Everything you need to know about flight delay compensation
3+ hours flight delay: In the event of a delayed arrival of more than three hours, passengers are entitled to compensation.
Compensation amount: Depending on the flight distance, between €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km) and €600 (over 3,500 km).
Airline responsibility: The airline must be responsible for the delay for passengers to be entitled to compensation.
Care services: Passengers are entitled to free meals and refreshments for delays of 2 hours or more.
Overnight accommodation: If the delay requires an overnight stay, the airline must cover the cost of hotel accommodation and transfers.
No compensation in exceptional circumstances: There is no entitlement to compensation in the event of strikes, severe weather or other force majeure.
Claimable period: Compensation claims can be made retroactively for up to ten years (depending on country of origin).
Professional support: Flightright supports you in getting your refunds and compensation for flight delays and cancellations.
You had a flight delay or a flight cancellation? Check your rights now and increase your chances of compensation
Claim up to €600 compensation for flight delay
No one enjoys flight delays, but it’s important to know that you have rights! If your flight began in the EU, or landed in the EU with a European airline, you could be eligible to claim up to €600, depending on flight distance and delay length, no matter the ticket cost. The only conditions are that the airline must be responsible for the cause of the delay, and you must have reached the final airport in your trip with a delay of at least 3 hours.
Our free flight delay compensation calculator will let you know if you meet these conditions. Simply enter your flight details and we’ll tell you if you are eligible to receive flight delay compensation.
Rating of Flightright GmbH
What are my flight delay rights?
Your flight must have been on an EU or UK flight or airline.
You are entitled to compensation if you arrive at your final destination with a flight delay of more than 3 hours.
The airline must be responsible for the delay. You can make claims for technical faults or even crew shortages, but not bad weather conditions or air traffic control strikes.
Under the European law EC 261, you are entitled to flight delay compensation between €250 to €600. It depends on the distance of your flights.
The airline has to provide food and drinks after 2 hours of delay, plus accommodation and the necessary transfers if your flight is delayed overnight.
Your flight delay must have been within the last three years.
When am I entitled to flight delay compensation?
Passengers travelling to or from the European Union, the UK, Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland enjoy a higher level of protection than almost anywhere else in the world. The EU261 regulation provides a set of conditions under which air passengers are entitled to compensation.
In the case of flight delays, the most important condition is that you arrive at your final destination with a delay of at least 3 hours. Further, the flight must have departed from a EU or UK airport, and the airline must be at fault for the delay.
How is flight delay compensation calculated?
Under the European Regulation No. 261/2004, the flight delay is calculated based on arrival time, not departure. So even if you leave the airport with a delay of three hours but land at your final destination with only one-hour delay, you won’t qualify for compensation. Officially, a flight is considered to have arrived when the doors open at the gate, not when the aircraft touches down.
Good to know
In September 2014, the European Court of Justice defined the arrival time as the moment at which the aircraft reaches its destination airport and opens at least one door for disembarkation.
Further, it is also essential that your flight meets one of these criteria:
Departs from a EU or UK airport on any airline
Arrives in the EU, Iceland, Norway, UK or Switzerland on a EU or UK airline
Do you meet these conditions and qualify for flight delay compensation? Then take a look at how much money you are entitled to:
Short distance flight delays – up to 1500km – Passengers are due €250 compensation
Medium distance flight delays – between 1500km and 3500km – Passengers are due €400 compensation
Long distance flight delays – over 3500km – Passengers are due €600 compensation
Compensation for flight delay: You are entitled to
Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance from 3500 km |
|---|---|---|
e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. Berlin – Athens | e.g. Amsterdam – Tokyo |
250€* | 400€* | 600€* |
*Minus commission (usually 20 to 30% [if nec. plus attorney’s fee of 14% ] plus VAT) if claimed through our service
Important
If your journey contains multiple flights, the distance is calculated from the first departure airport to the final destination airport.
In case your flight was delayed by less than three hours, the Air Passenger Rights Regulation still offers you some protection as well as assistance while you wait:
Delayed departure of 2 or more hours (short-haul) | The airline must provide free drinks and snacks |
|---|---|
Delayed departure of 3 or more hours (medium-haul) | Passengers have the right to care, including two free phone calls, fax messages, or e-mails |
Delayed arrival or 3 or more hours | €2500 – €600 per person |
Delayed departure of 4 or more hours (long-haul) | Passengers are entitled to drinks and snacks |
Delayed departure of 5 or more hours (all distances) | Passengers can opt to cancel their flight. The airline must refund ticket costs in full |
Overnight delay (next-day departure) | Passengers are entitled to one night’s hotel accommodation, including transport to and from the airport |
What to do when your flight is delayed: Step-by-step guide
While it may seem complicated and overwhelming at first to make a claim, Flightright is here to help. Here’s how to best proceed in the event of a delay: At the airport, you should first contact the airline or ground staff to obtain information about the cause and expected duration of the delay. Keep all relevant documents, such as your boarding pass and booking confirmation. Document the delay and your expenses, for example, for meals or overnight accommodation.
Which flights are covered by EU261?
If you want to receive compensation for a delay, the flight must meet the criteria that are covered by the EU261 regulation. The following table highlights exactly which flights are covered by these regulations:
Flight type | EU261 | Flight delay example |
|---|---|---|
Departing from the EU or UK | Berlin – Rome | |
Arriving in the EU with a EU or UK-airline | Seattle – London (British Airways) | |
Arriving in the EU with a non-EU or UK-airline | Not eligible for compensation | Dubai – Madrid (Emirates Airline) |
Flights outside the EU and UK region | Not eligible for compensation | Vancouver – Istanbul |
What if my flight is not covered?
If you were on a non-EU flight, you may still be eligible to claim under the Montreal Convention of 1999. This international treaty includes a total of 143 countries worldwide, which sets rules for airline liability in cases of flight delays, cancellations, lost or damaged baggage, and injuries during international air travel. To make a claim, you usually need to contact the airline directly, submit details of your flight, explain the issue (e.g. delay, baggage loss), and provide supporting documents like tickets and receipts. Find out more on our dedicated Montreal convention page.
Alternatively, you can also check with your travel insurance to see if your policy offers coverage for delays.
How long does a flight have to be delayed to get compensation?
Under EU261 regulation, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination with a delay of three hours or more. The claimable compensation amount varies from €250 to €600, depending on the significance of the actual delay as well as the flight distance.
However, the flight delay is restricted to what actually caused it – if it was not the airline’s fault, you are not eligible to claim flight delay compensation.
Airlines must provide care (food, communication, accommodation) when delays exceed certain thresholds:
Short‑haul (≤ 1,500 km): after 2 hours waiting
Medium‑haul (1,500–3,500 km): after 3 hours waiting
Long‑haul (> 3,500 km): after 4 hours waiting
For compensation eligibility, delays are measured upon arrival:
Arrival ≥ 3 hours late triggers compensation entitlement
Arrival 3–4 hours late on long‑haul = €350; ≥ 4 hours = €600
Medium‑haul (≥ 3 h arrival) = €400; short‑haul = €250
How much compensation for a delayed flight?
The amount of compensation you will receive for a delayed flight will vary depending on the distance of your flight, as well as the length of the delay (how late you arrive at your destination).
As an example: If you are flying from London to Amsterdam, the flight distance is less than 1,500km and counts as a short-distance flight. This entitles you to flight delay compensation of €250.
However, if you were delayed on a flight from Berlin to San Francisco, the flight distance accounts for more than 3,500 km, and you can claim compensation of up to €600.
Compensation for flight delay: You are entitled to
Delay in your arrival | Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
Less than 3 hours | All flight distances | No compensation |
3 hours or more | Less than 1,500km | €250 |
3 hours or more | Between 1,500km and 3,500km | €400 |
4 hours or more | More than 3,500km | €250 |
4 hours or more | More than 3,500km | €600 |
Important
In order to be eligible for flight delay compensation, it’s the airline operator that counts. If you book a flight from Manchester to New York with BA, you are covered under EU261. However, if you return from New York on a codeshare operated by Delta Airlines, then this airline counts and you are no longer covered.
What else are you entitled to if your flight’s delayed?
As mentioned above, you are entitled to flight delay compensation between €250 to €600 if your flight arrives more than three hours late.
Despite monetary compensation, the airline is also legally responsible for providing you with care and assistance once the delay threshold is met. This means they must provide you with:
Food and refreshments: The airline should provide you with a minimum of a small snack and water, often in the form of food vouchers. Should you not receive these, keep your receipts for expenses and claim them from the airline later.
A means of communication: The airline needs to grant you access to free phone calls and emails.
Regular flight updates: If you incur a flight delay of two hours, the airline must inform you about the status of your flight at a regular 30-minute intervals.
Accommodation and Transport: If you experience a significant flight delay overnight, the airline must offer you the option of sleeping in a nearby hotel, as well as pay for your transportation to and from there.
Good to know: The airline must provide you with these items until it can fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.
Does the airline have to reimburse additional costs and expenses in the event of a flight delay?
Yes, in addition to your right to compensation, the airline is obliged to reimburse you for all additional costs and expenses incurred as a result of the delay. Reimbursable additional costs include, in particular:
Costs for a replacement flight: If you have to book a replacement flight as a result of the delay, you can demand reimbursement from the airline for any additional costs that exceed the price of your original ticket.
Costs for taxi and train journeys: If you have incurred expenses for taxi or train journeys, for example, to reach your destination or a hotel, these are also reimbursable under certain conditions.
Costs for meals, hotel accommodation and other expenses: Expenses incurred for meals, accommodation or other necessary expenses as a result of the delay must also be reimbursed.
Good to know: Keep all receipts as they are essential to claim the costs incurred from the airline.
How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?
First, document everything: boarding pass, booking reference, flight numbers, actual arrival time, evidence of delay and communications. Keep any receipts for refreshments, transport or overnight costs.
Next, use Flightright’s flight delay compensation calculator to assess your claim amount. Submit your claim through Flightright or directly to the airline as a claim for a delayed flight.
When can you not claim compensation for a delayed flight?
Even though your flight might be delayed, you are not always entitled to claim compensation. Under the so-called ‘extraordinary circumstances’, the airlines are not responsible for any compensation payments, because the delay was not their fault. Here are a few examples of extraordinary circumstances under UK law:
Airport or air traffic control strikes
Acts of terrorism or security risks
Severe weather such as hail, tornadoes or volcanic eruptions
If your flight was delayed for any of these reasons, the airline is not legally obliged to pay compensation because there is nothing they could have done to have avoided the flight delay.
Sometimes the airlines will also cite technical problems on the aircraft as a reason for their delay. According to the Court of Justice of the European Union, such technical problems are not classified as exceptional circumstances, and you are still entitled to compensation.
Quick overview of flight delays and compensation claims
Reason of flight delay | Can I claim compensation? |
|---|---|
Missing crew | Yes |
Technical defects | Yes |
Delays of earlier flights | Yes |
Pilot or ground personnel strikes | Yes, if the airline has any influence over the strike |
Severe weather/airspace closure | No |
ATC strikes | No |
Pandemic (e.g. Corona) | No |
Acts of terrorism | No |
Natural disasters | No |
Emergency landing (e.g. due to medical emergencies) | No |
How long can you claim flight delay compensation?
The timeframe of when you can claim compensation for a flight delay depends on the respective country of origin. In Germany you can make claims for up to three years, in the UK for up to six. The following overview shows you how long you can claim fligth delay compensation:
Belgium = 1 year
Italy, Netherlands = 2 years
Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland = 3 years
France, Malta, Scotland and Spain = 5 years
Ireland, England and Wales = 6 years
Sweden = 10 years
Your claim period begins from the end of the year in which the incident occurred, e.g. if you had a delayed flight on 01.01.2025, you can still claim compensation until the end of 2031 for UK flights or until the end of 2028 for flights from Germany.
If your flight is delayed for more than 5 hours
If there is a delay of more than 5 hours, you, as a passenger, have the right to decide for yourself whether you want to continue your journey or not. The airline is obligated to offer you the following options:
How can I ensure that my future flights are secure?
Once bitten, twice shy. The long delay that ruined your trip is still haunting you to this day. Next time, let Flightright handle it. We can lift the weight off your shoulders by taking care of any problems that arise on your next flight.
Simply enter your upcoming trip into our compensation calculator, and we will monitor the flight for you. If you are entitled to compensation, we will reach out to you and let you know what steps to take to enforce your claim.
What should I do if the airline refuses to pay?
Flight delays and cancellations are annoying enough for travelers – it is even more frustrating when the airline refuses to pay justified compensation, fails to pay or does not respond at all. But you do not have to put up with this. Flightright is a strong partner at your side and will consistently enforce your claims.
Your options in the event of claim rejection or non-payment by the airline
Rejection of compensation: If the airline rejects your compensation claim – for example, citing alleged ‘extraordinary circumstances’ or missing documents – you should not simply accept the decision. Claims are often rejected unjustly.
No response or late payment: If the airline does not respond at all or does not pay despite agreeing to do so, this is no reason to give up your claim. Many airlines hope that passengers will give up in such cases.
Have you experienced a flight delay?
Flightright: Your strong partner in enforcing your rights
Your advantages with Flightright:
No financial risks: If legal proceedings are necessary, we will cover all court and legal fees for you, so you bear no financial risks.
Expert support: Our experienced team of legal experts and partner solicitors knows the tricks of the airlines and will ensure that you get what you are. And with over 50 won cases in court – we know exactly how to help you get the compensation you are owed.
Quick and easy processing: Simply submit your documents online – we’ll take care of the rest.
No win, no fee: We only charge a commission if we successfully obtain your compensation. So there are no hidden costs for you.
Here’s how we work:
Check your claim: Use our free flight delay compensation calculator and submit your flight details.
Upload your documents: Upload all relevant documents (boarding pass, booking confirmation, correspondence).
Sit back and relax: Flightright will take care of the entire process of enforcing your claim – including legal action, if necessary.
Don’t be discouraged by a rejection or inaction on the part of the airline. With Flightright by your side, you can enforce your rights risk-free and professionally – for your compensation and refund in the event of flight delays and cancellations.
Flight delay compensation: How quickly will I receive the money?
When you instruct Flightright to enforce your claim for compensation by entering your flight details and documents, all documents are first checked. Once we have your signature and booking documents, we can get started.
Your claim will be reviewed, and we will then demand payment of your compensation from the airline. A deadline will be set by which the payment must be received by us.
If no payment is received, legal action against the airline will be considered. Once legal proceedings have to be brought against the airline, it can take several months. The court is responsible for setting the court dates, which can also significantly prolong the time it takes to reach a verdict, depending on how busy the court is.
How quickly will I receive the money? How long it takes for you to receive the money depends on the airline’s willingness to cooperate. If it responds quickly to the out-of-court reminder, it will be significantly faster than if it waits for our solicitors to take legal action.
We will keep you informed of the progress of your case via your customer account. Once your case is being processed, everything will run its course. Please be patient, as legal proceedings simply take longer to reach a decision. We ask for your understanding for the additional time this may take.
When you hire Flightright, our specialist contract lawyers will work on your behalf at no cost to you. We only charge a commission if we successfully enforce your compensation claim.
Frequently asked questions about flight delay compensation
Current Flight Delays
Just found out your flight is delayed? Don’t tell us, we read your mind! Find your delayed flight in our list of recent delays and press the green button to check whether or not you have a valid compensation claim. If it looks like the airline owes you money, save yourself the paper warfare and let Flightright do the hard work for you.
Have you experienced a flight delay?
With more than 10 years of experience, Flightright helps you enforce your right to compensation.
Taking on the Airlines – Don’t give up!!!: Robert’s Journey to Compensation with Flightright
The Disappointment: Robert’s Struggle with a Flight Delay
Robert was eager for his much-anticipated trip, meticulously planning every detail to make it a smooth experience. But all his excitement soon turned into frustration when his flight with United Airlines was unexpectedly delayed, throwing his carefully laid plans into disarray. Like many passengers facing similar setbacks, Robert was left tired and stressed, with a day lost and an uncertain hope of any compensation. Determined to reclaim his time and expense, Robert began the painstaking process of reaching out to the airline. However, after weeks of back-and-forth emails, phone calls, and little progress, it became clear that United Airlines was unwilling to cooperate. Frustrated but still hopeful, he decided to explore other options.
Finding Support: The Decision to Try Flightright
During a conversation with a friend, Robert was introduced to Flightright, a company specialized in air passenger rights and compensation. At first, he was skeptical—after all, he had been trying without success for over 30 days. But Flightright’s reputation for reliability and results convinced him to give it a shot. With only a few clicks, he submitted his claim on our user-friendly platform, hopeful that this might finally lead to a solution.
A Smooth Process: Flightright’s Efficient Support
As soon as Robert uploaded his documentation, Flightright took charge of his case, laying out the process and keeping him informed at each step. To his surprise, there was no need for endless back-and-forth communication. Instead, Flightright’s experienced team efficiently handled all interactions with the airline, giving Robert peace of mind that his claim was in good hands. Within three weeks, he received an update: his claim had been successful, and the compensation was being transferred to his account. What had seemed almost impossible to achieve alone was resolved quickly and professionally, and Robert finally felt a sense of justice.
The Result: Prompt Compensation and a Sense of Victory
Reflecting on his experience, Robert could not have been more satisfied with the outcome. “After a month of frustration with United, Flightright made it incredibly easy and stress-free,” Robert shared. “They handled everything so professionally, and I received my compensation faster than I expected. It was fantastic.”
Robert’s Recommendation: An Unreserved Endorsement for Flightright
After his positive experience, Robert is enthusiastic about recommending Flightright to anyone facing issues with an airline. “If you’re dealing with delays, cancellations, or other issues, don’t give up,” he advises. “Flightright can really take the stress out of the process and fight for you when it feels impossible to do it alone.” Flightright is proud to have been able to assist Robert and is committed to supporting travelers like him. His experience is just one example of how we strive to make air travel fair for everyone. Thank you, Robert, for sharing your journey with us. ❤️
Overall: Top service – a very good experience with Flightright!!!
This is the review Robert left us after Flightright successfully helped him get compensation for his flight delay.
Don’t give up !!!
I tried for over 30 days going back and forth with United Airlines to claim my EU flight delay money. No results at all. I sent the same documentation to Flightright and had my money in about 3 weeks. Fantastic and easy to work with.
We will help you claim compensation for:
Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.