Airport issues: delays, cancellations & baggage compensation
Experiencing airport problems like flight delays, cancellations, or lost luggage? You’re not alone. Every day, travellers face delays at airports, cancelled flights, or issues with baggage. Under EU regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to airport delay compensation, airport cancellation compensation, or airport bump compensation. Explore our page to understand your rights, and learn how AirHelp can help you claim what you’re owed in just a few clicks.
AT A glance
EC 261: Your rights explained
In case of airport issues such as delays, cancellations, and overbooking, you are protected under the EC 261 regulation.
If the airline is responsible for the flight disruption, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation.
Strikes: Airline staff strikes may qualify for compensation – airport strikes do not.
In case of baggage issues, you may be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention.
Your rights: airport compensation explained
EC 261: the legal foundation of your passenger rights
Under EU regulation EC 261/2004, airlines are financially accountable when air travel takes an unexpected turn, as long as the disruption wasn’t caused by something outside of the airline’s control.
EC 261 sets out the amount of compensation airlines must pay – between €250 and €600 – and the circumstances in which passengers are entitled to receive it:
Flight delays of over 3 hours
Flight cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice
Denied boarding due to overbooking.
All passengers departing from an EU airport are covered under EC 261. And in some circumstances, passengers flying into the European Union from other worldwide destinations may also be covered. Almost all flights to or from the EU are therefore covered by EC 261 rules:
| Itinerary | EU airline | Non-EU airline |
|---|---|---|
| Departing from an EU airport | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| Arriving at an EU airport | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Use our calculator below to check if you're owed compensation:
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Compensation calculator
Check what you're entitled to
€250
up to 1,500 km
€400
1,500 - 3,500 km
€600
from 3,500 km
Airport delay compensation
You can claim airport delay compensation under EC 261 in the following circumstances:
You arrived at your destination more than 3 hours late
The delay was within the airline's control (not caused by extraordinary circumstances)
Your flight took off in the EU (many flights into the EU also qualify)
You checked in for your flight on time
If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to compensation of up to €600. The amount depends on your flight distance and length of delay:
| €250 | €400 | €600 |
|---|---|---|
| Flights 1,500 km or less | Flights 1,500-3,500 km | Flights 3,500 km or more |
Read more about flight delay compensation.
Airport cancellation compensation
Under EC 261, you could be entitled to airport cancellation compensation if:
You were notified less than 14 days before departure
The cancellation was within the airline's control
Your replacement flight arrives significantly later than your original booking
The reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control (e.g. operational circumstances, technical difficulties, or airline staff strikes).
You also have the right to choose between:
Refund of the full ticket cost for unused flight segments
Alternative transport to your final destination at the earliest opportunity
Re-routing at a later date of your convenience, subject to seat availability.
Read more about flight cancellation compensation.
All airlines
All countries
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Overbooked flights: your rights to airport bump compensation
When an airline overbooks, it may deny you boarding. If your flight is covered by EC 261 you may be entitled to compensation if:
You did not volunteer to surrender your seat in exchange for vouchers or other benefits.
You were not denied boarding for a reason under your control (for example, you showed up too late at the departure gate, or did not have the correct documentation).
Read more about overbooking compensation.
Airport strike compensation
You could be eligible for airport strike compensation if:
You had a flight disrupted by an airline staff strike.
As a consequence of the strike, your flight was either delayed by 3 hours or more, or cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
Your flight took off in the EU, or landed at an EU airport.
You had a confirmed flight reservation.
If you took a replacement flight, your new arrival time was significantly different to your original flight.
Under EC 261, airlines are required to compensate passengers for flight disruptions that they are responsible for. That includes flight disruptions due to airline staff strikes.
While airline staff strikes are within the control of the airline, all other airport strikes are considered extraordinary circumstances.
Read more about strike compensation.
Airport baggage delay compensation
If your luggage is delayed, lost or damaged, there is a regulation called the Montreal Convention, or MC99, which covers international flights.
MC99 allows you to claim back costs for delayed, lost, or damaged bags for up to €1,900, depending on the value of the contents of your suitcase:
If the contents are worth less than €1,900, you only get reimbursed for the amount you lost.
If the contents are over €1,900, this is the maximum amount you will receive.
If you’d like to learn more, we recommend visiting our page dedicated to compensation for lost, delayed, or damaged baggage.
Note that AirHelp can currently only support claims under the Montreal Convention for AirHelp+ customers.
AirHelp Score: the best airports worldwide
AirHelp’s mission is to get everyone the compensation they’re entitled to. We also believe it’s essential to provide passengers with the best possible experience. Our AirHelp Score ranks worldwide airports based on their performance, helping you avoid airport delay compensation claims and enjoy a smoother journey. According to our latest AirHelp Score assessment, the highest-rated airports in the world are:
| Airport | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cape Town Airport | South Africa | 8.57 |
| 2. Doha Hamad Airport | Qatar | 8.52 |
| 3. Riyadh King Khaled Airport | Saudi Arabia | 8.47 |
As advocates for passenger rights, we believe an airport’s rating should be primarily based on flight punctuality, which accounts for 60% of the total score. However, while punctuality is crucial, it’s not the only factor – our rankings are determined by:
On-time performance (60%)
Customer service (20%)
Food and shops (20%)
To learn more, check out the full AirHelp Score and the methodology behind it.
How to claim airport compensation
You can claim compensation by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on the specialists at AirHelp. Whatever your choice, here's how to proceed with your claim:
Checklist for making a claim
Hold onto your boarding pass and travel documents.
Gather proof (e.g. photos of departure boards or emails from the airline)
Check for compensation with our Free Eligibility Checker.
File your claim through AirHelp.
That's it! We’ll take it from here.
How AirHelp can help with airport problems
We understand that many air passengers do not have the time, experience or inclination to fight with airlines in order to make a delayed flight claim for the compensation they’re owed.
AirHelp is able to submit claims on passengers’ behalf:
We'll tell you quickly if we think you're eligible for compensation.
We'll handle all communication with the airline.
There's no risk, we only charge a fee when we're successful in getting your compensation.