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Your flight was delayed?

If you arrived 3 hours or more late, you could be entitled to up to €600 per passenger. Voos makes the compensation process fast, stress-free, and risk-free.

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      Your rights under EU Regulation 261

      If your flight arrives at its destination 3 hours or more later than planned, the airline may owe you compensation—unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances (such as severe weather or airport closure).

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      Up to €600 compensation

      Long-haul flights typically receive the highest amounts.

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      Airline responsibility

      Technical issues and staff strikes are usually eligible.

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      Claim window: 3–5 years

      Most countries allow you to claim for past flights.

      Flight Delay Compensation: Know Your Rights

      Every year, millions of passengers across Europe and the UK arrive at their destination hours late — yet the vast majority never claim the compensation they are legally entitled to. Under EU Regulation 261/2004 and its UK equivalent, airlines are required by law to pay between €250 and €600 when a flight delay is within their control. This guide explains exactly when you qualify, how much you can claim, and how to get it.

      What Is Flight Delay Compensation?

      Flight delay compensation is a fixed financial payment that airlines must make to passengers who reach their final destination 3 or more hours late — provided the delay was caused by something within the airline's control. It is a statutory right under EU261 and UK261, meaning it applies automatically regardless of the ticket price you paid, the airline you flew with, or your nationality.

      It is important to understand that delay compensation is entirely separate from other rights you may have. A refund is owed when a flight is cancelled and you choose not to rebook. Airport assistance — meals, hotel, and transfers — is owed during the delay itself. Compensation is the additional lump sum for the inconvenience of lost time, and you can be entitled to all three simultaneously.

      When Are You Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation?

      Eligibility under EU261 and UK261 is determined by four criteria, all of which must be met:

      Your nationality does not matter. Whether you are travelling for business or leisure, on a low-cost or full-service carrier, the same rules apply.

      How Much Flight Delay Compensation Can You Receive?

      The amount is fixed by law and depends solely on the distance of your flight. It does not vary based on your ticket price, airline, or cabin class.

      Flight Distance Minimum Arrival Delay EU261 Compensation UK261 Compensation
      Up to 1,500 km 3+ hours €250 £220
      1,500 – 3,500 km 3+ hours €400 £350
      Over 3,500 km 3+ hours €600 £520

      Important: For flights over 3,500 km, the compensation may be reduced by 50% (to €300 / £260) if the airline reroutes you and you arrive at your final destination no more than 4 hours after your originally scheduled arrival. There is no tiered €300 rate for a simple delay — the full €600 applies once you have been delayed 3 or more hours at arrival on a long-haul route.

      Distance is measured as the straight-line great-circle distance between your origin and final destination airports — not the actual flight path.

      What Counts as Extraordinary Circumstances?

      Airlines are not required to pay financial compensation if they can prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances — events outside their control that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures taken. The burden of proof lies with the airline, not the passenger.

      Events that courts and regulators generally accept as extraordinary circumstances include: severe weather such as blizzards or volcanic ash clouds, air traffic control strikes or restrictions, security threats at the airport or destination, and bird strikes causing hidden aircraft damage.

      Events that are generally not accepted include: routine technical faults, staff shortages, crew scheduling problems, IT system failures, and knock-on delays from a previous flight running late. Airlines frequently cite "technical issues" or "bad weather" to avoid paying — but if other flights on the same route departed normally, or if the fault was due to regular wear and tear, you are very likely still entitled to compensation. Do not accept a rejection without challenging it.

      Delayed Connecting Flights

      If your journey involved connecting flights booked under a single reservation and you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late due to a disruption on any leg, you can claim compensation based on the total distance from your origin to your final destination. What matters is the delay at the end of the journey, not at each individual stop.

      If your connecting flights were booked on separate tickets, each leg is treated independently. A delay on the first leg does not trigger EU261 rights on the second, and you may need to purchase a new ticket if you miss the connection.

      Delays of 5 Hours or More

      If your departure is delayed by 5 or more hours, you have an additional right beyond compensation: you can choose to abandon your journey entirely and receive a full refund of your unused ticket, plus a return flight to your original point of departure if you have already begun your journey. This right applies even if the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances.

      Flying To or From Canada?

      Canada operates its own passenger rights framework under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). Compensation for delays within airline control ranges from CAD 125 to CAD 1,000 per passenger, depending on the airline's size and the length of the delay. The rules and claim process differ from EU261 — if your disrupted flight involved a Canadian departure or arrival, we can advise on whether APPR applies to your situation.

      How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation

      Claiming compensation does not require a lawyer or legal expertise. The process involves four steps:

      1. Confirm your delay: Check that your arrival at the final destination was 3 or more hours late.
      2. Gather your documents: Booking confirmation, boarding pass, and any airline notifications about the delay.
      3. Submit directly to the airline: Most airlines have an online compensation form. Send a written claim clearly stating your flight details, the delay, and the amount you are entitled to under EU261 or UK261.
      4. Escalate if necessary: If the airline rejects your claim or does not respond within 8 weeks, you can refer your case to the relevant National Enforcement Body, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, or a no-win-no-fee claims platform.

      Industry data suggests that up to 60% of eligible passengers never claim — not because they lack entitlement, but because the process feels daunting. Voos handles the entire claim on your behalf, from first submission to payment, at no upfront cost.

      Frequently Asked Questions About Flight Delay Compensation

      Answers to the most common questions about your rights under EU261 and UK261 when your flight is delayed.

      Eligibility

      Your flight must arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late under EU261 and UK261. The delay is measured from when the aircraft doors open at the gate — not from wheels touching down, and not from when the flight departed. A flight that leaves 4 hours late but makes up time in the air and arrives 2 hours 55 minutes late does not qualify for financial compensation, though you are still entitled to meals and assistance during the wait.

      Arrival delay only. EU261 and UK261 compensation is triggered by the time you arrive at your final destination, not the time your flight departed. This is one of the most common misunderstandings — many passengers assume a 3-hour departure delay automatically qualifies them, but it is arrival that counts.

      It depends on the airline. If you are flying to the EU or UK and the flight is operated by an EU or UK-based carrier (such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, or Ryanair), you are covered under EU261 or UK261. If the flight is operated by a non-EU carrier such as Delta, Emirates, or United departing from outside the EU, EU261 does not apply — but the return leg from the EU would be covered regardless of the airline.

      No. EU261 and UK261 apply equally to all carriers — budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet are subject to exactly the same rules as full-service carriers. The type of ticket, fare class, or price you paid is irrelevant to your entitlement.

      Yes, if both flights were booked as a single reservation. EU261 looks at your final destination, not each individual leg. If a delay on the first flight caused you to miss your connection and you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late, you can claim compensation based on the total distance from your origin to final destination. If the flights were on separate tickets, each leg is assessed independently.

      Compensation Amounts

      The amount is fixed by law — it does not vary based on your ticket price or airline. It depends entirely on the distance of your flight: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km. In the UK, the equivalent amounts are £220, £350, and £520. Distance is calculated as the straight-line distance between your origin and final destination airports.

      Per passenger. Every qualifying passenger on a disrupted flight is individually entitled to the full compensation amount. If you are travelling as a group of four on a long-haul route, the total you can collectively claim is up to €2,400 (4 × €600) or £2,080 under UK261.

      Yes — and these are entirely separate from your financial compensation. The airline is legally required to provide meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation during long delays. If it fails to do so, you can self-arrange and claim reimbursement for reasonable costs by keeping all receipts. This reimbursement is on top of, not instead of, your EU261 compensation.

      Only in one specific scenario: if the airline offers you a rerouted flight and you arrive at your final destination no more than 4 hours after the original scheduled arrival (for flights over 3,500 km) or 3 hours after (for shorter routes), the compensation may be reduced by 50%. Outside of this, the airline cannot unilaterally reduce the statutory amount — it is set by law.

      Extraordinary Circumstances

      Not automatically. Weather is only a valid exemption if it was genuinely severe enough to make it impossible to operate the flight safely, even with all reasonable precautions. If other airlines operated flights on the same route at the same time, or if the conditions were merely poor rather than extreme, the airline may not be able to rely on this exemption. Always challenge a weather-based rejection if you have reason to believe other flights were not affected.

      In most cases, no. The European Court of Justice has established that routine technical problems — including faults discovered during pre-flight checks — are an inherent part of airline operations and do not qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Only hidden manufacturing defects or damage caused by external events such as a bird strike may qualify. "Technical fault" is one of the most commonly misused rejection reasons — do not accept it without seeking a second opinion.

      No. A knock-on or reactionary delay — where your aircraft arrived late from a previous rotation and therefore departed late for your flight — is not an extraordinary circumstance. It is a foreseeable operational risk that airlines are expected to manage through scheduling buffers and contingency planning. Your entitlement to compensation is not affected.

      Filing a Claim

      To support your claim you will need: your booking confirmation or e-ticket, your boarding pass (physical or a digital screenshot), and any airline communications about the delay (SMS, email, or app notification). Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses such as meals or accommodation are needed only if you are also claiming reimbursement for those costs. You do not need a lawyer to file a claim.

      Time limits are set by national law. In the UK you have 6 years. In France and Spain the limit is 5 years, in Germany 3 years, and in the Netherlands 2 years. As a safe general rule, aim to file within 3 years. That said, the sooner you claim the better — airlines respond more cooperatively to recent disruptions and your documents are easier to locate.

      It varies by airline. Direct claims to cooperative airlines can be resolved in a few weeks. More complex cases or claims against airlines that contest the delay can take several months. Airlines are expected to respond within 8 weeks. If there is no response or your claim is rejected, escalating to a National Enforcement Body or using a claims platform typically accelerates the process significantly.

      A rejection is not the end of the road. You can escalate to the National Enforcement Body (NEB) in the country where the flight departed — for example, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK. Alternatively, you can refer the case to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme, which is free and independent. If those avenues fail, the small claims court is a practical and cost-effective final step. A claims management platform like Voos can handle all of this on your behalf.

      You are under no obligation to accept a voucher in place of cash. Airlines must obtain your informed written consent before substituting the statutory cash payment with a travel credit or voucher. If you were pressured into accepting a voucher, or were not clearly told you had the right to cash, you may still be entitled to pursue the cash amount. Always read what you are being asked to sign before accepting any airline offer at the airport.

      Yes. There is no requirement to have raised a complaint with airline staff at the airport during the delay. Your right to EU261 or UK261 compensation exists independently of what happened at the time. You can submit a claim weeks or months later using your booking documentation, as long as you are within the applicable time limit.

      Specific Situations

      Yes. If the departure delay exceeds 5 hours, you have the right to abandon your journey entirely and receive a full refund of your unused ticket. If you have already started your journey, you are also entitled to a return flight to your original point of departure at the earliest opportunity. This right applies even in extraordinary circumstances where financial compensation is not owed.

      Yes. EU261 and UK261 compensation belongs to the passenger, not the ticket purchaser. Even if your employer paid for the flight, the right to compensation is yours personally as the affected traveller. Whether you are contractually required to pass it on to your employer is a matter between you and your employer — it is not governed by EU261 law.

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