Flight Delay Compensation (EU 261): Up to €600 — Your Rights

For a flight delay of three hours or more, EU Regulation 261/2004 gives you compensation of €250 to €600 — regardless of the ticket price. Cancellations and overbooking are covered too. Here is when and how much you get.

Compensation amounts by distance

What counts is the arrival delay at your destination: at least three hours. On long-haul over 3,500 km the airline may halve the amount to €300 for a delay between three and four hours.

When am I entitled?

• The flight departs from the EU (any airline) or arrives in the EU (EU airline only).
• Arrival is at least 3 hours late.
• The cause is within the airline's control (e.g. technical fault, staffing).

The same amounts apply to cancellations and denied boarding due to overbooking.

When is there no compensation?

None applies for extraordinary circumstances the airline cannot control: severe weather, third-party strikes (e.g. air traffic control), political instability or security risks. An ordinary technical fault does not count — airlines must pay there.

How to claim

1. Keep evidence: boarding pass, booking, actual arrival time.
2. Write to the airline: request compensation with flight number and date.
3. Mind the limit: in Germany claims expire after three years (year-end).

You can claim yourself for free. Claim portals do it for a 20–30% fee. More consumer guides are in our guides.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of delay before I get compensation?

From three hours' arrival delay at the destination. The amount is €250, €400 or €600 by distance.

Do I get paid for a strike?

Usually yes for the airline's own staff strike, usually not for third-party strikes (air traffic control, airport) — those count as extraordinary circumstances.

How long can I claim?

In Germany up to three years back, to the end of the third year after the flight.

Does claiming cost anything?

No — directly with the airline it is free. Portals take a success fee if they claim for you.