What are my rights if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed for 2 hours or more, the airline has to provide care during your wait.

Right to care

The airline must provide:

• meals and refreshments
• 2 telephone calls, telex, fax or e-mail messages
• hotel accommodation if your flight now leaves the next day
• transport between the airport and the hotel accommodation

In some cases you may have to pay certain bills yourself first. Keep receipts for all your expenses, so you can later claim these expenses back from the airline. Our step-by-step guide will help you ask for your money back from the airline.

Terms and conditions

The European rules apply in the following situations:

• Your flight departs from a country that follows the European rules. It does not matter which airline your flight was with.
• Your flight arrives in a country that follows the European rules and your flight was with an airline from one of these countries.

You are not entitled to receive compensation if:

• The delay was announced to you more than 14 days in advance
• The delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline’s control (‘force majeure’)

Countries these rules apply to

The European rules apply to air travel to and from:

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands), Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg , Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

#passenger-rights-flight-delay-more-than-2-hours

If your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, the airline has to provide care during your wait. In many cases you will also be entitled to receive compensation.

Right to care

The airline must provide:

• meals and refreshments
• 2 telephone calls, telex, fax or e-mail messages
• hotel accommodation
• transport between the airport and the hotel accommodation

In some cases you may have to pay certain bills yourself first. Keep receipts for all your expenses, so you can later claim these expenses back from the airline. Our step-by-step guide will help you ask for your money back from the airline.

Right to compensation

If your flight is delayed 3 hours or more, you are often entitled to receive compensation for your delay on top of receiving care during your wait. The compensation amounts to:

• For flights up to 1500 km and 3 or more hours of delay: € 250
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and 3 or more hours of delay: € 400
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and 3 or more hours of delay: € 400

Right to 50% of compensation
In some cases airlines may reduce the compensation by 50%. For example, if the airline has done everything to limit your delay. Or if you are now travelling to your destination via an alternative route. In these cases, the compensation amounts to:

• For flights up to 1500 km and a maximum of 2 hours delay: € 125
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: € 200
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: € 200
• For flights of more than 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 4 hours delay: € 300

No right to compensation in cases of extraordinary circumstances
If a flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline's control, passengers are not entitled to get compensation. This is sometimes referred to as ‘force majeure’ by airlines. Examples of such circumstances are bad weather conditions, such as storms.

Terms and conditions

The European rules apply in the following situations:

• Your flight departs from a country that follows the European rules. It does not matter which airline your flight was with.
• Your flight arrives in a country that follows the European rules and your flight was with an airline from one of these countries.

You are not entitled to receive compensation if:

• The delay was announced to you more than 14 days in advance
• The delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline’s control (‘force majeure’)

Countries these rules apply to

The European rules apply to air travel to and from:

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands), Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg , Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

#passenger-rights-flight-delay-more-than-3-hours

If your flight is delayed for 4 or more hours, the airline has to provide care during your wait. In many cases you will also be entitled to receive compensation.

Right to care

The airline must provide:

• meals and refreshments
• 2 telephone calls, telex, fax or e-mail messages
• hotel accommodation if the flight now leaves the next day
• transport between the airport and the hotel accommodation

In some cases you may have to pay certain bills yourself first. Keep receipts for all your expenses, so you can later claim these expenses back from the airline. Our step-by-step guide will help you ask for your money back from the airline.

Right to compensation

If your flight is delayed 4 hours or more, you are often entitled to receive compensation for your delay on top of receiving care during your wait. The compensation amounts to:

• For flights up to 1500 km and 3 or more hours of delay: € 250
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and 3 or more hours delay: € 400
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and 3 or more hours delay: € 400
• For flights of more than 3500 km outside of the EU and 4 or more hours of delay: € 600

Right to 50% of compensation
In some cases airlines may reduce the compensation by 50%. For example, if the airline has done everything to limit your delay. Or if you are now travelling to your destination via an alternative route. In these cases, the compensation amounts to:

• For flights up to 1500 km and a maximum of 2 hours delay: € 125
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: € 200
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: € 200
• For flights of more than 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 4 hours delay: € 300

No right to compensation in cases of extraordinary circumstances
If a flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline's control, passengers are not entitled to get compensation. This is sometimes referred to as ‘force majeure’ by airlines. Examples of such circumstances are bad weather conditions, such as storms.

Terms and conditions

The European rules apply in the following situations:

• Your flight departs from a country that follows the European rules. It does not matter which airline your flight was with.
• Your flight arrives in a country that follows the European rules and your flight was with an airline from one of these countries.

You are not entitled to receive compensation if:

• The delay was announced to you more than 14 days in advance
• The delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline’s control (‘force majeure’)

Countries these rules apply to

The European rules apply to air travel to and from:

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands), Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg , Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

#passenger-rights-flight-delay-more-than-4-hours

If your flight is delayed for 5 or more hours, you have the right to:

• care
• compensation (depending on the situation)
• re-routing or a refund of your ticket

Right to care

The airline must provide:

• meals and refreshments
• compensation for 2 telephone calls, 2 e-mails, or 2 fax messages
• hotel accommodation if the flight now leaves the next day
• transport between the airport and the hotel accommodation

In some cases you may have to pay certain bills yourself first. Keep receipts for all your expenses, so you can later claim these expenses back from the airline. Our step-by-step guide will help you ask for your money back from the airline.

Right to a refund and re-routing

In the case of a delayed flight of 5 hours or more, you may choose not to take the flight. The airline must refund your money within 7 days. If you have a connecting flight, the airline must also offer you a return flight to the airport of departure at the earliest opportunity.

Right to compensation

If your flight is delayed 5 hours or more, you are often entitled to receive compensation for your delay, on top of your right to reimbursement. The compensation varies per flight:

• For flights up to 1500 km and 3 or more hours of delay: €250
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and 3 or more hours delay: €400
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and 3 or more hours delay: €400
• For flights of more than 3500 km outside of the EU and 4 or more hours of delay: €600

Right to 50% of compensation

In some cases, airlines may reduce the compensation by 50%. For example, if the airline has done everything to limit your delay. Or if you are now travelling to your destination via an alternative route. In these cases, the compensation may vary as listed below:

• For flights up to 1500 km and a maximum of 2 hours delay: €125
• For flights of more than 1500 km within the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: €200
• For flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 3 hours delay: €200
• For flights of more than 3500 km outside of the EU and a maximum of 4 hours delay: €300

No right to compensation in cases of extraordinary circumstances

If a flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline's control, passengers are not entitled to get compensation. This is sometimes referred to as ‘force majeure’ by airlines. Examples of such circumstances are bad weather conditions, such as storms.

Terms and conditions

The European rules apply in the following situations:

• Your flight departs from a country that follows the European rules. It does not matter which airline your flight was with.
• Your flight arrives in a country that follows the European rules and your flight was with an airline from one of these countries.

You are not entitled to receive compensation if:

• The delay was announced to you more than 14 days in advance
• The delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline’s control (‘force majeure’)
   

Countries these rules apply to

The European rules apply to air travel to and from:

Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands), Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg , Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Mayotte, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

#passenger-rights-flight-delay-more-than-5-hours

If your flight has been delayed due to extraordinary circumstances outside of the airline’s control, this is sometimes referred to as ‘force majeure’. These situations hinder both passengers and airlines. These are some examples of extraordinary circumstances:

• bad weather conditions, such as storms
• unofficial strikes
• natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions
• terrorism

No right to compensation

If your flight has been delayed due to extraordinary circumstances, you are not eligible to claim compensation. Are you unsure whether the reason for the delay of your flight falls under ‘extraordinary circumstances’? Our legal advisers are here to help and advice you. They can tell you more about whether a certain situation classifies as an 'extraordinary circumstance'.

Right to care

You may still be entitled to receive care from the airline. If your flight has been delayed by 2 hours or more, the airline must provide adequate care while you wait:

• meals and refreshments
• 2 telephone calls, telex, fax or e-mail messages
• hotel accommodation if your flight now leaves the next day
• transport between the airport and the hotel accommodation

#flight-delay-extraordinary-circumstances

If you miss a flight due to the delay of an earlier flight and if you arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Depending on your situation, you may have more rights if you have missed a flight due to an earlier flight delay.

If you missed a connecting flight due to a flight delay

Under EU law, you have booked ‘connecting flights’ if:

• You have booked all flights at the same time and through the same air travel provider, such as an airline, a travel agency or booking website.
• You were able to check in to all flights at the same time.

If you have booked connecting flights and have missed your connection due to a flight delay, the airline must provide:

• re-routing to your destination
• care while you wait at the airport (such as meals and refreshments)
• compensation if you arrive at your final destination with a delay of 3 or more hours

If your next flight was not a ‘connecting flight’

Did you book your flights separately? Or did you book your flights through one air travel provider, but were you not able to check in to all flights at the same time? Then these flights are not ‘connecting flights’ under EU law. 

In this scenario you cannot hold the airline that caused the delay responsible for missing your next flight. You will have to book and pay for a new flight yourself. You are not eligible to receive care while you wait at the airport and are not eligible to claim compensation.

#missed-connection-due-to-delay

Airlines may offer you a travel voucher if your flight is delayed. However, you do not have to accept this offer as an alternative. If you are entitled to receive a refund or compensation, it is your right to ask for this instead.

#flight-delay-voucher