Delayed flight
Compensation for a delayed flight: when you may be entitled to €250–€600
If you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to flight compensation. However, the delay duration is not the only factor – the flight route, the operating carrier and the reason for the delay also matter.
Check your delayed flightWhen is compensation due for a delayed flight?
When EU passenger rights rules apply to the flight and the passenger reaches the final destination at least 3 hours late, a right to standard monetary compensation may arise. However, every case must be assessed individually.
The following factors are usually important:
- actual arrival time;
- flight route;
- final destination;
- operating carrier;
- reason for the delay;
- whether extraordinary circumstances applied.
What matters is arrival delay, not departure delay
When assessing standard compensation, the key point is usually how much later the passenger reached the final destination. Therefore, a flight may depart very late but make up part of the time during the journey.
If the delay caused you to miss a connection, the situation is assessed under missed connection rules.
How much can the compensation be?
In certain cases standard compensation can amount to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger. The amount is primarily linked to flight distance, but distance alone does not determine whether compensation is due – the disruption circumstances are also considered.
You can check the preliminary amount using the flight compensation calculator.
When may compensation not be due?
The carrier may be exempted from the obligation to pay standard compensation if it proves that the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
What to do if your flight is delayed
- keep your boarding pass and booking information;
- keep any airline messages;
- record the actual arrival time;
- keep receipts for reasonable additional expenses;
- check whether compensation may be due.
Check your delayed flight for free
Enter the route, date and delay duration – we will give you a preliminary assessment.
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