Flight compensation Swiss International Air Lines:
Zurich — San Francisco

Refund and compensation Swiss International Air Lines: route Zurich to San Francisco

If your trip departing from Zurich and arriving at San Francisco International Airport operated by Swiss International Air Lines was disrupted, you are not alone against the airline.

By taking off from Zurich, you are protected by the EU's legal framework. The distance of 9 376 km determines your legal compensation level.

Why are you entitled to 600 €?

The European Regulation EC 261/2004 is very strict regarding air passenger rights. The amount of fixed compensation does not depend on the price of your ticket, but only on the flight distance.

Did you know? Even if Swiss International Air Lines is a non-EU airline, if the flight takes off from Zurich, the European regulation applies in full.

How to know if the flight Swiss International Air Lines Zurich - San Francisco is eligible?

Check your actual arrival time at San Francisco. If Swiss International Air Lines made you wait more than three hours on the tarmac at San Francisco International Airport, your claim is legitimate.

Upgrading or downgrading does not change your right to 600 € if the initial incident is qualified under Regulation 261.

What are the conditions for Swiss International Air Lines to compensate you?

• Delay at arrival: You arrived with more than 3 hours delay at San Francisco.
• Cancellation: The airline cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure.
• Overbooking: You were denied boarding against your will at Zurich airport.
• Airline responsibility: The problem must be attributable to Swiss International Air Lines (technical problem, sick crew, scheduling...).

The impact of a strike on your Swiss International Air Lines compensation

Not all strikes exempt the company from its obligations. If the delay of your Zurich - San Francisco trip is due to an internal strike within Swiss International Air Lines, the European justice recently ruled that this entitles to compensation.

Even if 600 € is not payable due to an external strike at Zurich, assistance (meals/hotel) remains mandatory for Swiss International Air Lines.

What are your rights at Zurich airport in case of prolonged wait?

If Zurich airport becomes your temporary residence because of Swiss International Air Lines, know that your essential needs must be covered by the carrier.

In the case of a flight postponement until the next day, the regulation stipulates that hotel accommodation and transfers from and to Zurich airport are entirely the responsibility of the air carrier.

Steps: how to get your 600 € from Swiss International Air Lines?

For your Zurich - San Francisco trip, every minute counts. Note the reasons given by Swiss International Air Lines staff at the Zurich counter during the incident.

This is where lawyers and specialized services come in. By going through an expert partner, you check your flight instantly and delegate the entire procedure to recover your 600 € without stress.

How long does it take to get the 600 € compensation?

Some passengers wait more than 6 months for a response from Swiss International Air Lines. An expert can reduce this time by half.

Technology today allows real-time tracking of the progress of your request against Swiss International Air Lines on your smartphone.

What to do faced with silence or refusal from the airline?

Don't take Swiss International Air Lines's email for granted claiming that the airport was blocked by snow without checking official reports.

In the last instance, it is the summons to court that often unlocks the payment. The company Swiss International Air Lines will always prefer to compromise and pay the 600 € rather than incur additional legal costs for a lost cause in court.