Flight Delay Compensation (2026)

Flight delayed more than 3 hours?

You may be entitled to up to €600 (£520 under UK261) if the delay was within the airline's control.

Updated June 20269 minute read

What Is Flight Delay Compensation?

EU261 and UK261 require airlines to compensate passengers when they arrive at their final destination 3 or more hours late and the delay was within the airline's control. This is a fixed cash payment — not a voucher, not a discount, and not dependent on your ticket price.

The key thing to understand: compensation is based on your arrival delay, not your departure delay. What matters is when the aircraft door opens at your destination gate, not when you pushed back from the stand.

Important: A flight delayed by 4 hours at departure but arriving only 2 hours late usually does NOT qualify. Compensation is based on arrival delay, not departure delay.

Who Can Claim Flight Delay Compensation?

Situation	Eligible?
Arrived 3+ hours late at final destination	✅
Flight departed from an EU airport	✅
Flight arrived in the EU on an EU airline	✅
Delay caused by technical issue	✅
Delay caused by crew shortage	✅
Delay caused by operational issues	✅
Severe weather	❌
ATC restrictions	❌
Airport security emergency	❌

How Much Compensation Can You Get?

Flight Distance	EU261	UK261
Up to 1,500 km	€250	£220
1,500 – 3,500 km	€400	£350
Over 3,500 km (3–4 h delay)	€300	£260
Over 3,500 km (4+ h delay)	€600	£520

Compensation is paid per passenger. A family of four on a delayed long-haul flight could receive up to €2,400 (or £2,080 under UK261). The amount is fixed by law and does not depend on your ticket price.

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When Airlines Must Pay

These situations are within the airline's control. Courts have consistently ruled that they do not qualify as extraordinary circumstances.

Technical Problems

Routine technical faults — engine issues, hydraulic failures, software glitches — are generally not extraordinary circumstances. The Wallentin-Hermann ruling (C-549/07) established that wear-and-tear is inherent to airline operations.

Crew Shortages

Airlines are responsible for staffing and scheduling. Sickness, rostering errors, and crew running out of legal working hours are operational risks the airline must manage.

Operational Issues

Aircraft rotation issues, late incoming aircraft, and scheduling problems are usually compensable. If the previous flight was late and the airline had time to reorganise, the knock-on delay may not be extraordinary.

Overbooking Consequences

Delays resulting from airline operational decisions — including overbooking and the boarding process — can qualify for compensation.

When Airlines Do NOT Have To Pay

These are generally accepted as extraordinary circumstances — events the airline could not have avoided even with all reasonable measures.

Extreme Weather

Storms, volcanic ash, heavy snow, or other severe weather that makes flying unsafe.

ATC Restrictions

Air traffic control decisions beyond the airline's control, such as flow management or airspace closures.

Airport Security Incidents

Security threats or evacuations that prevent normal airport operations.

Political Instability

Civil unrest, war, or government actions that make it unsafe to operate the flight.

Airspace Closures

Government-mandated airspace closures or no-fly zones.

Even in these cases, the airline must still provide care and assistance — meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation if overnight, and communication. A delay does not need to be the airline's fault for you to receive care.

Common Airline Delay Excuses — And Why They Often Fail

Airlines use the same playbook to reject claims. Here are the most common excuses and why they usually do not hold up.

Airline says: Technical issue

Reality: Most routine technical faults are not extraordinary circumstances. The European Court of Justice ruled in Wallentin-Hermann that technical problems arising from normal aircraft operations are the airline's responsibility.

Airline says: Operational reasons

Reality: Operational problems are generally the airline's responsibility. "Operational reasons" is not a specific cause — airlines must tell you exactly what happened.

Airline says: Late incoming aircraft

Reality: The airline is responsible for aircraft scheduling. If a previous flight ran late and the airline had time to reorganise, the knock-on delay may not be extraordinary.

Airline says: Crew unavailable

Reality: Crew shortages rarely qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Staffing is an operational risk the airline must manage — sickness, scheduling errors, and legal hour limits are all within the airline's control.

Real Flight Delay Examples

Not sure how much your delay is worth? Here are real examples based on common routes.

Route	Arrival Delay	Compensation
London → Paris	3h 20m	€250
Madrid → Berlin	3h 45m	€400
Frankfurt → New York	4h 15m	€600
Amsterdam → Dubai	4h 30m	€600

These amounts are per passenger. The compensation depends on the total journey distance and how late you arrived — not on the departure delay.

Why Travellers Skip Claim Companies

Compensation comparison

Compensation

€600

Claim Company

€390

You lose €210

FlightClaimGuide

€591

You keep €201 more

Typical claim companies charge 25–35% plus VAT. With FlightClaimGuide, you keep 100% of your compensation and pay only a one-time package fee of €8.99.

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How To Claim Flight Delay Compensation

Check eligibility

Confirm your flight qualifies: it departed from an EU airport (or arrived in the EU on an EU carrier), and you arrived 3+ hours late at your final destination.

Gather evidence

Collect your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any receipts for expenses. Take photos of departure boards showing the delay. Note your actual arrival time.

Submit claim to airline

File your claim through the airline's website. Cite EU261 or UK261, state the compensation amount, and include your evidence.

Wait 4–8 weeks

Airlines are supposed to respond promptly, but many take weeks. If you don't hear back within 8 weeks, move to the next step.

Escalate if rejected

If the airline rejects your claim or ignores it, challenge their reasoning. If they still refuse, escalate to an ADR body or your national enforcement authority. These services are free for passengers.

Use airline-specific claim package

Each airline has different tactics and ADR bodies. An airline-specific claim package with complaint letters and escalation strategies gives you the best chance of success.

Related Guides

Flight Cancellation Compensation

How to claim for cancelled flights.

Missed Connection Compensation

Rights when you miss a connecting flight.

Technical Fault Compensation

Why technical faults are usually not extraordinary.

EU261 Compensation Guide

The EU regulation protecting passenger rights.

UK261 Compensation Guide

Post-Brexit passenger rights under UK261.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim for a 2-hour flight delay?

No. Under EU261 and UK261, you need to arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late to qualify for compensation. A 2-hour delay does not meet the threshold, though the airline must still provide care and assistance (meals, refreshments) for delays of 2+ hours on short-haul flights.

Do I need a boarding pass to claim?

It helps but is not strictly required. Your booking confirmation, e-ticket, or even a bank statement showing the ticket purchase can serve as proof. That said, keeping your boarding pass makes the process smoother.

Can I claim if the airline says it was a technical issue?

Yes — and this is one of the most common scenarios. Courts have ruled repeatedly that routine technical faults are not extraordinary circumstances. If the airline blames a technical issue, your claim is likely valid.

How long do I have to claim?

It depends on the country: 6 years in the UK (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), 5 years in France and Spain, 3 years in Germany, and 2 years in Italy. The clock starts from the date of the delayed flight.

Can I claim for a delayed connecting flight?

Yes, if the flights were booked under a single reservation and you arrived 3+ hours late at your final destination. The compensation is based on the total journey distance, not just the individual delayed leg.

What if I accepted a meal voucher?

Accepting a meal voucher does not waive your right to compensation. Meals and refreshments are a separate entitlement under EU261/UK261 — they are care obligations, not compensation. You can accept both.

Can I claim if the delay happened years ago?

Possibly, depending on the country. In the UK, you have 6 years to claim. In Germany, 3 years. Check the limitation period for the country where you would file the claim. If you are still within the deadline, you can claim.

Does Ryanair pay delay compensation?

Yes — Ryanair is legally required to pay compensation under EU261 for qualifying delays. However, Ryanair is known for rejecting valid claims and citing extraordinary circumstances. If Ryanair rejects your claim, you can escalate to CEDR (for UK departures) or your national enforcement body.

Does easyJet pay delay compensation?

Yes. easyJet is subject to EU261 and UK261 and must pay compensation for qualifying delays. Like most airlines, easyJet may initially reject claims. If this happens, escalate to CEDR (for UK departures) or your national enforcement body.

What evidence do I need for a delay claim?

Keep your boarding pass or e-ticket, booking confirmation, and any receipts for expenses during the delay. Take photos of departure boards showing the delay. Note your actual arrival time. The airline has the burden of proving extraordinary circumstances, but your own evidence strengthens the claim.

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Disclaimer

This guide is provided for informational purposes only. FlightClaimGuide does not provide legal advice and recommends seeking independent professional advice for complex legal matters.