Flight delays
Your flight arrived late.
Here is what to check first.
If your flight reached its final destination more than 3 hours late, EU Regulation 261/2004 may entitle you to fixed compensation. Before going further, it helps to check the route, the arrival delay, and the reason the airline gave for the disruption.
Review your next steps →When a delay may qualify for compensation
A delay claim usually turns on three core questions.
3+ hour arrival delay
The key timing is your arrival at the final destination, not just the departure delay.
Covered route
The flight generally needs to depart from an EU airport, or arrive in the EU on an EU-based carrier.
Airline responsibility
Compensation is usually linked to disruptions within the airline's control rather than extraordinary circumstances.
How much compensation may be owed?
EU261 sets fixed compensation amounts by flight distance.
Compensation may be reduced in some rerouting situations, and not every long delay leads to a payout.
Information to gather before making a claim
Good records make it much easier to assess the case later.
- ✓Booking confirmation and booking reference number
- ✓Scheduled departure and arrival times
- ✓Actual departure and arrival times, if available
- ✓Any communications from the airline about the delay and its cause
- ✓Receipts for meals, transport, or accommodation bought during the delay
- ✓Boarding pass or e-ticket
Decide what to do next
Many passengers start by documenting the delay carefully and contacting the airline directly. If the response is unclear, delayed, or disputed, you can then decide whether to keep handling the case yourself or look at a specialist service later.
The useful first step is usually to understand the process and make sure you have the key evidence ready.
If you later choose to use a claim service, review its fees, process, and terms carefully before proceeding.