Comparing SAS Compensation Policies with Other Airlines

Published: Thu 22 Feb 2024, 10:53 AM

Travel delays can turn a relaxing vacation into a stressful experience. Fortunately, if cancellations or delays significantly impact your plans, you may be eligible for compensation. To improve customer satisfaction airlines have developed thorough compensation policies that simplify the compensation process.

Do you want to know more about SAS compensation policies and how they stack up against other airline policies? In this article, we’ll explore the Scandinavian Airlines compensation claim process and give a comparative analysis with other major airlines.

SAS Compensation Policies: An Overview

Photo by Kevin Hackert on Unsplash

SAS delayed flight compensation is not always available to passengers. In order to receive SAS compensation, your flight disruption must meet some basic criteria:

● Your flight must depart from or land in the EU;

● It must be canceled with less than 14 days’ notice;

● It must be for reasons within the airline’s control;

● Your rescheduled flight must land at least 3 hours after the planned arrival time;

The amount of Scandinavian Airlines compensation depends on the distance of your flight and the delay in arrival time. For delayed flights, compensation is as follows:

● Up to €250 for flight distances less than 1,500 km, delay more than 3 hours;

● Up to €400 for flight distances between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, delay more than 3 hours;

● Up to €300 for flight distances more than 3,500 km, delay between 3 and 4 hours;

● Up to €600 for flight distances more than 3,500 km, delay more than 4 hours;

For canceled flights, you can receive:

● Up to €600 for flights more than 3,500 km

● Up to €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km

● Up to €250 for flights under 1,500 km

Once you determine eligibility for SAS claim compensation, fill out the airline’s online claim compensation form and wait for their response.

If you choose not to take the alternate flight assigned by the airline, you can receive SAS refund for a delay or cancellation

A Comparative Analysis: SAS vs. Other Major Airlines

All airlines must adhere to regulations on passenger rights, such as EC 261/2004, and must payout compensation amounts set out by the regulation. Therefore, when comparing a SAS claim for delayed flight compensation with other airlines, compensation amounts are no different.

However, the SAS airlines compensation process does differ in some ways. First of all, customer service at SAS has a customer service phone line, so you can call the airline and speak with a representative directly regarding your claim. Some airlines have no option to call, which can make dealing with your claim more difficult.

Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: The Impact of Compensation Policies

Filing for flight disruption compensation can be a long and frustrating process. Therefore, how an airline deals with compensation can greatly affect customer satisfaction for airlines. While airline compensation laws require every airline to pay compensation, the compensation process varies across airlines.

When an airline has a claims process that is long and frustrating, customer satisfaction and loyalty decrease. For example, many airlines have a policy that passengers must wait for the airline to contact them regarding their claim. Customers feel neglected and must hire services like Skycop to handle their claims.

Airlines that dispute customer claims to avoid paying compensation will also experience dissatisfaction among customers. Those with responsive customer service, fast processing times, and fair compensation payouts will win customers’ trust and loyalty.

Legal Framework and Industry Standards

All EU flights departing from and leaving the EU are governed by aviation regulations such as EC 261/2004.

EC 261/2004 protects passenger rights in the case of flight disruptions by outlining compensation claim criteria and amounts that airlines must adhere to. This regulation applies to all flights departing from or arriving in EU countries. There is no robust regulation of this kind in the US.

EC261/2004 outlines compensation eligibility criteria and the corresponding compensation amounts. It also explains when passengers aren’t eligible for compensation, for example, in the case of a strike. Regulation EC 261/2004 is so useful for passengers because it provides a clear outline of passenger rights.

In conclusion

Like most other airlines, SAS pays compensation amounts in accordance with airline compensation laws such as EC261/2004.

While SAS has compensation policies and payouts that are the same as other airlines, they have above-average customer service and passengers can easily reach the airline with any questions regarding compensation. This sets SAS apart from other airlines, some of which offer little customer support.