European Flight delay compensation

This article has been reviewed by a licensed lawyer Anton Radchenko for general accuracy. This is for informational purposes only and is not a legal advice.
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You can claim European flight delay compensation of up to €600 (£510) as determined by delayed flight compensation rules EU. You can submit European flight delay compensation form if your flight is eligible. 

 

Learn about your European airline passenger rights according to European law flight compensation, how to get your EU flight delay compensation and what amount of flight delay reimbursement Europe you are entitled to.

 

AirAdvisor can help you along the whole process. We can get EU travel compensation for you free of charge. Find out more about it. 

 

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When are you entitled to European flight delay compensation?

The air passengers’ rights are different for each country. But, all travellers may have the right to EU travel compensation. You may be entitled to European flight delay compensation.

You can fill in a European flight delay compensation form to get compensation for delayed European flights only if:

  • you arrived at your final destination with a delay of over 3 hours
  • your flight delay was the airline’s fault
  • your flights departed from the EU or were operated by an EU airline
  • you checked in on time (usually up to 45 minutes before departure)
  • your flight was delayed within the particular deadline; typically, it is 3 years

 

Flight delayed over 3 hours or canceled? See if AirAdvisor can get you compensation.Check Your Flight

 

You are entitled to compensation even if you were provided with free meals, refreshments and vouchers.

You may get EU travel compensation if you have connecting flights within a single booking and your flight delay meets the above conditions.

Get to know your European airline passenger rights according to the delayed flight compensation rules EU. Also, learn what to do if your flight was delayed. 

We will explain when you are eligible for EUflight delay compensation and how to get it. 

According to delayed flight compensation rules EU, you are eligible for European flight delay compensation

 

EU flight delay compensation: what flights are qualified?

Delayed flight compensation EU law decides which flight delays are eligible. European Commission flight delays compensation may apply to the flights:

  • leaving from an EU airport and operated by any airline, or
  • operated by an EU airline, no matter if the flight departs, the flight arrives at the EU

EU Regulation lists the countries that must follow European flight delay compensation rules. In addition to 27 European Union members, there are also Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and 9 outermost areas.

The flights covered by European Union airline passenger rights are shown in the table:

Flight Journey

EU Airline

non-EU Airline

within EU

Yes

Yes

EU airport - non-EU airport

Yes

Yes

non-EU airport - EU airport

Yes

No

outside EU 

Yes

No

The easiest way to see if your flight is qualified is to refer to the AirAdvisor European flight delay compensation checker.

 

EU travel compensation rules: extraordinary circumstances

You may get EC flight delay compensation for delayed flights caused by the airline’s fault:

  • operational issues (aircraft crew is not ready for the flight)
  • conflicting schedules
  • technical issues (except hidden manufacturing defect)
  • ‘wildcat strike’ (airline employees’ strike), etc.

On the other hand, you cannot ask for European air flight delays compensation if your flight gets delayed due to extraordinary circumstances. They are:

  • civil unrest
  • bad weather
  • safety issues
  • terrorism
  • air traffic control, etc.

Airlines do not have the control and power to prevent such situations. So, they do not have to pay European flight delay compensation in such cases. 

Learn about top reasons why flights are delayed on our website.

Often airlines use events such as bad weather for their own advantage without any reasonable proof.

For example, heavy rain in London Heathrow airport. It is not a good reason for long flight delays. But, many airlines would use it as an excuse to escape from paying European law flight compensation

You always have an opportunity to get EUflight delay compensation of up to €600 ($700). In any case, it is advisable to check if your flight qualifies with our European Union flight delay compensation calculator

 

EC flight delay compensation: how much can I get?

Basic EU flight delay compensation 3 hours is between €250 and €600 (£210-510). The exact amount of EU travel compensation is calculated based on different factors. 

The main factors are:

  • distance of your flight
  • length of the delay

According to the delayed flight compensation rules EU, the airlines are obliged to pay EU flight delay compensation via any of the following methods: electronic bank transfer, bank order, bank check or via cash.

According to European law flight compensation, you can get up to €600 (£510)

Here is a simple table for you to check compensation for late flight EU you are entitled to:

Flight Delay to Final Destination

Travel Distance of Your Flight

all flights, less than 1,500km, ex. London - Berlin

all internal EU flights, more than 1,500km, ex. London - Lisbon

all non-internal EU flights, 1,500-3,500km, ex. London - Kiev

all non-internal EU flights, more than 3,500km, ex. London - New York

less than 3 hours

no compensation

3 hours or more

€250 (£210)

€400 (£340)

€400 (£340)

€600 (£510)

never arrived

€250 (£210)

€400 (£340)

€400 (£340)

€600 (£510)

Do not spend your precious time on calculations. AirAdvisor can tell you the right amount with the help of the EU flight delay compensation calculator.  

 

European law flight compensation: what are my other advantages?

Besides claiming compensation you have other benefits in case of flight delays.

If your flight delays by 2 or more hours, you have:

  • right for information: 

airline staff shall inform you about your rights for assistance and EU flight delay compensation: in written form at its check-in counter.

you can check the official document about European law compensation delayed flights by yourself

  • right for care and assistance: 

- free meals and refreshments if you have flight delay as shown in the table:

Travel Distance of Your Flight

all flights, less than 1,500km

all internal EU/UK flights, more than 1,500km

all non-internal EU/UK flights, 1,500-3,500km

all non-internal EU/UK flights, more than 3,500km

Your Waiting Time in the Airport

2 or more hours

3 or more hours

3 or more hours

4 or more hours

- two free faxes, emails, calls

  • hotel and transportation, if your flight is delayed until the next day

 

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600 (£510)Check Your Flight

 

If your flight delays by 5 or more hours, you have:

  • right for flight refund or return flight ticket to the original departure point 
  • right for free upgrading or refunded downgrading: airlines cannot ask for add-on payments if your return flights were upgraded to a higher class. You can ask for a refund of 30-70% of the original ticket cost If your flight was downgraded to a lower class
  • right to get flight delay reimbursement Europe: airlines must reimburse extra expenses if qualified. These expenses are meals, taxis, hotel rooms and others unless offered by the airline for free 

You have European airline passenger rights for EC flight delay compensation even if you are offered the above advantages. 

Airlines may give you a voucher to make up for the flight delay. Carefully read what you are signing. Usually, air passengers lose their right to delayed flight EU compensation if they accept any voucher. 

 

European flight delay compensation form: how to get your compensation?

woman files European flight delay compensation form

Under delayed flight compensation EU law, each air passenger can submit a European flight delay compensation form for the qualified flight delays. 

You can use this simple guideline for getting your compensation for flight delays European Union:

  • ask flight crew about the delay reason (get some written evidence of delay)
  • keep your travel documents (boarding pass, booking reservation, etc) and add them along with your European flight delay compensation form
  • write down the scheduled arrival time to your final destination
  • gather evidence of flight delay: take a photo of the timetable: it will support your European flight delay compensation application
  • request free meals and refreshments that should be offered by the airline
  • ask for a ticket refund or return flight if a delay is more than 5 hours
  • ask for hotel and transport for the flight delay till the next day
  • keep receipts proving that you paid for your meals and water and, in some cases, for hotel, taxi, etc. unless offered by airline staff for free
  • be careful when signing any waivers or other documents. You may lose your right to EU flight delay compensation (keep in mind that most vouchers have such a waiver) 

If you experience a flight delay, keep all the documents. They will act as proof for your European flight delay compensation form. 

Preparing all documents according to the delayed flight compensation rules EU is not an easy task. AirAdvisor can do it and get EU travel compensation for you.  

 

Flight delay compensation EU time limit: when to apply?

Flight delay compensation European law does not indicate deadlines common to all cases. Your citizenship does not play an important role either. 

The origin of the EU airline is the main factor defining the time limits to apply for European flight delay compensation. Flight delay compensation EU time limit depends on the country where the airline’s main office is located. 

The table below shows how long for flight compensation in advance you should apply for each EU country:

Deadline

Country

10 months

Latvia

1 year

Belgium, Poland

2 years

Iceland, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland

2 years 2 months

Italy

3 years

Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic*, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany**, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden***

5 years

Bulgaria, France, Greece, Hungary, Spain

6 years

Cyprus, Ireland, UK (except Scotland)

10 years

Lithuania, Luxembourg

No limit

Malta

*Czech Republic: it is important to notify your airline about flight delay within 6 months after the delay. Then your claim will be active for 3 years. 

**Germany: the deadline ends on the last day of the third year. For example, if the flight got delayed on 27/03/2021 the deadline to apply for EU flight delay compensation will end on 31/12/2024.

***Sweden: the deadline is set at any time when a compensation application is sent. This means that the deadline for any next claim would be 3 years from the time the last claim was filed.

 

For example, your British Airways flight is delayed. The BA’s headquarter is Harmondsworth (UK). You have 6 years to make a flight delay reimbursement Europe claim according to the flight delay compensation EU time limit.

you can submit European flight delay compensation form for British Airways flight delay within 6 years after the delay

The table is handy for any flight disruption. Delayed flight compensation rules EU set the same deadline for the delay or cancellation, etc. 

You can get the same European law flight compensation of up to €600 (£510) if your flight is cancelled or you are denied boarding. The most important is to apply within the deadline. 

It is advisable to apply for your EC flight delay compensation immediately after your flight delay. So, you won’t miss out on your flight delay compensation EU time limit.

 

EU travel compensation: why AirAdvisor?

AirAdvisor has made the lives of air passengers easier since 2017. We have solved thousands of cases helping millions of travellers to get their EU flight delay compensation

The claim process is easy with AirAdvisor. Tell us about your flight delay, fill in basic flight details and we will think of the rest. 

We will use our knowledge and expertise in the field to win over your European Union flight delay compensation.

air passenger is checking if his flight is eligible with AirAdvisor European flight delay compensation calculator

Here is what you should do:

  1. Fill in your flight details on our website: discover instantly if your flight qualifies according to the delayed flight compensation rules EU 
  2. Wait until we get your EU travel compensation: we’ll handle all the process: from collecting the data to defending your European airline passenger rights in court
  3. Do not pay for our service: we never ask for your money. We only take a commission as deducted from the total European flight delay compensation

Have you already claimed EC flight delay compensation on your own but never got any reply? Pass your case to our team. We will get your European law flight compensation for you.  

Don’t wait any longer! Apply immediately to get your delayed flight EU compensation!

 

Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 (£510) compensation. Find out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight

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