Flight delay compensation

Sometimes, air travel can present you with unpleasant surprises. Flight delays are a fact of life and occur more often than people think. If you experienced a delayed flight, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

What are my air travel passenger rights if my flight is delayed?

• You may be entitled to financial compensation from the airline if your delay was at least 3 hours.
• The compensation amount can vary from €250 to €600.
• The airline is required to provide you with food and beverages if the flight is delayed by more than 2 hours.
• The airline must provide you with hotel accommodation and transportation from and to the airport if the flight is delayed overnight.

What to do if my flight is delayed?

• Contact the airline staff and ask them to provide you with confirmation that the flight is delayed and the reasons behind it in writing.
• Keep your boarding pass and any other travel documents.
• Ask the airline staff for food and beverages if your flight delay takes more than 2 hours.
• Collect all the necessary documents, such as vouchers and receipts.
• Gather all the possible proof of the delay.
• Don’t sign anything or accept any offers which might waive your air passenger rights.
• If the delay is overnight, demand the airline to provide you with accommodation.
• Use our flight delay compensation calculator to check the amount you might receive and file a claim.

Can I get compensated for a delayed flight?

You can get compensated if:

• You arrived at your final destination more than 3 hours late.
• You departed from the EU or arrived at an EU airport (when the airline is an EU-based carrier).
• Your check-in for the flight was on time (usually not less than 45 minutes before the flight).
• Your flight was less than 3 years ago as many countries have a flight delay application limit that is less than 3 years.
• The airline is responsible for the delay (the circumstances for the delay were under the airline’s control).
• Whether the airline provided you with food or vouchers is irrelevant.

What amount of compensation can I expect for the flight delay?

Under EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, you can get compensation for the flight delay if your arrival time was more than 3 hours late. The compensation amount depends on the flight distance and the length of the delay.