligibility. The reason for this is that Air Malta is obliged to adhere to specific EU regulations, and should compensation be owed, the airline is obligated to pay it.

You have the choice to file the claim independently or work with professionals.

1. EU Missed Flight Connection Compensation

In the event that you miss your connecting flight with Air Malta, you could be eligible for compensation. The regulations that govern such circumstances are straightforward.

1.1 Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay: Compensation

Should you miss a connecting flight as a result of a delay on your initial Air Malta flight, you could be eligible for compensation under EU rules.

If the delay is due to an issue with the airline, you may be able to claim as much as €600, if your flight is either to or from Europe. Because Air Malta is a European airline, this rule is applicable to all Air Malta flights to, from, or within Europe. Technically, there is no such thing as “Air Malta missed connection compensation,” as it falls under the same category as Air Malta flight delay compensation.

You must get to your final destination 3+ hours after the scheduled time to be entitled to Air Malta flight compensation. In a nutshell, you will be eligible for compensation if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s due to Air Malta;
• The flight is to/from Europe.

The same rules apply to Air Malta connecting flights. Remember that in this instance, your destination refers to your final destination (not the stopover airports).

Let’s give an example. Suppose you have a connecting flight with Air Malta from Valletta to New York via Rome. Your final destination is New York. Rome is merely a stopover/layover airport. If your arrival in New York is delayed by 3 or more hours due to an issue with Air Malta, you are entitled to missed connection flight compensation for the entire “Valletta – New York” trip.

Don’t forget to file a compensation claim!

1.2 Missing a Connecting Flight Due to Cancellation

If a part of your journey is cancelled, causing you to miss your subsequent flight and consequently arrive at your final destination with a delay of 3 or more hours, you could be entitled to compensation from Air Malta. This assumes that the cancellation was due to a fault of the airline and your flight is either departing from or arriving in Europe.

The compensation can go up to €600, dependent on the flight distance.

In summary, one can claim compensation for a missed connection flight if:

• Air Malta is at fault for the cancellation (or delay) of your preceding flight;
• You arrived at your destination 3+ hours late;
• The flight was from or to Europe.

Interested in claiming compensation?

Ensure you submit a compensation claim!

1.3 What About Self-Transfer Flights With Air Malta?

In the event that you have arranged separate bookings for your travel (i.e., self-transfer), the rules mentioned earlier do not hold. Thus, if one of your flights is delayed or cancelled, you will not be eligible for compensation for the other flight.

For instance, if you have booked one flight with Air Malta and another with Wizz Air, and Air Malta cancels their flight, you could be eligible for compensation for the Air Malta flight that was cancelled. However, Air Malta would not be liable for your Wizz Air flight, and they will not offer any assistance in case you miss it.

It’s crucial to bear these factors in mind when making separate flight reservations (self transfer reservations).

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

These are scenarios that remain beyond the control of Air Malta.

In these instances, compensation is not paid. Extraordinary circumstances can include extreme weather conditions or global health crises, for instance. If you are unsure about the details provided, it’s advised to validate it. To protect yourself from misinformation from the airline, it’s important to double-check all particulars regarding to compensations and refunds.

You can also reach out to a flight compensation company to examine your case and certify that you are not being tricked. For instance, issues with the aircraft are typically considered the airline’s responsibility and are not regarded as extraordinary circumstances, despite some airlines asserting differently.

Some situations that are not extraordinary circumstances:

• The majority of technical issues with the aeroplane
• Most of Air Malta staff strikes
• Air Malta staffing shortages

3. Right to Care From Air Malta

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

If your Air Malta flight is postponed or cancelled, causing you to miss a subsequent flight, Air Malta has the responsibility to provide you with assistance while you wait for the next available flight. Furthermore, in the event of a missed connection, Air Malta must offer a replacement flight at no additional cost, assuming it wasn’t due to your error that you missed it.

In terms of assistance, if your duration of waiting at the airport surpasses three hours, you have the right to right to care from Air Malta.

• After 3 hours of waiting, Air Malta should provide you with complimentary meals and drinks in proportion to the waiting time, in addition to two free phone calls, emails or faxes.
• In the event of an overnight delay, free hotel accommodation should also be provided (+ free airport transfer).

4. How to Claim Air Malta Flight Compensation?

There are two methods of claiming EU flight compensation.

The first method is to reach out to Air Malta directly. You can visit their website and contact their customer service centre to request compensation for your flight. However, be aware that this process might be time-consuming, and you may need to negotiate with Air Malta to claim the compensation you are entitled to. Having proof to show how late you arrived at your destination can prove useful.

The second, more simple method is to seek legal assistance.

In this case, you to have legal experts managing all aspects of your claim. Our partners offer such services – details below.

4.1 How Long Does It Take?

What is the expected timeframe for receiving compensation from an airline?

Generally, it takes at least a few months to receive compensation.

If your case needs to be referred to a national enforcement body or court, the process may extend by a few more months, and in some cases, even an additional six months.

Multiple factors can affect the time it takes to receive compensation. If an airline promptly acknowledges your claim and consents to pay compensation, the process can move faster. However, if the airline denies your claim, it may take longer, and you may have to go through an extended legal process to receive compensation.

Moreover, the complexity of your case may influence the time it takes to receive compensation. Each case is different.

5. How Much Can You Claim?

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

Here is how you can calculate the amount of your Air Malta flight 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 Air Malta Voucher Refund or Cash?

It’s likely that Air Malta may offer you a voucher as an alternative to cash compensation.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous airlines were offering vouchers instead of monetary compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Many still do so.

However, you have the right to decline a voucher and choose bank transfer compensation instead. It’s crucial to remember that airlines are legally obligated to offer compensation and refunds in the form of cash or bank transfer, and not as vouchers or coupons, as per European law.

6. What Is a Connecting Flight?

A connecting flight refers to an itinerary that requires passengers to travel on more than one flight to arrive at their ultimate destination. This means that you’ll be journeying from your starting point to your destination with a stop or multiple stops at intermediate airports. These intervals between flights are known as layovers, and if they extend beyond 24 hours, they are referred to as stopovers.

Connecting flights are often chosen when direct flights are not available or are pricier than the routes with stops.

There are two categories of connecting flights:

1. airline-protected transfers,
2. self-transfer flights.

6.1 Airline-Protected Transfer

How can you identify if your flight is an airline-protected transfer?

1. Your booking for a connecting flight was done either through the airline or a third-party service like Kiwi, Expedia, or eDreams.
2. Your entire journey consists of two or more flights and is given a single airline booking reference number. It’s crucial to distinguish between the airline booking reference number and the travel agent booking reference number. By entering your booking reference number on the airline’s website, in this case, Air Malta, you can manage and view your complete travel schedule – if that’s the case, you have an airline-protected transfer (a proper connecting flight).

6.2 Self Transfer

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

1. If your journey involves several flights that were booked individually, then you have a self-transfer flight.
2. If every flight has its unique reservation number, then you have a self-transfer flight.
3. If each flight was paid for separately, it is considered a self-transfer.

Differentiating between self-transfer and airline-protected connecting flights can be a bit tricky. A good rule of thumb is to look at the tickets. If each flight possesses a separate reservation number or booking reference, it is likely a self-transfer. Also, online travel agencies such as Kiwi or Expedia often indicate whether the flight is a self-transfer or not.

7. Missed Connection

In the event that you fail to board your next flight, this is commonly known as a missed connection.

This can happen if you’re delayed or if your flight has been unexpectedly cancelled. Situations with a short stopover or connection time, such as 1 or 1.5 hours, can easily lead to a missed connection.

Remember, many airlines, including Air Malta, often provide help to passengers who have missed their connecting flight. A delay could be a blessing in disguise as you might qualify for flight compensation of up to 600 euros per person if the delay in arrival doesn’t adversely affect your plans.

Delay or cancellation of flight leads to missed connection?

7.1 Missed Airline-Protected Transfer

Opting for an airline-protected transfer is the safest choice for travellers.

Should you miss your connecting flight due to reasons beyond your control, the airline will provide protection and assistance.

When flight delays or cancellations result in a missed connection, passengers are protected and they may even be entitled to compensation. The airline will typically organize a new flight, and provide a free hotel stay (if the new flight is scheduled for the next day). To resolve the situation, you should get in touch with the airline representatives at the airport.

Remember, in certain situations, you might be eligible for compensation.

What about a refund or compensation?

As a rule, you cannot get a refund for a missed flight.

However, should your flight fall under EU Regulation 261/2004, you may be eligible to claim missed flight compensation for your entire journey (this is the same as flight delay compensation / flight cancellation compensation).

Don’t forget to submit a claim for compensation!

7.2 Missed Self-Transfer Flight

A self-transfer implies booking several flights individually.

What happens if you miss your self-transfer connection?

If any of the individual flights in your itinerary are delayed by 3 or more hours, or cancelled, or if you are denied boarding, you may be eligible to claim compensation for that particular flight. However, neither of the airlines involved will be liable for your entire journey or any missed connections.

Example: If you have a flight with Ryanair to Frankfurt, referred to as “flight 1,” followed by a 3-hour stopover before catching your next flight with Air Malta to New York, known as “flight 2,” neither airline is responsible for any missed connection resulting from a delay or cancellation of flight 1.

In cases of significant delay (3+ hours) of flight 1, you could be eligible for compensation from Ryanair. If there’s a last-minute cancellation, you could be entitled to a new flight, refund, and compensation from Ryanair for flight 1, under ‎Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

However, if this causes you to miss your Air Malta flight, you must arrange for a new flight to your destination (New York, in this case) at your own cost. Neither Ryanair nor Air Malta will provide compensation for flight 2, and compensation for a missed flight connection will not be provided.

The same applies to the Air Malta flight – flight 2. If it’s delayed or cancelled at the last minute, you may be entitled to compensation for this specific flight. However, if it’s cancelled at the last minute and a replacement flight is scheduled 2 hours earlier and you can’t make it, it’s your responsibility to find a solution.

If you have insurance covering missed flights, get in touch with your insurance provider. Depending on the circumstances, they might be able to help you out.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Air Malta Delayed Flight > Missed Connection

Flight Cancellations

Other Situations

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