Delayed flight: can you receive compensation?
If you arrive at your final destination with a significant delay, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600 per passenger. However, the route, the length of the delay and the cause of the disruption must be checked.
Compensation depends in particular on the final delay, the distance and the reason provided by the airline.
When does a delayed flight qualify for compensation?
Compensation may be due if you reach your final destination at least three hours late, European passenger-rights rules apply to your journey and the disruption was not caused by a properly demonstrated extraordinary circumstance.
The delay shown at departure is not always decisive. The main factor is usually the delay recorded when you arrive at your final destination, particularly when your journey includes a connecting flight under the same booking.
An eligible route
The departure airport, arrival airport and operating airline determine whether European rules apply.
A sufficient final delay
Arriving at least three hours late may qualify you for compensation.
A confirmed booking
You must have a valid booking and have complied with the applicable check-in deadlines.
A cause attributable to the airline
The precise cause of the delay must be examined before eligibility can be confirmed.
A flight delayed at departure may eventually arrive less than three hours late. Conversely, a missed connection can significantly increase the delay at the final destination.
How much can you receive for a delayed flight?
When the requirements are met, the fixed compensation amount mainly depends on the flight distance. The price paid for the ticket is not generally used to calculate this compensation.
Up to 1,500 km
Reference amount for eligible short-distance flights.
From 1,500 to 3,500 km
Reference amount for eligible journeys and certain flights of more than 1,500 km within the EU.
More than 3,500 km
Maximum reference amount for certain long-haul flights between the EU and a non-EU country.
For certain flights of more than 3,500 km that arrive between three and four hours late, the compensation amount may be reduced. Each situation must be checked individually.
What are your rights at the airport during a delay?
Depending on the waiting time and the flight distance, the airline may be required to provide assistance. This right is separate from any fixed compensation you may be entitled to.
Meals and refreshments
They must be provided in reasonable quantities in relation to the length of the delay.
Communications
Assistance may include two communications, for example by telephone or email.
Accommodation
If departure is postponed until the following day, a hotel and the associated transport may be due.
Delay of at least five hours
You may be entitled to a ticket refund if you decide not to continue the journey under the applicable conditions.
If the airline does not provide the required assistance, retain evidence of reasonable expenses appropriate to the waiting time.
Can the airline claim extraordinary circumstances?
The airline may be exempt from paying compensation if it proves that the delay was directly caused by an external event that it could not reasonably control and that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
May be extraordinary
- Genuinely dangerous weather conditions
- Certain air traffic control restrictions
- External closure of an airport or runway
- Serious security risks
- Certain strikes external to the airline
Often open to challenge
- Most ordinary technical faults
- A shortage of staff or crew
- Poor organisation of the aircraft rotation
- A vague operational reason
- Certain internal airline strikes
The airline must be able to explain the precise cause, its connection with your flight and the measures taken to limit the delay. Read our guide to extraordinary circumstances .
Which documents should you keep after a delayed flight?
You can begin your claim using the main details of your journey. Additional documents can then be used to confirm the route, the delay and the expenses incurred.
Flight information
- Booking confirmation
- Flight number and date
- Complete itinerary
- Available boarding passes
Evidence of the delay
- Emails and text messages from the airline
- Photos of airport information screens
- Actual arrival time
- Reason provided at the airport
Expenses incurred
- Meals and refreshments
- Necessary accommodation
- Transport between the hotel and airport
- Other reasonable expenses related to the delay
How can you claim compensation for a delayed flight?
Enter your journey details
Provide the airports, date, airline and flight number.
Enter the delay recorded
Provide the actual arrival time at your final destination.
Add supporting documents
Submit the available documents and messages from the airline.
Let Fly Claim handle the process
We assess your claim and manage communications with the airline.
Connecting flights, rerouting and technical delays
Missed connection
With a single booking, the delay at the final destination may be taken into account even if the first flight was delayed by less than three hours.
Rerouting
The arrival time of the replacement flight must be compared with the originally scheduled arrival time.
Technical delay
An ordinary technical fault does not automatically exclude compensation.
Expenses during the delay
Reimbursement of certain reasonable expenses is separate from fixed compensation.
Which mistakes should you avoid after a delayed flight?
Relying only on the departure delay
The arrival time at the final destination is often decisive.
Throwing away your travel documents
Keep your confirmations, boarding passes and messages received.
Accepting an overly general explanation
Ask for the precise cause of the delay when the explanation is unclear.
Confusing reimbursement with compensation
These rights follow different rules and may sometimes apply together.
Frequently asked questions about delayed flight compensation
How many hours late must my flight be to qualify?
Arriving at least three hours late at the final destination may qualify you for compensation if the other requirements are met.
Does the departure delay count?
It is relevant when determining certain rights to assistance. For compensation, the arrival at the final destination is generally decisive.
Does a technical fault prevent compensation?
No, not automatically. Most faults connected with the normal operation or maintenance of the aircraft must be assessed precisely.
Can I receive compensation after a missed connection?
This may be possible when the flights are included in a single booking and the delay at the final destination is sufficient.
Do I have to pay to submit my claim?
No fee is charged upfront. The commission set out in Fly Claim’s terms is charged only if the claim is successful.
How much can I receive?
The reference amounts are €250, €400 or €600, depending on the distance and the applicable conditions.
Check whether you can receive compensation
Enter your journey and the delay you experienced. There are no upfront fees to begin.