KLM claim
KLM flight delayed or cancelled: check your compensation
Was your KLM flight delayed, cancelled or overbooked, or did a disruption cause you to miss a connection? Depending on your journey, your delay at the final destination and the cause of the incident, you could receive up to €600 per passenger.
Depending on the distance and circumstances
Commission applies only if your claim is successful
Particularly important when a connection is involved
Can you receive compensation for a KLM flight?
Because KLM is established in the European Union, European passenger rights rules may apply in particular to its flights departing from a European airport, as well as to certain flights arriving in the European Union from a non-EU country.
However, eligibility does not depend solely on the name of the airline. The itinerary, the delay at the final destination, the notice period in the event of a cancellation and the precise reason given for the disruption must also be checked.
Journey concerned
We check the departure and arrival airports and any stopovers included in the booking.
Operating carrier
The flight may have been sold by one airline and actually operated by another. This information must be checked.
Final arrival
When several legs are involved, the delay at the final destination may matter more than the delay on the first flight.
Reason given
A technical problem, an air traffic restriction or adverse weather are not assessed in the same way.
Two passengers who experience a similar delay on KLM flights may have different rights depending on their itinerary, booking and the exact cause of the disruption.
Compensation for a delayed KLM flight
When your KLM flight reaches its final destination with a significant delay, compensation may be due if the applicable conditions are met and the delay did not result from extraordinary circumstances that the airline could not reasonably have avoided.
For a journey with a stopover, you should not look only at the delay on the first flight. A relatively short delay may cause a missed connection and a much later arrival.
Useful information for assessing the delay
- scheduled and actual arrival times;
- KLM flight number and travel date;
- complete booking itinerary;
- reason given by the airline;
- new flight offered after a missed connection.
Your KLM flight was cancelled: what are your rights?
When a KLM flight is cancelled, you should examine when you were informed, the replacement solution offered and the rerouting schedule.
Ticket reimbursement, rerouting to the destination and any fixed compensation are separate rights. Accepting a new flight does not therefore necessarily remove every possibility of compensation.
New flight offered
Compare the departure and arrival times of the replacement solution with those of the journey originally booked.
Ticket reimbursement
When you decide not to travel under the applicable conditions, reimbursement may be requested independently of any fixed compensation.
Missed connection during a KLM journey
KLM journeys often include several legs. When these flights are included in a single booking, the assessment may be based on the time at which you reach your final destination.
It is therefore important to keep the entire booking and not only the boarding pass for the flight that experienced the initial delay.
If the legs were purchased separately, the legal consequences may be different. Check that the flights are included on the same booking confirmation.
Overbooking or denied boarding with KLM
Involuntary denied boarding may entitle you to compensation if you arrived on time with a valid booking and the travel documents required.
This must be distinguished from boarding being refused because of an incorrect passport, late arrival at the gate, inappropriate conduct or a justified medical restriction.
Different rules may apply if you voluntarily accepted an offer from the airline in exchange for your seat.
How much can you claim for a KLM flight?
When all the conditions are met, the standard fixed compensation amounts are mainly calculated according to the distance of the journey.
Up to 1,500 km
Reference amount for eligible short-distance journeys.
Between 1,500 and 3,500 km
Amount applicable to certain medium-distance journeys and longer intra-European flights.
More than 3,500 km
Maximum reference amount for certain long-haul flights.
These amounts are indicative. A reduction may apply in certain rerouting situations when the final delay remains limited.
Which documents should you keep for a KLM claim?
Travel documents
- booking confirmation;
- booking reference;
- KLM flight number;
- boarding passes;
- complete itinerary including stopovers.
Evidence of the disruption
- email or text message received from KLM;
- photo of the airport information screen;
- actual arrival time;
- replacement flight document;
- receipts for meals, hotel or transport.
You can start your claim with the information available. Fly Claim will let you know if any additional evidence is required.
Frequently asked questions about KLM claims
How much can I receive for a delayed KLM flight?
The standard fixed amounts are generally €250, €400 or €600, depending on the distance and the conditions applicable to your itinerary.
Is a KLM flight that arrived three hours late always eligible for compensation?
No. The final delay is an important criterion, but the itinerary and exact cause of the disruption must also be checked.
Can I claim after a missed connection with KLM?
This may be possible when the different legs are included in a single booking and you reach the final destination with a significant delay.
Does reimbursement for a cancelled KLM flight remove the right to compensation?
Not necessarily. Ticket reimbursement and fixed compensation are separate rights, each subject to its own conditions.
Can I claim my meal or hotel expenses?
Certain reasonable expenses may be reimbursed when the required assistance was not provided. Keep all itemised receipts.
Do I have to pay Fly Claim before my claim is processed?
No. There is no fee when you submit your claim. Commission applies only if compensation is recovered.
Check your compensation in just a few minutes
Enter your itinerary, delay and the problem you experienced. There are no upfront fees.