INPUTS: Ireland | Dublin to Spain and Italy | Ryanair, Aer Lingus | Solo | Airport IT failure WHAT TO DO WHEN MY FLIGHT GOES WRONG (EU 261, solo traveller from Ireland) 1. DECISION TABLE Dublin to Spain/Italy is mostly 1,500-3,500 km, so the middle band applies. | Situation | Care (food, drinks, 2 calls/emails, hotel if overnight) | Refund / rerouting | Cash compensation | |---|---|---|---| | Delay 2h+ | Yes if flight is up to 1,500 km | No | No | | Delay 3h+ (at departure) | Yes for 1,500-3,500 km (your band) | No | Yes if you ARRIVE 3h+ late: EUR 250 (up to 1,500 km), EUR 400 (1,500-3,500 km or any intra-EU flight over 1,500 km), EUR 600 (over 3,500 km, non-EU) | | Delay 5h+ | Yes | You may cancel and get a full refund within 7 days (Art. 8) | As above | | Cancellation, under 14 days' notice | Yes | Your choice: refund or rerouting | EUR 250 / 400 / 600, unless extraordinary circumstances or a close-enough alternative flight was offered | | Denied boarding (overbooking) | Yes | Refund or rerouting | EUR 250 / 400 / 600, paid immediately | If rerouted and you arrive within 3h of the original time (your band), compensation can be cut by 50% (Art. 7(2)). 2. EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES (= events outside the airline's control that remove cash compensation, never care) Usually remove compensation: severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or ATC strikes, security alerts, bird strikes, failures of airport-run systems. Usually do NOT: technical faults found in routine maintenance, the airline's own staff strikes, crew shortages, the airline's own IT outage. Your case, an airport IT failure: this is the grey area. If the airport's or ATC's network failed, courts usually side with the airline. If it was the airline's own booking or check-in system, courts usually side with you. Ask staff in writing which system failed. 3. AT THE AIRPORT: 6 STEPS 1. Photograph the departures board showing your flight and the time. 2. Ask the airline desk for the delay reason in writing (or screenshot the app or email). 3. Ask for meal vouchers once you pass the care threshold. 4. Keep every receipt for food, transport and hotel. 5. Note your actual arrival time (the moment a door opens counts). 6. Don't sign anything that waives your rights in exchange for a voucher. 4. CLAIM EMAIL Subject: EU261 compensation claim, flight [number], [date] Dear [Airline], I was booked on flight [number] from [airport] to [airport] on [date], booking reference [ref]. The flight [was delayed by X hours on arrival / was cancelled on DATE]. Under Articles 5, 6, 7 and 9 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004, as interpreted in Sturgeon (C-402/07), I claim EUR [250/400/600] compensation plus EUR [amount] in receipts (attached). Please pay to [IBAN/payment method] within 14 days. Kind regards, [Name] 5. IF THE AIRLINE REFUSES Complain to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (the Aviation Regulator), Ireland's national enforcement body: it reviews complaints for free and can direct airlines to comply. For a court route, the Small Claims procedure handles claims up to EUR 2,000 for a small fee. SELF-CHECK - Verify the Small Claims fee and limit on courts.ie. - Check whether the EU's proposed EU261 reform (longer delay thresholds) has been adopted. - Confirm current complaint steps on aviationreg.ie.