Flight Diverted Compensation

The EC 261/2004 regulations were established by the European Union to protect passenger's rights when things don't go as planned and gives information on the flight diverted compensation that passengers can claim. If a flight lands at a different airport to its planned destination, it has been diverted. The pilot or air traffic controllers may need to make this decision because of bad weather, problems with the aircraft, or unruly passengers. If you have experienced a flight that has been diverted in the past three years and wish to seek compensation, you first have to make sure you meet all the criteria.

Under the rules of the EC 261/2004, if you have experienced a flight being diverted, the airline is responsible for compensating you. If your flight departed from the EU or arrived in the EU with a European airline, has been diverted to land into a different airport than the airport on your itinerary and you arrived at your final destination with more than 3 hours delay, you will be able to claim for financial compensation.

However, passengers are not granted any compensation if the diversion was caused by any extraordinary circumstances, which include lightning strikes and medical emergencies, or if the pilot manages to compensate for the delay during the flight. Passengers should keep in mind that a flight being diverted is not the same as an emergency landing.

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, 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 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:

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 Calculator.

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 canceled.

• Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

• If you had a canceled 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.