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Flight delay compensation: what you're owed, and how to claim it

If your flight to or from Europe was delayed 3+ hours or cancelled, the airline may owe you up to €600 in cash under EU261 (or £520 under UK261). Here's when you qualify, how much, and how to claim it — including the free way, yourself.

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When you're owed compensation

You qualify when all of these are true:

How much you can get

It depends on the flight distance, not on what you paid for the ticket:

Up to 1,500 km€250 · £220
1,500–3,500 km€400 · £350
Over 3,500 km€600 · £520

On long-haul flights a 3–4h delay is paid at half. EU261 pays in euros, UK261 in pounds.

How to claim it yourself — for free

You don't need anyone to do this for you. The airline pays you directly, and you keep 100%:

  1. Gather your details — booking reference, flight number, date, and how late you arrived.
  2. Confirm you qualify — run the checker to see your likely amount.
  3. Email the airline — write to their customer-relations address, state the flight, the delay, and that you're claiming compensation under EU261 (or UK261). Keep it short and factual.
  4. If they refuse or go quiet — escalate to the national enforcement body (e.g. the CAA in the UK) or a small-claims process.

Or let a partner handle it

If you'd rather not chase the airline, a claim company does the whole thing on a no-win-no-fee basis: they keep about 25–50%if they win, and you pay nothing if they don't. Less money, zero hassle. We'll be transparent about the exact fee before you choose.

See what your flight is worth
Check if you're owed

Frequently asked

How long does a flight have to be delayed to get compensation?
Three hours or more, measured by your arrival time at your final destination — not departure. Under 3 hours, no cash compensation is due (though you may still be owed care or a refund).
Is it really free to claim it myself?
Yes. You can email the airline directly at no cost and keep 100% of the compensation. A claim company will do the work for you but keeps roughly 25–50% if it wins. Both are valid — it's a trade of money for convenience.
What if the delay was caused by weather or a strike?
Bad weather and air-traffic-control strikes count as “extraordinary circumstances”, so no cash compensation is due. A technical fault or the airline's own staff strike usually does qualify.
How far back can I claim?
It depends on the country, but claims are often possible for flights from the last 2–6 years. It's worth checking even for an old flight.

This is general information, not legal advice — we're not a law firm. Rules and amounts can change; check your specific case.