Flight delay compensation: are you entitled?
Quite possibly. If you reached your final destination three hours late or more, you may be entitled to compensation, which is not the same thing as a refund of your ticket. What matters is how late you arrived, and why the delay happened. Submit your case and we'll investigate your claim. You only pay a fee if we successfully secure compensation for you.
How the rules work for delays
Under EU regulations, air passengers have rights when flights are delayed, cancelled, or when boarding is denied. For delays, two separate rights may apply: assistance while you wait and, in some cases, compensation afterwards.
Assistance (such as meals, refreshments, communication options and, where needed, accommodation) may apply even for shorter delays. Compensation depends on several factors, including the length of the delay and the reason for the disruption.
Three hours on arrival is the threshold
Normally no cash compensation, but you may already be entitled to assistance (meals, refreshments, a hotel if needed).
If you arrive at your final destination three hours or more late, you may be entitled to compensation. Eligibility depends on the reason for the disruption and the circumstances of your journey.
How much could I be entitled to?
Your compensation is based on the flight distance, in three fixed levels. The ladder below shows the starting points; the level that applies is determined by your specific journey. We review your case so you receive the compensation you are entitled to.
€250
€400
€600
Flights up to 1,500 km
1,500–3,500 km (and longer intra-EU flights)
Flights over 3,500 km
Per passenger · These are the fixed compensation amounts in the regulation. Which amount applies in your case depends on the details of your flight disruption (for example, a reduction by half for a delay of three to four hours on a long flight). Submit your case and we'll assess your eligibility.
Concrete examples
Delayed en route, on time on arrival
Departure slips by an hour, but the aircraft makes up the time and you land close to schedule. In that case there is normally no right to compensation, because you were not significantly delayed on arrival.
Long delay on arrival
Your flight is delayed and you arrive several hours late because of a technical fault on the airline's side. You may then be entitled to compensation on top of any assistance you received at the airport.
Don't let the airline have the final word
Airlines can reject claims by referring to extraordinary circumstances. That does not automatically mean the rejection is correct. Airlate assesses what actually happened, challenges unsupported rejections, and pursues your claim if you are entitled to compensation.
- Technical fault on the aircraft usually counts as the airline's own responsibility
- Staff shortages or a strike by the airline's own personnel
- Knock-on delays from earlier in the day (aircraft rotation)
- Arriving late at your final destination even after rebooking
Frequently asked questions
What matters is how late you reached your final destination, not how late the departure was. A late departure that the aircraft makes up en route normally gives no right to compensation. But if you arrive significantly late, even via rebooking, you may be entitled to claim.
Your rights cover flights departing from an airport in the EU/EEA, as well as flights arriving in the EU/EEA operated by an EU/EEA-registered airline. Journeys with no EU connection at all are normally not covered. If you are unsure, submit a claim and we will assess it for you.
The EU regulation currently sets no time limit of its own. How long a claim remains enforceable depends on national limitation rules, which vary between countries. Limitation is not the only deadline, though: where Swedish law applies, you must tell the airline within a reasonable time after the journey that you want compensation for a delay, and notice given within two months is always in time (NJA 2018 p. 127). So claim from the airline as soon as you can, ideally within two months. The earlier you start, the easier it is to evidence what happened. Our check is free.
- Free check
- See your assessment before you submit
- No win, no fee: you only pay if compensation is recovered
- Your details handled securely
Not sure whether your delay qualifies?
Answer a few questions about your journey and we will give you a preliminary assessment under the applicable rules.