Flight Delay Weather Compensation

Flight delays and cancellations due to weather have been on the rise in recent years in Europe. Severe weather in the shape of storms, wildfires or even extreme cold has forced the delay or cancellation of many flights.

Normally, passengers aren’t entitled to flight compensation due to weather, but there are some scenarios where there’s more than meets the eye. Under European Regulation EC 261, travellers are indeed entitled to compensation when a flight is disrupted in bad weather. What decides it isn't how severe the weather was, but whether the airline could have kept the flight running by taking all reasonable measures..

Take a flight delayed by severe snow and wing de-icing. If the airline ran short of de-icing fluid because they failed to prepare for predictable winter weather, they can still be held liable for the delay. A claim becomes much harder for the airline to dispute if rival flights managed to take off on schedule during that same timeframe.

Under EC 261, what matters is whether the airline could have avoided the disruption by taking all reasonable measures. While an airline can't control the snow, taking standard winter precautions (like ordering basic supplies) falls squarely within their operational duties.

It’s important to note that the delay brought on by weather must be at least 3 hours long in order to claim compensation.

When faced with severe weather before a flight, we’re usually thinking of factors like our own safety and alternative methods of transport. However, it’s important to keep a clear head when your flight has been delayed or cancelled by weather. Here’s a list of elements to keep in mind:

• Save everything: Hang onto all boarding passes, tickets, and travel documents.

• Other flights: keep an eye on the status of other flights to later compare to your own.

• Ask why: Get airline staff to state the exact reason for the delay or cancellation.

• Claim basic care: Ask for meal/drink vouchers and accommodation if you're stuck overnight.

• Keep every receipt: Hold onto receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses caused by the delay.

• Protect your rights: Avoid signing waivers or accepting vouchers that strip away your rights to full EC 261 compensation.

If you’ve misplaced your booking confirmation or boarding passes, not to worry, we’ll help you to recover them.

Airlines can sometimes look to the weather as an excuse to not compensate their customers. 

If your flight has been delayed or cancelled for the following reasons, you could claim compensation:

• Improper planning and preparation: when airlines do not have the equipment or materials for dealing with situations like de-icing, they can be pursued for compensation.

• Weather affecting an earlier flight: airlines sometimes point to weather conditions at another airport on your aircraft's earlier route. If heavy snow in Amsterdam delayed the aircraft that was due to fly you from Rome to Amsterdam, the airline must show that this actually caused your delay and that it took all reasonable measures to avoid or reduce the disruption, such as bringing in another aircraft or crew. If it cannot prove both points, you may still be entitled to compensation..

• Other flights take off: if other airlines were able to take off in the same conditions as your delayed or cancelled flight, you have a stronger claim for weather-affected flight compensation.

To avoid paying out, the airline carries the legal burden of proving the problem was both unavoidable and that they took every reasonable step to prevent it. This means you are entitled to challenge flight delays or cancellations by weather.

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled 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.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled 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:

If you’ve suffered a flight delay by weather that wasn’t caused by extraordinary circumstances, there are different ways you can make a claim for compensation under EC 261 law.

To claim EC 261 compensation yourself, you'll need to check your flight’s eligibility, gather your documents, and submit a claim through the airline's website. Keep in mind that airlines can be unresponsive; if yours stalls, you'll have to escalate the issue to a legal representative or aviation authority.

The second way is via a third party expert like AirHelp, in a few simple steps you’ll have completed the process:

1. Firstly, you can check whether you are eligible for flight compensation using our free Eligibility Checker.

2. Secondly, if you are entitled to compensation you will need to submit a few documents.

3. Finally, sit back and wait while we take care of the rest.

Airlines will have an easier time fighting your claim when it’s related to the weather, they normally leverage this to their advantage when passengers claim compensation for flights delayed or cancelled by the weather.

However, the airline still has to prove a series of points to avoid paying flight compensation:

• The weather affected your flight specifically.

• The weather actually created extraordinary circumstances.

• They were prepared but unable to face these conditions.

• All measures were taken to avoid delays or cancellation.

With AirHelp in your corner, our team of over 400 experts in air passenger rights, laws and regulations will do everything to help your claim. Since 2013, we’ve helped millions of passengers all over the world because we believe everyone deserves the best and smoothest travels possible.

We believe in complete transparency, which is why we only get paid if you do. Enjoy your peace of mind while our travel law experts uphold your rights and keep you updated throughout the process.

FAQ

1. Can I get compensation if my flight is delayed due to bad weather?

It depends on whether the weather is classified as an "extraordinary circumstance". If extreme severe weather forces airports to shut down runways, compensation under EC 261 is not required. However, if the weather was minor or manageable and other airlines were flying safely, you may still be entitled to up to €600.

2. What counts as an "extraordinary weather circumstance"?

Extraordinary weather refers to severe, unsafe conditions beyond the airline's control, such as:  Dense fog causing severe visibility issues, volcanic ash clouds, heavy sandstorms or hurricanes.

3. What if the airline blames weather, but other flights are taking off?

This is one of the most common reasons to challenge a claim rejection. If other flights were departing on time, the delay may have actually been caused by airline operational failures—such as a lack of de-icing fluid or poor scheduling—rather than the weather itself. In these cases, you could be entitled to compensation.

4. Does the airline still have to provide food and hotel accommodations during a weather delay?

Yes, absolutely. Even if severe weather is classified as an extraordinary circumstance and voids payout compensation, your "Right to Care" still applies. This includes meals, refreshments, accommodation (for overnight stays) and transport between airport and hotel.