Flight Delay Compensation: Know Your Rights
Flight delayed or cancelled? Depending on your route and the circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation under EU passenger-rights rules. Learn what to check and how to make a claim.
When Can You Claim Flight Delay Compensation?
EU Regulation 261/2004 provides rights when flights are disrupted. Cash compensation is separate from ticket refunds, re-routing and assistance while you wait. Eligibility depends on the flight, the disruption and its cause.
- Delayed arrival: you reach your final destination at least three hours late, unless the airline can establish extraordinary circumstances and that the disruption could not have been avoided with reasonable measures.
- Cancellation: compensation may apply depending on the notice given, alternative flight offered and reason for cancellation.
- Denied boarding: involuntary refusal, such as overbooking, may qualify if you met the check-in and travel-document requirements.
- Missed connection: a delay affecting flights on a single reservation may qualify based on your arrival at the final destination. Separate tickets require a different assessment.
Which Flights Are Covered?
As a general guide, EU passenger-rights rules cover:
- Flights departing from the EU, regardless of the operating airline.
- Flights arriving in the EU from a non-EU country when operated by an EU airline, subject to the applicable conditions.
The rules also apply to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Connecting journeys and benefits already received under another country’s rules can affect the assessment. UK flights may fall under separate UK rules.
Claim deadlines vary: there is no single six-year deadline across Europe. Check the national limitation period that applies to your case.
How Much Compensation Could You Receive?
For a qualifying delayed arrival, the following amounts apply per passenger before any claim-service fees. This table summarises delay compensation; cancellation and denied-boarding cases have their own conditions.
| Flight distance and route | Delay at final destination | Potential compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | At least 3 hours | €250 |
| More than 1,500 km within the EU; other flights over 1,500 km and up to 3,500 km | At least 3 hours | €400 |
| More than 3,500 km between the EU and a non-EU country | At least 3 hours but less than 4 hours | €300 |
| More than 3,500 km between the EU and a non-EU country | At least 4 hours | €600 |
These amounts are not automatic. The route must be covered and the relevant eligibility conditions must be met.
What If Your Flight Is Cancelled?
The airline must generally offer a choice between reimbursement and re-routing. Cash compensation may also be due, but it is not normally payable when you were informed at least 14 days before departure. Shorter-notice cancellations can also be exempt where an alternative flight meets the required departure and arrival limits.
Extraordinary circumstances can exclude cash compensation for cancellations or delays. They do not automatically remove rights to assistance, reimbursement or re-routing. Compensation for cancellation or denied boarding can be reduced by 50% when qualifying re-routing gets you to your destination within the relevant time limits.
Assistance While You Wait
Depending on flight distance, departure delays of two, three or four hours can trigger rights to meals, refreshments and communication. If an overnight stay becomes necessary, accommodation and transport may also be due. At a departure delay of at least five hours, you may choose reimbursement rather than continuing the journey, with a return flight where applicable.
Ask the airline for assistance first and keep receipts for reasonable necessary expenses if it does not provide what you are entitled to.
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
- Keep your documents: retain the booking confirmation, boarding pass, flight number and travel date.
- Record the disruption: note your actual arrival time and keep messages from the airline, its stated reason and relevant receipts.
- Claim directly: use the operating airline’s official claims process. You can do this yourself without paying a claims agency.
- Escalate if necessary: if the response is unsatisfactory, check the relevant national enforcement body or alternative dispute-resolution service.
Using Compensair to Handle Your Claim
If you prefer help, the Compensair forms on this page let you submit your flight details for an eligibility assessment. Submitting details does not guarantee compensation.
Compensair’s current online payment policy lists a 35% service fee and a possible additional 10% legal fee if additional legal expenses are incurred. Check the fee, any other applicable charges and the agreement presented to you before appointing the provider.
Read Compensair’s payment policy and terms and conditions. Avoid appointing multiple providers to pursue the same claim.
Official Passenger-Rights Information
For the full conditions and complaint options, consult Your Europe’s air passenger-rights guide and its passenger-rights FAQs.
Planning another journey? Visit our flight comparison page or explore our travel inspiration and destination guides.
Check Your Flight with Compensair
Enter your flight details below to start the provider’s assessment. Review the applicable terms and fees before proceeding.