EU Flight Delay Compensation – Claim up to €600

How Much Can You Claim for a Delayed Flight?

Depending on your flight’s distance and delay duration, compensation ranges from €250 to €600.

Compensation Breakdown

• Short Haul: €250 for flights under 1,500 km delayed by 3+ hours.
• Medium Haul: €400 for Flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km delayed by 3+ hours.
• Long Haul: €600 for flights over 3,500 km delayed by 4+ hours.

Note: In some cases, compensation may be reduced to €300 for long-haul flights that remain within EU borders.

EU261 Compensation Table

Real-World Example

A family of five traveling from Frankfurt to New York (over 3,500 km) could claim €3,000 (€600 x 5) if their flight lands more than 4 hours late.

At ClaimFlights, we’ve helped thousands of passengers secure compensation with a 99% success rate. You can trust us to fight for your rights.

What Should You Do When Your Flight Gets Delayed?

1. Collect Evidence

Gather all the proof you need to secure your claim. Take photos of the arrival board, keep your boarding pass and all receipts, and exchange contact information with fellow passengers.

2. Inquire About Reason

Ask the airline about the reason for the delay. Request a written statement from their customer service, as this information is crucial for determining your eligibility for compensation.

3. Note Arrival Time

Record when your flight arrived, including when the aircraft doors opened and passengers disembarked. This information is essential for accurately processing your claim for EU compensation rights.

4. Know Your Rights

If your flight departs after two hours, you can request food, beverages, and accommodation if a stay becomes necessary. These are your rights, and the airline must provide these services free of charge.

5. Check Your Eligibility

Use our delayed flight compensation calculator to find out if you are eligible for compensation. Provide your flight information, and within 2 minutes, check if you are eligible under EU Law.

6. Get Your Compensation

At ClaimFlights, we operate on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ policy. There are no upfront costs or hidden charges. You only pay if we recover your compensation, giving you peace of mind.

Can US or non-EU passengers Claim Compensation Under EU Law?

Yes! The EU 261 Regulation compensates passengers for significant delays on international flights. However, domestic flights within non-EU countries are not covered.

If your flight departs from or arrives at an EU airport operated by an EU-regulated airline, you are eligible for compensation.

Eligibility Based on Flight Route and Airline

Act Now: Skip the hassle of reading through extensive details. Use our free Flight Compensation Calculator to estimate your compensation instantly. It only takes 2 minutes! No email, credit card, or sensitive information is required.

Exceptions to Eligibility

You will not qualify for EU delayed flight compensation if:

• Your flight departed from a non-EU airport with a non-EU airline.
• Both your departure and arrival airports are outside the EU.
• The delay resulted from extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather, security threats, or emergencies beyond the airline’s control.

How Long Can I Go Back to Claim Compensation for a Delayed Flight?

The time limit for claiming compensation for a delayed flight depends on the legal jurisdiction handling your case.

This period typically ranges from 6 months to 6 years from the flight date, with many countries adhering to a 3-year statute of limitations.

For example, if your flight got delayed in December 2022, you could file a claim in certain jurisdictions until December 2025.

At ClaimFlights, we ensure your claim is filed in the most favorable jurisdiction, maximizing your chances of success.

Which Is The Best Company To Claim European Flight Delay Compensation?

To help you choose the best flight claim company, we’ve compared the payouts offered after deducting service and legal action fees.

Estimated Payouts

The table below shows receivable payouts from different claim companies for delayed flights based on distance, taking their maximum range and considering legal action necessary as of January 2025.

Example: With ClaimFlights, if your flight was more than 3,500 km, you could receive €450 in compensation. In contrast, with AirHelp or SkyRefund, the payout would be €300.

ClaimFlights consistently offers the highest returns on compensation claims for flight delays. Through our service, you receive 75% of the total compensation, significantly higher than others in the industry.

ClaimFlights’ 3-Step Approach to Securing Your Compensation

1. Step: Gather Documents
   Collect important documents like your boarding pass, booking details, and any messages from the airline.
2. Step: Submit Your Claim
   Share your flight, personal details, and the required documents to submit your claim with us.
3. Step: Get Paid
   After we process your claim and you win compensation, the payment (minus our success fee) will be sent directly to your bank account.

How can I provide proof of delay if I didn’t take any photos or keep receipts?

If you didn’t take photos or keep receipts to prove your flight delay, there are still several ways to gather evidence to support your claim:

1. Flight Status Information

• Airline Website or App: Many airlines show flight status records, including delays. Log in to the airline’s site or app to check your booking details, which may show the actual departure and arrival times.
• Flight Tracking Websites: Use services like FlightAware or FlightStats to check the status of your flight, including delay details.

2. Email Confirmation or Notifications

If the airline sends you emails, SMS messages, or app alerts about the delay, these work as proof. You can provide timestamps from these messages.

3. Boarding Pass or E-ticket

Your boarding pass or e-ticket has timestamps showing the scheduled departure time. You can compare these with the actual departure time to prove the delay.

4. Airline or Airport Statement

Contact the airline and ask for a formal statement or confirmation of the delay, including the reason, if available.

5. Witness Testimony

If you traveled with others or if anyone saw the delay at the airport, their statements can support your claim.

6. Social Media Posts

If you or others posted about the flight delay on social media, these posts can help show the delay.

7. Credit Card Statement

If you had to buy extra services like meals or a hotel due to the delay, your credit card statement showing these purchases can support your claim, even if you don’t have the receipts.

Collecting these types of evidence can help prove your flight delay claim without needing photos or receipts.

Know All Your Rights for Flights To Or From Europe

Under European Regulation EC 261, air passengers are entitled to compensation or a refund for flight delays, flight cancellations, and denied boarding due to overbooking.

This regulation applies to all passengers, including those from the US, departing from or arriving in EU airspace with an EU-registered airline and extends to flights from Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

Additional Rights for Delays

Suppose your flight got delayed by over 2 hours at departure. In that case, the EU 261 Regulation entitles you to care and assistance, which includes meals, refreshments, and possibly accommodation for overnight delays.

For Departure Delays:

For departure delays of more than 2 hours, you are eligible for the “Right to Care.”

Over 2 Hours:

• Food and Snacks: Free meals and refreshments
• Communication: Two free phone calls, emails, and access to fax services.

Over 5 Hours:

• Food and Snacks: Continued provision of meals and refreshments.
• Communication: Access to phone calls, email, and fax.
• Re-routing or Refund: You can be rerouted on the next available flight or receive a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
• Accommodation: Hotel accommodation and transport if the delay extends overnight.

For Arrival Delays:

Beyond 3 Hours: In addition to the right-to-care facilities, you may be eligible for compensation if your flight arrives more than three hours later than scheduled.

Missed Connections:

• For delays that cause missed connections, if the delay extends beyond 5 hours, you may request a refund for the untraveled part of your journey and a return flight to your original destination.
• Suppose you got rerouted and arrived at your final destination three hours late. In that case, you may qualify for missed connecting flight compensation.
• Ensure your entire journey is under a single booking reference to claim.

Business Travelers:

Compensation typically goes to the employer if the delay occurs during paid working hours. For personal or unpaid hours, the passenger directly receives the compensation.

Package Holidays:

Protected under the Package Travel Directive (90/314), this applies to packages within EU Member States and to non-EU destinations. For claims, all itinerary details must be accurate and complete.

Travel Vouchers or Cash

As per EC 261, you can receive compensation in cash, via bank transfer, or by check. Airlines may offer travel vouchers but choose some money instead, as vouchers are often less valuable than the actual compensation.

During delays, accept only meal vouchers. Know your rights, make informed decisions, and ensure you claim what you’re entitled to under the law.

Are Infants Entitled to Compensation for Flight Delays?

Children, including infants, may be eligible for compensation under EU261 if you purchase a ticket for them, even at a discounted rate.

However, if the ticket was issued free of charge—for infants who do not require a separate seat—they are not eligible.

What Are Extraordinary Circumstances?

Extraordinary circumstances refer to events beyond the control of airlines that can cause delays or cancellations. These events include, but are not limited to:

• Severe weather conditions
• Political and civil unrest
• Acts of War
• Acts of Terrorism
• Air Traffic Control Strikes

In these scenarios, airlines are typically not obligated to offer compensation as the situation is beyond their reasonable control. However, there are exceptions.

If other airlines operate flights generally under similar circumstances, you may still have grounds to claim compensation.

It’s important to note that an airline citing extraordinary circumstances is not an automatic exemption from compensation.

The airline must demonstrate that they took all possible measures to minimize disruption, such as attempting to reroute passengers on the next available flights.

Why Claimflights Stand Out Among Providers?