International Flight Delay Compensation: Your Rights & How to Claim

If you've ever experienced a delayed, cancelled, or otherwise disrupted flight service, then you'll know how stressful and expensive it can be to make alternative plans, especially if you are travelling with a family, for work, or for a much-needed holiday! But the law is on the side of passengers when it comes to bad airline services and affected passengers may be owed international flight delay compensation worth up to £520 per incident.

• Under regulation EC 261 (and the corresponding UK 261), you’re entitled to compensation if your flight arrives at its destination at least 3 hours late.

• The delay must be the airline’s responsibility (e.g. technical issues) and not due to extraordinary circumstances (such as severe weather).

• The flight must either depart from an EU/UK country or arrive in the EU/UK with a European or UK airline.

• The right to compensation may also apply if you miss a connecting flight due to the delay.

• You also have a right to care while you’re waiting. Airlines must provide food and drink, accommodation, and transport to and from the airport when necessary.

• Hold on to your boarding pass and other travel documents.

• Speak to an airline representative and ask confirmation of the cause of the delay.

• If you have been delayed for more than two hours, ask the airline to pay for your meals and refreshments.

• If by 6.00pm the airline has still not managed to rebook you to another fight, hasn’t found a seat on a night flight or for the next day, ask the airline to provide you with a hotel room.

• Keep your receipts if your cancelled flight ends up costing you extra money.

• Submit your claim using our flight delay compensation calculator below to get up to £520.

In Europe, operating standards for airlines and passenger rights are primarily governed by EU-261/2004, a regulation which says that flight disruption must be compensated. So if your flight was delayed or cancelled, or if you were prevented from boarding because the airline overbooked the flight, then you have three years - and sometimes longer - to claim up to £520.

85% of passengers don't realise that the law is on their side, but AirHelp exists to explain your rights and help you to claim. In fact, we have helped millions of passengers across the world to access international flight delay compensation from airlines that have failed to uphold mandated service standards. And we make it easy - just add your flight details to our online database for an instant search. If you have a claim, just complete the online form in a few clicks and we will take it forward for you - fast, efficiently and without charge.

Don't be like the 55% of airline passengers who discover that they have a claim, but who don't take it forward because the process seems confusing. We take away the hassle to get you the compensation you are owed. Read on to find out more.

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organisation, here to help air travellers secure compensation for delayed, cancelled, 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 cancelled 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.
Cancelled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was cancelled 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:

Compensation under EC 261 varies depending on the flight distance and the length of the delay. The table below summarises the main scenarios:

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 Check.

• The Montreal Convention

• Other international regulations

The Montreal Convention

If your delayed international flight isn’t covered by regulations such as EC 261/UK 261 or other national laws, the Montreal Convention may apply. The Montreal Convention (or MC99) is a multilateral treaty adopted by over 140 countries worldwide. Its purpose is to establish airline liability in cases of flight delays or baggage issues.

Unlike European regulations, the Montreal Convention does not focus on fixed compensation, but rather on reimbursement for unexpected expenses caused by the delayed international flight. For example, if you miss a prepaid reservation, have to pay for an extra night at a hotel, or incur other unforeseen costs, you may be reimbursed – up to approximately £6,500. MC99 also covers baggage issues, even if you are flying within Europe.

Other international regulations