Can I Get Compensation For A Delayed Flight

The fact is, there are clear laws in place that are designed to protect passengers when they fly and to ensure that airlines deliver against certain minimum standards. In Europe, the stringent EC 261/2004 regulation makes it clear that passengers are eligible to claim up to £520 per incident of flight delay. So if you're wondering 'can I get compensation for a delayed flight?' the answer is probably yes! But even when passengers know that they could be eligible for this compensation to recognise the stress and inconvenience incurred by flight disruption, 55% never submit a claim.

At AirHelp, we have assisted millions of customers worldwide in understanding their rights and submitting successful claims against airlines which failed to deliver. Passengers have at least three years to submit a claim, and AirHelp makes it easy to do this in just a few steps. Simply add the details of your flight into our website and our vast database will match your query against flight histories to confirm whether it was disrupted. You can then automatically submit a claim against the airline in just a few clicks, and it is fast, simple and - even better - free to do. Don't leave yourself without the compensation payment that you are due. Enter your details today to progress your disrupted flight claim.

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organisation, here to help air travellers secure compensation for delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights .

We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Cancelled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

We should note that if extraordinary circumstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.

Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

In some circumstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Check.

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.
• Ask why the flight was delayed or cancelled.
• Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.
• If you had a cancelled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.
• Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.
• Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to compensation.