Flight delayed by 3 hours: how much compensation can you claim?
If you reach your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may, under certain conditions, be entitled to compensation of between €250 and €600 per passenger.
Eligibility depends on your route, the operating airline, the actual length of the delay and the reason for the disruption.
Does a 3-hour flight delay qualify for compensation?
Potentially, yes. If you reach your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation when your flight is covered by European passenger-rights rules and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
The three essential requirements
- You must arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late.
- Your flight must be covered by European passenger rights.
- The reason for the delay must not release the airline from liability.
A 3-hour departure delay is not always enough. If the airline makes up time during the flight and you arrive less than 3 hours late, fixed compensation is generally not due.
For a broader overview, read our complete guide to delayed flights.
What are the requirements for compensation after a 3-hour delay?
The length of the delay is only one part of the assessment. Your route, the airline that operated the flight and the exact reason for the disruption must also be checked.
At least 3 hours late on arrival
The actual arrival time is compared with the scheduled arrival time at your final destination, rather than only with the departure time.
A covered flight route
The flight must have a sufficient connection with the European Union based on its departure point, destination and operating airline.
A confirmed reservation
You should normally have a valid booking and have presented yourself for check-in within the required time.
A reason within the airline’s responsibility
The airline must not be able to prove that the delay resulted from an external event that could not have been avoided despite all reasonable measures.
Which flights are generally covered?
Flights departing from the European Union
The rules may apply whether the airline is European or non-European.
Flights arriving in the European Union
For flights departing from outside the European Union, the operating airline must generally be European.
Connecting flights
When all flights are included in one booking, the delay may be assessed at the final destination.
A missed connection may also qualify for compensation. Read our guide to missed connecting flights.
How much compensation can you receive for a 3-hour flight delay?
Compensation is not calculated according to the price of your ticket. It mainly depends on the distance of the flight and, for certain long-haul flights, the exact length of the delay.
When arrival is delayed by at least 3 hours.
When arrival is delayed by at least 3 hours.
Generally when the delay reaches at least 4 hours.
Special rules for certain long-haul flights
For certain flights over 3,500 km between the European Union and a non-EU country, a delay of at least 3 hours but less than 4 hours may result in reduced compensation of €300. From 4 hours, compensation may reach €600.
Paris to Barcelona
A delay of 3 hours and 20 minutes on arrival may qualify for €250 per passenger.
Paris to Athens
A delay of 3 hours and 10 minutes on arrival may qualify for €400 per passenger.
Paris to New York
Compensation may be €300 for a delay between 3 and 4 hours and €600 from 4 hours.
How do you know whether your flight was really 3 hours late?
For compensation purposes, the scheduled arrival time must be compared with the recognised actual arrival time at the final destination. The delay announced before departure may therefore differ from the delay ultimately taken into account.
Threshold not reached
Fixed delay compensation is generally not due when the delay remains below 3 hours.
Threshold reached
A delay of exactly 3 hours may qualify for compensation when the other requirements are met.
Threshold exceeded
The claim may be eligible, subject to the route and the exact reason for the delay.
Do not rely only on the landing time displayed in an application. Official flight times and operational data should also be checked.
After a 3-hour delay, can you claim meals, a hotel or a refund?
Fixed compensation is separate from the right to care during the waiting period and from the right to a ticket refund. These rights apply under different conditions.
Meals and refreshments
The airline should provide reasonable care when the departure delay reaches the threshold applicable to the distance of the flight.
Communications
Care may include the possibility of making telephone calls, sending emails or making other necessary communications.
Hotel and transport
When the new departure is scheduled for the following day, accommodation and transport may need to be provided.
Refund after 5 hours
When the departure delay reaches at least 5 hours, you may decide not to travel and request a refund for the relevant ticket.
If the airline does not provide the required assistance, keep receipts for necessary and reasonable expenses that are appropriate to the length of the delay.
When can the airline refuse to pay compensation?
The airline may be exempt from compensation if it proves that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Genuinely dangerous weather
Severe storms, extreme fog or heavy snowfall that makes the flight dangerous or impossible.
Air traffic control decisions
Airspace closure, imposed restrictions or an urgent decision made by aviation authorities.
Security risks
An external event creating a serious danger for passengers, employees or the aircraft.
Exceptional external events
Certain political crises, emergencies or external strikes may be considered extraordinary.
Situations that are not automatically extraordinary
The expressions “operational reasons” or “extraordinary circumstances” are not enough by themselves. The precise cause and the measures taken by the airline must be examined.
Read our detailed guide to extraordinary circumstances .
Common situations after a 3-hour flight delay
The flight departed 3 hours late
Check the final arrival delay first. Arriving less than 3 hours late generally does not qualify for fixed compensation.
The flight arrived exactly 3 hours late
The threshold may have been reached. The route and the exact reason for the delay must still be checked.
A connecting flight was missed
When all flights were included in one booking, the delay may be measured at the final destination.
The airline mentions a technical problem
A technical problem related to the normal operation or maintenance of the aircraft does not automatically exclude compensation.
The flight was eventually cancelled
Different rules apply. Read our guide to cancelled flights.
You were denied boarding
Denied boarding may create specific passenger rights. Read our denied boarding guide.
How do you claim compensation for a 3-hour flight delay?
Gather the information needed to identify your flight and verify the length of the delay. Fly Claim can then assess your case and determine whether a claim can be pursued.
Enter your flight details
Provide the airports, operating airline, date and flight number.
Add your documents
Send your booking confirmation, boarding pass and any messages received from the airline.
Have your delay checked
Your route, the delay at the final destination and the reason for the disruption are assessed.
Track your claim
When the claim is eligible, the necessary steps are taken against the airline.
Useful documents to keep
Learn how Fly Claim works and review our fees.
Check your rights by airline or airport
Find information relating to the airline that operated your flight or the airport affected by the delay.
Flight delays by airline
Flight delays by airport
Frequently asked questions about 3-hour flight-delay compensation
Does a delay of exactly 3 hours qualify for compensation? +
Yes. The threshold is reached when the delay at the final destination is at least 3 hours. The other requirements relating to the route and the cause of the delay must also be met.
My flight departed 3 hours late but arrived only 2 hours and 40 minutes late. Can I claim? +
Generally not for fixed delay compensation, because the 3-hour threshold is assessed at the final destination. You may still have been entitled to care during the wait at the departure airport.
How much can I receive for a long-haul flight delayed by 3 hours and 30 minutes? +
For certain flights over 3,500 km between the European Union and a non-EU country, a delay of at least 3 hours but less than 4 hours may result in reduced compensation of €300. From 4 hours, compensation may reach €600.
Can I claim compensation after missing a connecting flight? +
Yes, particularly when the flights formed part of a single booking and you reached your final destination at least 3 hours late. The cause of the disruption must also be checked.
Does a technical problem automatically exclude compensation? +
No. Many technical problems connected with the normal operation or maintenance of an aircraft are not automatically considered extraordinary circumstances.
Can my meal and hotel expenses be reimbursed? +
When the airline should have provided assistance but failed to do so, necessary and reasonable expenses may potentially be reimbursed. Keep all receipts.
The airline says the delay was caused by “operational reasons”. Is that enough to refuse compensation? +
No. This wording is too general to determine whether compensation is due. The actual cause of the delay and the measures taken by the airline must be examined.
Find more answers in our frequently asked questions.
Was your flight delayed by at least 3 hours?
Submit your flight details and find out whether you may claim up to €600 in compensation per passenger.
No upfront fees. A 30% fee including tax applies only if your claim is successful.