As a traveller, you may experience at least once in your lifetime a flight delay or cancellation that may cause unwanted inconvenience and ruin your travel experience.
While a delayed or cancelled flight for some may mean only fewer hours in another country for travel purposes, the case may not be the same for some others who may miss an important event.
For this reason, it is important that all passengers are aware of their rights in case their flight is cancelled or delayed, especially their right to compensation.
To protect all passengers’ rights, the EU has established a regulation – the EU Regulation 261/2004.
The regulation sets out the rules that the airlines must follow to make sure that the passengers receive attention and care if their flight is cancelled or delayed.
Moreover, the regulation also clearly states the compensation amount that passengers are entitled to in cases of flight cancellation or delay, Schengen.News reports.
Before requiring compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight, you must make sure that you are eligible for it.
Use the following tool to check your eligibility for compensation.
Not all passengers are entitled to compensation in case of flight delay, flight cancellation, or other flight-related problems.
In line with EU Regulation 261/2004, the EU air passenger rights apply to the groups of travellers below who experience flight-related problems:
- Passengers flying within the EU in a flight operated by an EU or non-EU airline.
- Passengers flying to the EU from outside the bloc in a flight operated by an EU airline.
- Passengers departing from the EU to a third country in a flight operated by an EU or non-EU airline.
You Are Entitled to Compensation of up to €600 If Your Flight Is Cancelled
Passengers whose flight is cancelled are eligible for compensation ranging between €250 and €600. The amount of compensation depends on the distance of the destination and is as follows:
| Distance of Flight Cancellation | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| 1,500 kilometres or less | €250 |
| More than 1,500 kilometres within the EU and all other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres |
€400 |
| More than 3,500 kilometres | €600 |
As per the EU rules, when a flight is cancelled, passengers have the right to choose between reimbursement, re-routing or return.
Passengers can choose only one of these options, and the airline may still need to compensate them depending on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight.
All passengers who are informed about a flight cancellation less than 14 days before the departure have the right to compensation.
However, you must keep in mind that if you are offered re-routing and you reach your final destination with a delay of up to four hours, your compensation may be reduced by 50 per cent.
Use the following tool to check your eligibility for compensation.
In Which Cases Are Passengers Not Entitled for Cancelled Flight Compensation?
If you were informed more than 14 days in advance that your flight would be cancelled, you are not entitled to compensation.
You are also not entitled to compensation in case you are informed less than seven days before the departure and are offered re-routing, which would permit you to take another flight one hour before the originally scheduled departure or to reach the destination less than two hours after the scheduled arrival time.
You do not have the right to compensation either if you are informed between two weeks and seven days before the departure, and you are offered re-routing that would allow you to depart no more than two hours before the originally scheduled departure time and to reach your destination less than four hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
Compensation is also not due if your flight is cancelled as a result of extraordinary circumstances, such as bad weather conditions, political instability, and security risks, among others.
A Reddit user, djtrump, had their flight from Barcelona to Belgrade cancelled due to bad weather conditions and asked for compensation. However, they were not offered compensation as the cancellation was made due to an extraordinary circumstance that could not be controlled by the airline.
I’ve filed a claim requesting for compensation under EU regulation EC No 261/2004, which I expect will be denied on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances due to bad weather.
You Are Entitled to Compensation Between €250 & €600 If Your Flight Is Delayed, Too
If your flight is delayed, you are entitled to assistance, reimbursement and a return flight, depending on the flight distance and the delay duration.
Compensation for a delayed flight is the same as the compensation for a cancelled flight, with the compensation amount ranging from €250 to €600.
In case you arrive at your final destination with a delay of three or more hours, you have the right to compensation, provided that the delay has not been caused by extraordinary circumstances.
You are entitled to delayed flight compensation on these other following circumstances, too:
- If you miss your connecting flight travelling on a flight originating from an EU member state, and you arrive at your final destination with a three or more hours delay
- If you accept a flight from another airport you were not originally scheduled to fly from, and it arrives late
- If you depart from a non-EU country to an EU country with connecting flights operated by EU airlines and you experience a long delay in arrival at your final destination
On the other hand, you are not entitled to compensation if you miss your connecting flight as a result of security checks and if you do not respect the boarding time. You are also not entitled to compensation if your flight is delayed due to extraordinary circumstances.
There are many people who have not been able to claim compensation for a delayed flight.
One of them is a Reddit user, JSparrowT, who had their flight from Wroclaw to Porto delayed by four hours due to a national strike in France. They requested compensation, but despite that, they received a negative response to their request as the delay was made due to an exceptional circumstance.
Our Ryanair flight FR4423 from Wroclaw (Poland) to Porto (Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro International Airport, Portugal) on 2023-10-13 was delayed by 4h. There was a national strike in France on that day. We requested compensation, but Ryanair responded by saying that the strike was the reason and that they don’t have to compensate.
You Have the Right to Free Assistance If Your Flight Is Delayed
If your flight is delayed beyond the scheduled departure time, you have the right to free meals and refreshments in correspondence with the waiting time, as well as two free phone calls.
Moreover, if your flight is delayed and your new departure time is at least the next day, you are entitled to free-of-charge hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport from your place of accommodation.
Airlines should also make sure that they find suitable accommodations for people with disabilities and those who have service dogs in case of a delayed flight.
If you are not offered assistance by your airline and you paid for meals and refreshments, the airline is obliged to reimburse you. You should keep all the receipts to prove how much you spent so that the reimbursement process goes smoothly.
Here Are Some Other Tips If Your Flight Is Delayed
If you are waiting to board and you are told that the flight will be delayed, you should be attentive and know your rights.
In case of a delayed flight, ask the staff of the airline you are travelling with about the reason for the delay and keep track of the time to know how long your flight is being delayed.
During the time you are waiting to board, you are eligible to ask for free food and drinks. You also have the right to ask how much longer the delay will last.
Once your flight takes off, make sure to note the time and time of arrival so you are aware of whether you are eligible for compensation.
How to Claim Compensation for a Cancelled or Delayed Flight?
If you believe that you are entitled to compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight, you need to claim it.
You can claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight through several options.
The first step you should take is to complain to the airline by filling out a form to let them know of your concerns. In the form, you need to answer several questions about your cancelled or delayed flight and provide personal information.
Once the form has been completed and sent to the airline, you should wait for a response from them.
If the airline does not reach out to you or if you are not satisfied with their response, you can then move on to the next step and complain to the National Enforcement Body in the EU country where you were affected.
If you are an EU national, you have some other options to complain about your delayed or cancelled flight through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Entity or Online Dispute Resolution platform.
In cases where none of the above works, or if the airline unfairly decides not to compensate you, you can go to court using the European Small Claims procedure.
Use the following tool to check your eligibility for compensation if your flight has been cancelled or delayed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When Should I Submit My Compensation Claim for a Cancelled or Delayed Flight?
The best time to submit your claim for a cancelled or delayed flight is as soon as possible. Contact your airline on the same day.
Can My Compensation Claim Be Turned Down by the Airline?
Yes, the airline can refuse your compensation claim. The compensation claim is denied if your flight has been cancelled or delayed due to extraordinary circumstances.
Am I Entitled to Compensation if My Flight Was Delayed & I Arrived 5 Hours Late at My Destination?
Yes. If you arrive at your destination with a delay of three or more hours, you are entitled to financial compensation provided that your flight has not been delayed due to extraordinary circumstances.
I Am Travelling From Australia to Germany. Do I Have Any Rights If My Flight Is Delayed or Cancelled?
Yes, you have air passenger rights as long as your flight is operated by an EU country-licensed carrier.
Do I Have Any Rights If I Arrive at the Airport Late Due to Heavy Traffic?
No. You do not have any air passenger rights if you fail to be at the airport on time for the check-in.
I Departed Three Hours Late but Reached My Final Destination Less Than Three Hours Late. Am I Still Eligible for Compensation?
No, you can not claim compensation for arriving at your final destination less than three hours late.
Do I Have Any Rights If I Miss a Connecting Flight?
Yes, you have rights if you miss a connecting flight that is part of a single reservation. You can claim compensation if you experience a delay of three or more hours.
Is My Baby Eligible for Compensation If Our Flight Is Delayed?
It depends on whether the baby flies free of charge or not. Compensation does not apply to passengers who fly free of charge.
Is There a Time Limit Within Which I Should Receive Compensation for a Cancelled or Delayed Flight?
In line with EU rules, there is no deadline for the payment of compensation for a cancelled or delayed flight.
My Flight Is Leaving Earlier Than Originally Scheduled. Do I Have Any Rights?
If your flight is brought forward more than one hour, it is considered that the flight has been cancelled. This means that you are entitled to compensation.
I Was Supposed to Travel From Paris, but My Flight Will Now Be Leaving From Amsterdam. Am I Entitled to Compensation?
In this case, the flight is considered to be cancelled unless the airline you will be travelling with provides transport to the new destination from where the flight will depart.
