TAROM Missed Connection Compensation

TAROM missed connection compensation.

What is the amount you can claim? What are the rules?

You could qualify for compensation if you fail to board your TAROM connecting flight. How much you can claim will depend on the details of your situation. It’s important to remember that your nationality, ticket cost, and travel insurance policy do not have any impact on your compensation eligibility. The reason for this is that TAROM has to comply with specific regulations imposed by the EU, and if a compensation payment is due, it is the airline’s duty to pay it.

You can either file the claim on your own or seek assistance from professionals.

1. EU Missed Flight Connection Compensation

In which situations can you get TAROM missed connection compensation?

If you fail to board your connecting flight with TAROM, you could be eligible for compensation. The rules that apply in such situations are straightforward.

1.1 Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay: Compensation

In the event that you miss a connecting flight because your initial TAROM flight was delayed, you could be eligible for compensation under EU regulations.

If the delay occurred due to the airline’s mistake, you could claim up to €600, if your flight is to or from Europe. As TAROM is a European airline, this rule applies to all TAROM flights to, from, and within Europe. There is no such thing as “TAROM missed connection compensation,” technically because it is classified under the same category as TAROM flight delay compensation.

Your arrival at your final destination must be delayed by 3+ hours to be entitled to TAROM flight compensation. To summarise, you are eligible for compensation if:

• The delay is 3+ hours;
• The delay is TAROM’s responsibility;
• The flight is to/from Europe.

The same regulations apply to TAROM connecting flights. Keep in mind in this scenario, your final destination is your final destination (not the transit airports).

Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a connecting flight with TAROM from Bucharest to New York via Paris. Your final destination is New York. Paris is merely a transit airport. If you arrive in New York 3 or more hours late due to TAROM’s error (not due to bad weather or other extraordinary circumstances), you will be entitled to compensation for the missed connection flight for the entire “Bucharest – New York” itinerary.

Don’t forget to file a compensation claim!

1.2 Missing a Connecting Flight Due to Cancellation

If one of your flights is cancelled, causing you to miss your connecting flight and arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late, you might qualify for compensation from TAROM, just like with flight delays.

This applies if the cancellation is due to the airline’s fault. The compensation amount could be up to €600 and is calculated based on the distance of your flight.

To sum up, you can get compensation for a missed connection flight if:

• Your previous flight gets cancelled (or delayed) due to the fault of TAROM;
• You reach your destination 3+ hours late;
• The flight is to/from Europe.

Want to file a claim for compensation?

Make sure to file a compensation claim!

1.3 What About Self-Transfer Flights With TAROM?

In a situation where you have booked separate flights for your trip (i.e., self-transfer), the rules mentioned above are not applicable. If one of your flights gets delayed or cancelled in such cases, you are not eligible for compensation for the subsequent flight.

For instance, if you have booked one flight with TAROM and another with Ryanair, and TAROM cancels their flight, you may be entitled to compensation for the cancelled TAROM flight. But, TAROM is not responsible for your Ryanair flight, and they won’t provide any help if you miss it.

Keep this in mind when booking flights separately.

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 instances that stand beyond TAROM’s control.

Under such conditions, you are not entitled to compensation.

Situations such as extreme weather or a global health crisis are examples of extraordinary circumstances. If you have doubts about any of the information, it is suggested to verify it. To avoid being misinformed by the airline, it is advisable to cross-check every detail concerning the flight delay.

You also have the option to consult a flight compensation company to evaluate your case and ensure that you are not misguided. For instance, mechanical issues with the aircraft are typically the responsibility of the airline, and cannot be classified as exceptional circumstances, despite some airlines asserting otherwise.

Scenarios that do not qualify as extraordinary circumstances:

• Most technical issues with the aeroplane
• Most of the TAROM staff strikes
• TAROM staffing shortages

3. Right to Care From TAROM

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

If your flight with TAROM is delayed or cancelled, leading you to lose a connecting flight, TAROM must provide assistance while you await your next flight. Additionally, in the event of missing a connecting flight, TAROM has to arrange a free alternative flight as long as the fault wasn’t on your end.

In terms of assistance, if your waiting duration at the airport surpasses three hours, you are entitled to receive care from TAROM.

• After 3 hours of waiting TAROM is required to provide you with complimentary meals and drinks proportional to the waiting time, plus two free telephone calls, emails or faxes.
• In the event of an overnight delay, free hotel accommodation must also be provided (+ free airport transfer).

4. How to Claim TAROM Flight Compensation?

How to claim TAROM missed connection compensation?

There are two methods of claiming EU flight compensation.

The first option is to reach out to TAROM directly. You can visit their website and contact their customer support centre to request compensation for your flight. Bear in mind that this process can be time-consuming, and you may need to negotiate with TAROM to secure the compensation you are entitled to. Having proof to illustrate how much later you arrived at your destination may prove beneficial.

The second, more straightforward option is to seek legal representation.

Through this method, you will have legal experts handling all aspects of your claim. Our partners offer such services – details below.

4.1 How Long Does It Take?

What is the expected duration to receive compensation from an airline?

Typically, you should expect a few months to receive your compensation.

If your case necessitates referral to a national enforcement body or court, the process may take a few months longer and in some scenarios, even an additional half a year.

There are various factors that can influence the time it takes to receive compensation. If an airline promptly recognizes your claim and agrees to compensate, the process can be quicker. Conversely, if the airline disputes your claim, it may take longer, and you may have to go through a prolonged legal process to receive compensation.

Moreover, the intricacy of your case may influence the time required to receive compensation. Each case stands unique.

5. How Much Can You Claim?

How much is the TAROM missed connection compensation?

The compensation sum is fixed and fluctuates between €250 to €600.

Here’s how you can compute the amount of your TAROM 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 TAROM Voucher Refund or Cash?

It’s likely that TAROM might propose a voucher as a substitute for cash compensation.

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, many airlines were providing vouchers instead of cash for flight delays and cancellations.

Nevertheless, you have the right to decline the voucher and choose a bank transfer for compensation. It’s crucial to be aware that airlines in the EU are legally bound to offer compensation and refunds in the form of cash or bank transfer, and not in the form of vouchers or coupons.

6. What Is a Connecting Flight?

A connecting flight can be defined as a travel itinerary that requires two or more separate flights to arrive at the final destination, involving stops at one or more intervening airports. This implies that the journey doesn’t take you straight from location A to location B, but instead includes a stopover at location C, with a possibility of multiple stops. The stop between flights at the airport is known as a layover, and if it exceeds 24 hours, it’s referred to as a stopover.

Travellers opt for connecting flights when a direct flight isn’t available or if the connecting route is less expensive.

There are two primary kinds of connecting flights:

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

6.1 Airline-Protected Transfer

How can you identify if you’re on an airline-protected transfer with TAROM?

1. You’ve booked a connecting flight, either through TAROM directly or via a third-party platform such as Kiwi, Expedia, or eDreams.
2. Your entire journey comprises two or more flights and has been issued one booking confirmation number by TAROM. It’s crucial to note that it is the airline reservation number, not the travel agent booking reference number. By accessing TAROM’s website and entering your booking reference number, you can view and manage your complete travel details.

6.2 Self Transfer

How can you understand if you’re on a self-transfer flight?

1. If your journey consists of several flights that were booked individually, you’re on a self-transfer flight.
2. If every flight has its own unique reservation number, you’re on a self-transfer flight.
3. If you had to pay for each flight separately, it’s regarded as a self-transfer.

Distinguishing between self-transfer and airline-protected connecting flights can be challenging. A useful tip is to scrutinize the tickets. If each flight bears a distinct reservation number or booking reference, it’s likely a self-transfer. Online travel agencies like Kiwi or Expedia also provide information if the flight is a self-transfer.

7. Missed Connection

Experiencing a missed connection pertains to those instances when it becomes impossible to board your subsequent flight. This may happen due to you being late, or an unexpected cancellation or delay of your preceding flight. This problem is common when the gap between flights, or the ‘layover’, is relatively short, around 1 to 1.5 hours.

It’s worth emphasising that airlines extend support to passengers who end up missing their connecting flight due to no fault of their own. If your plans are flexible enough to accommodate a later arrival time, a delay might not be entirely undesirable, as you could become eligible for compensation amounting to up to 600 euros per person.

Missed the connection due to delay or cancellation?

7.1 Missed Airline-Protected Transfer

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

If you’re unable to catch your subsequent flight due to reasons beyond your control, the airline is obligated to provide protection and assistance. In situations where delays or cancellations result in a missed connection, passengers are protected, and they might also qualify for compensation. The airline usually ensures a replacement flight and arranges for a complimentary hotel if the new flight departs the next day. To resolve the issue, you should reach out to the airline representatives at the airport. Remember, compensation might be available under certain circumstances.

Can I get a refund or compensation?

Usually, it’s not possible to get a refund for a missed flight.

However, if your flight is governed by EU Regulation 261/2004, you might be eligible for missed flight compensation for your entire journey (that’s the same as a flight delay / cancellation compensation).

Remember to make a compensation claim!

7.2 Missed Self-Transfer Flight

Booking separate flights for each leg of the journey is known as a self-transfer.

What happens if you miss your self-transfer connection flight?

In a scenario where one or more flights in your itinerary are cancelled, delayed by over 3 hours or you are denied boarding, you might be eligible for compensation for that specific flight. However, neither of the airlines will be held accountable for your entire journey or any missed connections.

You are responsible for booking a new ticket to your destination, and you can’t get compensation for the whole journey.

In case you have missed flight insurance, it’s advisable to get in touch with your insurance provider. They may be in a position to assist you, depending on the circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

TAROM Delayed Flight > Missed Connection

Flight Cancellations

Other Situations

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

Featured photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels