Flight problems
Flight delayed or cancelled? Check if you can claim compensation
If a flight in or out of Europe was badly delayed or cancelled, you may be owed fixed compensation. This is a summary of the rules, so check the details for your own flight.
Flight delayed or cancelled? Check if you can claim compensation
When you may be owed money
- Your flight arrived 3 hours or more late, was cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice, or you were denied boarding on an overbooked flight.
- It departed from an EU airport on any airline, or landed in the EU on an EU airline. The UK has a similar rule for flights from UK airports.
- The airline can refuse if the cause was an “extraordinary circumstance”, such as severe weather or an air traffic control strike. A technical fault is usually not one.
How much (EU rule)
The amount depends on the distance of the flight and the delay at arrival. The airline may pay less in some cases of a long delay on a long flight.
- Up to 1,500 km: €250 per passenger.
- 1,500 to 3,500 km: €400 per passenger.
- Over 3,500 km: €600 per passenger.
- UK flights use similar tiers in pounds.
What to do right away
- Keep your boarding pass, booking confirmation and any messages from the airline.
- Write down the real arrival time, and the reason the airline gave.
- Ask for meals, drinks and a hotel if you must wait overnight. The airline owes you this care even when compensation is refused.
- Claim directly from the airline, or use a claim service. Time limits differ by country and are often several years.
Claiming yourself or with a service
You can write to the airline yourself at no cost. A claim service does the paperwork and the arguing, and usually keeps a share of the money if it wins. Read the service’s fee before you start.
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Questions
Do I get compensation for a delay of 2 hours?
Not under the EU rule: the delay at your final destination must be 3 hours or more. Care such as meals can still be owed for shorter waits.
Does it apply to flights from the US to Europe?
Only if the airline is an EU airline. A US airline flying into the EU is not covered by the EU rule.
What if the airline says it was weather?
Weather can be an extraordinary circumstance, but the airline has to show it was the real cause. If you disagree, you can challenge it or use a claim service.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a summary. Rules and amounts can change, so check the current rules for your flight.