Air passenger rights

In the event of cancellation, delay, or overbooking, the amount of compensation you are entitled to will vary depending on the distance covered by the flight.

The flat-rate compensation is calculated as follows:

• 250 euros for flights less than 1,500km.

• 400 euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,000km.

• 600 euros for flights over 3,000km.

To check if you meet all the criteria, use the tool provided by Delayed: in just a few minutes, you'll know if you're eligible for compensation.

European regulations stipulate that airlines must compensate passengers if they experience disruptions such as flight delays or cancellations.

In the event of a flight cancellation, the airline may pay you a fixed compensation whose amount varies depending on the distance covered by the flight:

• €250 for flights less than 1,500 km.
• €400 for intra-community flights or flights between 1,500 and 3,000 km.
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km.

Your rights to compensation are similar if your flight was delayed by more than three hours upon arrival. Note that the airline must also provide you with assistance covering refreshments, meals, phone calls, hotel accommodation, or transportation from the airport to a place of accommodation.

As an air passenger, there are several reasons you may be eligible for compensation. In the event of a delay, cancellation, or overbooking, you may be entitled to compensation.

Our service exclusively handles claims arising from European Regulation EC 261/2004.

For flights to or from Europe, you may receive compensation from the airline in cases of delay, overbooking, or cancellation. Your eligibility for compensation depends on causes that the airline can control. For example, you will not be eligible for compensation if airport staff are on strike or if the weather at the time of the flight is too turbulent.

However, be aware that the law varies depending on the location of your flight.

For example, if you are traveling within the United States, the law states that you may receive compensation for an overbooked flight, denied boarding, and if you are delayed by at least one hour compared to your original flight.

There is also specific legislation for flights to or from Brazil, where compensation is possible in cases of delay or cancellation.

European regulations entitle travelers to flat-rate compensation in the event of flight cancellation or delay. However, the airline is not required to pay this compensation if the disruption is due to extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided.

According to European Regulation 261/2004: “there is an extraordinary circumstance when an air traffic management decision regarding a specific aircraft on a specific day causes a significant delay, a delay until the next day, or the cancellation of one or more flights of that aircraft, even though all reasonable measures were taken by the air carrier to avoid these delays or cancellations.” 

Therefore, the airline cannot be held responsible for weather conditions, political instability in a country, an urgent health situation, or even a strike involving airport staff.

The term “extraordinary circumstance” can, however, be misleading. Several disputes have led to important case law updates to clarify this point. The Court of Justice of the European Union, for example, has ruled that a technical failure on an aircraft can be considered an extraordinary circumstance only if the maintenance schedule has been followed and the airline has shown no lack of diligence.

If your airline is registered in an EU member state (28 countries plus associated territories like the Canary Islands, Madeira, or the Balearic Islands) as well as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, your flight is eligible for compensation if the departure and/or arrival is in an EU country.

If your flight is operated by an airline not from the countries mentioned above, you can still receive compensation, but only if your flight departs from an EU member country.

Note that it is important to distinguish between the airlines that operate a flight and those that sell it. There are indeed partnerships between airlines, and this can directly impact your eligibility for compensation. To quickly determine your eligibility, check directly by clicking this link.

Due to a flight delay, you may miss your connection. Under European Regulation EC 261/2004, you are entitled to compensation in the following cases:

• Your departure airport is located in Europe or the flight is operated by a European airline for a flight to a European country.
• The flight is delayed by at least 3 hours.
• The flight booking has been confirmed. The delay is not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

The identity of the person who paid for a flight ticket has no impact on compensation. It is always the passenger who experienced the delay, overbooking, or cancellation who is eligible to claim compensation. If you have any doubts, you can certainly use our eligibility check tool, and you'll have clarity in just a few minutes!

Low-cost airlines are those that offer low-priced flights to their customers. These prices are achieved by limiting additional services in-flight and on the ground, as well as generally reducing operating costs.

This pricing offer does not affect your rights as air passengers. Even on a low-cost flight, you can claim compensation. Of course, your flight must be eligible. Feel free to use our eligibility checker to verify if you can receive compensation after a canceled or delayed flight.

Note that a low-cost flight is different from a charter flight arranged by tour operators to meet seasonal demand. Generally, travelers book charter flights through a travel agency or on sites that combine ticket booking and accommodation rental. The specificity of a charter flight is that it is not regular: its departure times vary according to the slots offered by airports. Most often, travelers are informed of the departure time one week to ten days before the flight. However, this specificity has no impact on your right to compensation: your flight just needs to meet the eligibility conditions defined by European Regulation 261/2004.

Furthermore, the European regulation provides for a flat-rate amount based on the distance traveled by the disrupted flight: the price of your ticket does not affect the total amount of compensation.

The European regulation sets the conditions for compensation based on a specific delay time. This delay is set at 3 hours, but it is entirely possible to miss a connection if the plane is, for example, delayed by 2.5 hours!

Theoretically, it is possible to obtain compensation if your flight is delayed by less than 3 hours, but several conditions must be met. The airline will consider the departure location of your flight and the arrival time at your destination. Another important decision factor is whether your different connections appear on the same reservation number.

Of course, feel free to visit our site to check your flight's eligibility.

Overbooking implies that airlines must seek volunteers willing to give up their reservation.

However, if you are not a volunteer and cannot board, you are entitled to compensation between €250 and €600 depending on the distance covered by the flight.

The amount of your compensation can be reduced by half in several specific cases. Airlines are indeed authorized to lower the compensation amount if the proposed replacement flight allowed you to not exceed the original arrival time.

• 2 hours for flights up to 1,500 km.
• 3 hours for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km.
• 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km.

In the event of a flight disruption, the airline may offer you compensation. Be aware that this compensation is often less than the total amount specified in the current European regulation to protect passenger rights. Therefore, if the airline responsible for your flight has offered you miles or travel vouchers, you can submit your claim with Delayed.

It depends on the reason for the denied boarding.

Airlines must compensate you when the denial of boarding is attributable to them. Most of the time, they must compensate you when the flight is overbooked. 

No compensation will be due if the denial of boarding is attributable to you. For example, the airline may deny you boarding if your passport or ID card is not valid. Similarly, an airline is not required to pay compensation if you do not present yourself at the boarding gate on time.

Weather is considered by European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as an extraordinary circumstance. It is a situation for which the airline cannot be held responsible.

Yes, weather can therefore affect your eligibility for compensation, as extreme conditions are considered extraordinary and thus not covered by the compensation framework. Moreover, the airline is even obliged to cancel or delay a flight if it deems that the weather may pose a danger to passengers and its employees.

The European regulation governing air passenger compensation is based on an important criterion: the time you arrive at your destination. Therefore, whether or not you have a connection, if your flight arrives more than 3 hours late, you have the right to compensation.

Be careful, things are more complex if the delay occurred during a leg outside your jurisdiction. Do not hesitate to check if your flight is covered by European legislation by visiting our eligibility checker.

Finally, note that a connecting flight is subject to a single reservation number. However, if you have booked each flight separately, you will only be eligible for compensation for the delayed, canceled, or overbooked flight, not for the entire journey. European regulation provides compensation only if the initial flight and the following flight are on the same reservation. Otherwise, the airline operating the first flight is not aware that you have another flight, and is therefore not obliged to compensate you.

Compensation in the event of flight disruption applies to all passengers who have booked a flight ticket. Children are therefore also entitled to compensation if their seat was reserved or if they paid for a flight ticket at the same price as an adult ticket.

When your flight is operated by an airline registered within the EU member states (28 countries plus associated territories like the Canary Islands, Madeira, or the Balearic Islands) as well as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, you are entitled to compensation for departures from or arrivals in the UK. However, if your airline is not European and the departure airport is not located in Europe, you will not be eligible for compensation under Regulation EC 261/2004. For example, a Paris > London flight is compensable, regardless of the airline. But, a London > Paris flight will not be compensable if the airline is not a member of the EU or the countries mentioned previously. In this scenario, your flight will be compensable under UK 261 regulations, which our services will soon take into account. For more information, subscribe to our newsletter.

The difficult economic context has led to the disappearance of several airlines. As a result, the airline that operated your flight may no longer exist when you file your compensation claim. In principle, you have the right to claim compensation from an airline in bankruptcy. In reality, it is very likely that you will not succeed.

In a bankruptcy context, travelers are not the primary creditors. They are not prioritized. However, if your airline was in association with an airline still in operation, you may more easily obtain compensation. The Delayed team can indeed more easily turn to the active airline to assert your rights.

If your flight is eligible, you can generally still claim compensation for a delayed, overbooked, or canceled flight. However, be cautious when signing documents with the airline: some airlines may require you to waive your right to compensation once you accept a voucher.

Today, more and more travelers are flying. In response to this growth, it was essential to establish clear legislation to protect the rights of air travelers. In Europe, this increasing mobility led to the creation of Regulation 261/2004, which grants passengers the right to compensation if their flight is disrupted by delays, overbooking, or cancellations.

At Delayed, we often discuss European regulations. It is indeed Regulation 261/2004 that allows you to receive compensation if your flight is delayed, canceled, or overbooked. However, this compensation is not strictly reserved for EU citizens. Your nationality has no impact on your rights, as it is the nationality of the airline and the location of the airport that matter.

Delayed assists you in asserting your rights as an air passenger. Our goal is to enforce the applicable law, particularly Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. This regulation precisely details the criteria that entitle you to compensation.

Our tool allows you to test your eligibility based on your flight information and the various criteria of Regulation 261/2004. If your flight does not meet the eligibility criteria, unfortunately, we will not be able to assist you.

Be aware that most of the time, if your flight is ineligible, it is because it was disrupted by extraordinary circumstances such as travel restrictions or adverse weather conditions.

It is very common for an airline not to respond: the agents handling compensation claims can indeed be very busy, especially during peak periods corresponding to holidays.

Our first advice is to persist by regularly following up with the airline. However, if your requests remain unanswered, you can turn to a third-party organization such as Delayed. Our teams are here to assist you in obtaining compensation following a delayed or canceled flight. Because we are experienced, we can obtain responses from airlines, even when your own requests have long been ignored.

Another option is available to you if the airline does not respond. Indeed, you can also contact the aviation authorities; in Europe, this is the National Enforcement Body of the airline.

Your case has been processed and the airline's response has just reached you: they refuse to pay you compensation. Don't worry, all is not lost!

In such cases, you can trust the Delayed team: first, you can check your eligibility directly on our site. If your claim is valid, our team will analyze your different options and manage the entire compensation process. We will keep you informed of the progress of your claim at every stage. When your claim is successful, you will receive your compensation minus our service fees.

Note that in case of an issue with an airline, you can contact the General Directorate of Civil Aviation or, to facilitate dispute resolution, turn to the Tourism and Travel Mediation.

COVID-19 is still present. Therefore, it is possible that your flight may be canceled for this reason.

If you are faced with this situation, know that you are entitled to a full refund of your ticket or - in the event of your flight being rescheduled - a replacement flight. In this situation, you may also be stranded at the airport: you are then entitled to care which includes refreshments, meals, accommodation, or access to a phone (or any other communication service).

Compensation is not available to passengers when the flight is canceled due to COVID-19. Airlines must indeed take all measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and employees.

While flight delays are often discussed, airlines can also move a flight's departure time forward!

If it is moved forward by 1 hour, you generally have enough time to organize yourself. However, the time may be moved forward significantly, preventing you from arriving at the airport on time.

Currently, no law addresses the case of an early flight. It is up to you to check the terms of your ticket or contact the airline for more information.

However, be aware that, in most cases, airlines offer refunds for your ticket or allow you to change your ticket when the departure time changes significantly. However, what constitutes a significant change varies considerably from one airline to another: for some, a 2-hour advance is sufficient for a refund, while for others, a change of at least 12 hours is required.

Of course, if your flight is canceled less than 14 days before the original departure date or if the flight arrives more than 3 hours late, you are covered by European regulations. The law then provides for compensation in addition to a ticket refund. 

Travelers are not eligible for compensation if their flight was disrupted due to extraordinary circumstances.

But what do these extraordinary circumstances refer to? They actually refer to any event beyond the airline's control. The term extraordinary is used because it designates situations that the airline could not avoid, even by taking the most reasonable measures.

Extraordinary circumstances therefore include:

• A strike by airport employees or air traffic controllers.
• Unstable political situations.
• Extreme weather conditions.
• A security risk.
• An urgent health situation.

When a flight is delayed or canceled, the airline is obliged to provide you with assistance: they must offer you refreshments, meals, or even hotel accommodation if your flight is rescheduled for the next day. You are also entitled to two phone calls.

This assistance does not affect your right to compensation. Therefore, if your flight is eligible, you can claim compensation in addition to the assistance already provided.

Passenger compensation depends on three main criteria:

• The country of departure of the flight.
• The country of arrival of the flight.
• The nationality of the airline.

Flights outside Europe are eligible for financial compensation if the departure airport is located in a European country or if the flight is operated by a European airline.

In the event of a flight cancellation, your right to compensation will vary depending on several criteria: the applicable regulations and the location of your flight. In Europe, reference is made to Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.

According to this regulation, a canceled flight may entitle you to compensation in the following cases:

• Your flight's departure airport was located in a European country or your flight was operated by a European airline to a European destination.
• Your flight was canceled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure.
• The cancellation occurred within the last 3 years.
• The flight reservation was confirmed.
• The flight cancellation was not due to extraordinary circumstances.

If your flight has been canceled and you are unsure if your case falls under the applicable regulation, visit our site to check your eligibility!

When a flight is delayed, several scenarios may entitle you to compensation:

• The flight was delayed by at least 3 hours.
• The flight's departure airport is located in a European country or the flight is operated by a European airline to a European destination.
• Your flight was confirmed.
• The flight delay occurred within the last few years.
• You were forced to take a replacement flight with a significantly different arrival time from the original flight.
• The flight delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.