Ireland flight compensation: understand your rights under EU261
Have you had a delayed flight while travelling in Ireland? Don’t worry, regardless of your citizenship or residency, you may be entitled to up to €600 in flight delay compensation. Check all today’s disrupted flights to or from Ireland and see instantly if you’re eligible under EU or UK passenger rights.
See Which Flights Are Delayed or Cancelled Today in Ireland
In this guide, you’ll learn about your rights as a passenger, which flights are eligible for compensation, and how to file a claim.
Your Passenger Rights in Ireland
In Ireland, the birth place of Ryanair, all air passengers arriving or leaving the country are protected by EU 261. In addition to Ireland, EU 261 covers the other 26 members of the European Union, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and 9 special regions.
So, if your flight was delayed, then you could be eligible for compensation if the following conditions are met:
- Your arrival time at your final destination was delayed more than 3 hours
- Your flight was operated by an EU airline or departed from EU airport
- The flight delay was caused by something within the airline’s control (like scheduling issues, technical problems with the plane, airline strikes)
- You check in to your flight on time
- You filed a compensation claim within the deadline.
Flight Journey | EU Airline | Non-EU Airline |
Within EU | Yes | Yes |
EU airport to a non-EU airport | Yes | Yes |
Non-EU airport - EU airport | Yes | No |
Outside EU | Yes | No |
If the flight delay is caused by something outside the airline’s control, then you would NOT be eligible for compensation.
Some of extraordinary circumstances include:
- Air Traffic control problems
- Dangerous weather
- Civil unrest
PRO TIP: Many airlines use extraordinary circumstances as an excuse to avoid paying compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Find out if your flight qualifies for compensation by using our free tool below.
Flight Delay Compensation Amounts in Ireland
The exact amount of compensation you could get depends on the distance of your flight and the length of your delay.
Length of Delay | Distance of Your Flight | |||
All flights, less than 1,500km. | All internal EU flights, more than 1,500km, | All non-internal EU flights, 1,500-3,500km | All non-internal EU flights, more than 3,500km | |
Less than 3 hours |
| |||
3 hours or more | €250 | €400 | €400 | €600 |
Never Arrived | €250 | €400 | €400 | €600 |
No CompensationDelayed flights: Additional benefits
You might be entitled to additional services. The following table explains what you can expect from the airline.
What the airline provides | Your Waiting Time in the Airport | |||
Less than 2 hours | Over 2 hours | Over 3 hours | Over 5 hours | |
Inform you about the delay and your rights | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Offer you complimentary meals and refreshments | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Provide you with 2 free phone calls, emails or faxes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Provide you with hotel and transportation (only if the flight is delayed overnight) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pay you flight delay compensation €600 | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Provide you with a refund for the full cost of your ticket or return flight (If this isn’t offered free of charge by airline, they must reimburse you for all expenses) | No | No | No | Yes |
Vouchers
It’s not uncommon for the airline to offer passengers vouchers. If you’re offered one, be very careful to read all the details. In many cases, accepting vouchers will eliminate your right to file a compensation claim. Also, vouchers usually have many restrictions as well as short use-by dates.
Cancelled Flight Compensation in Ireland
For cancelled flights in Ireland, the air carrier must offer you a full refund or an alternative flight. If the cancellation was the airline’s fault, then you may be entitled to cancelled flight compensation as well.
If you’ve had a cancelled flight anytime in the last three years, you can check to see if it’s eligible for compensation and the amount you could receive. All you have to do is enter your details into the AirAdvisor compensation calculator.
Why AirAdvisor?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of filing a compensation claim with an airline, you’re not alone. In fact, more than 620,000 AirAdvisor customers felt the same way, and that’s why they decided to let our team of legal professionals handle the claim process for them.
- We have expert knowledge of air passenger rights and airline regulations for the EU, UK, US, and Canada
- We defend your passenger rights for flight disruptions including denied boarding, flight delays or cancellations
- We take legal action for you, so you don’t have to deal with the stress and worry
We only get paid when you do. Check below to see if your flight is eligibleBest of all, we operate on a no win-no-fee basis which means that you can trust us to file your airline compensation claim with no risk.Check Your Flight
Tools to Help You Out
See our list of FREE tools in the links below:
- Flight Delay Checker
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
- Free Flight Delay Compensation Letter Template
Resources & Additional Reading
Some extra resources to help you better understand flight delay compensation:
Flight Delays by Issue
Read more about the most popular flight delay causes:
- Flight Delay due to Weather
- Flight Delay due to Diversion
- Flight Delay due to Plane Maintenance
- Flight Delay due to Extraordinary Circumstances
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you get 600 euro compensation for a delayed flight?
To receive €600 in flight compensation, your flight must have been delayed for more than 4 hours and the distance must be over 3,500km.
Can you get compensation for a 2 hour flight delay in Ireland?
You are not eligible for monetary compensation for a 2-hour flight delay in Ireland. However, under EU Regulation 261/2004, if your flight is delayed by more than two hours, the airline should provide you with assistance, such as food, drinks, and access to communication. Monetary compensation typically applies only when the delay is more than three hours.
When are you not entitled to flight compensation in Ireland?
There are certain situations when you are not entitled to flight compensation in Ireland:
- Extraordinary Circumstances: If the delay or cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control (e.g., extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, security threats, or air traffic control restrictions), you may not be entitled to compensation.
- Prior Notification: If the airline informed you of the cancellation at least 14 days before the scheduled departure date, you are not eligible for compensation.
- Alternative Flight: If the airline offers you an alternative flight with a similar schedule (departure within two hours and arrival within four hours of the original flight), you may not be entitled to compensation.
- Non-EU Airline: If your flight is operated by a non-EU airline and departs from a non-EU airport to an EU airport, you may not be entitled to compensation under EU rules.
- Voluntary Denied Boarding: If you voluntarily accept the airline's offer to give up your seat in exchange for benefits (e.g., travel vouchers or a later flight), you forfeit the right to compensation.
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Author:
Amy Lancelotte
Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Strategist
Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with over seven years of experience producing research-based articles for international audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.
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