Delayed Flight
and Compensation Eligibility
Flight delays are an unfortunate but common occurrence in air travel. While these disruptions can be inconvenient when facing with a delayed flight, we are here to help you navigate through your rights and entitlements.
Your Rights Under EC 261
The EC 261 Regulation establishes the rights of passengers when faced with flight disruptions. If your flight issue falls under the regulation, you may be entitled to compensation of up to 600 €.
Eligibility for Compensation
Passengers might be entitled to compensation if their flight meets the following criteria:
Delay is longer than 3 hours compared to the original time of arrival.
Flight is departing from an EU airport or arriving at an EU airport on an EU-based airline.
Delay is not caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather, political instability, or security risks.
Flight issue happened not more than 3 years ago (in some cases, the eligibility period may differ).
Distance and Time matters
The amount of compensation is determined by the length of the delay, which must be longer than 3 hours compared to the original scheduled time of arrival, and the flight distance:
Up to 1 500 km
More than 3 hours
250 € *
1 500 km - 3 500 km
More than 3 hours
400 € *
More than 3 500 km
More than 3 hours
300 € *
More than 4 hours
600 € *
* The amount of compensation estimated to be paid by the airline as stated in EC 261, before deducting our Service Fee
While your ticket might have been cheap, the price does not affect the amount of compensation you might be entitled to. Even if your ticket cost only 20 €, you might still get up to 600 € for flight delay, on average up to 3 years back.
Right for reimbursement
Regardless of the distance of the flight, passengers are entitled to:
Flight reimbursement
In case your flight is delayed more than 5 hours, you may choose not to continue the journey. In addition to compensation, the airline must provide you with an alternative route and refund all your flights you decided not to take that were part of the journey.
Right to Care and Assistance
Regardless of the distance of the flight, passengers are entitled to:
Meals and refreshments
Food or drink (or a voucher) after 2 hours.
Accommodation
In case of an overnight stay, airline must provide a hotel.
Access to communication
Phone call or an email provided by the airline.
Transportation
Transport to and from the airport or hotel.
Even if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances, you are still entitled to care and assistance as mentioned above or a refund of such expenses in case you had to pay for them yourself. Use Flywize online form to submit your Expenses Refund claim.
Claim up to 600 € for a delayed flight now.
Flight Delay caused by Extraordinary Circumstances.
Am I still Eligible for Compensation?
Problemi di volo e le loro cause
I problemi di volo possono essere attribuiti a una varietà di fattori, alcuni dei quali sono al di fuori del controllo delle compagnie aeree. Questi eventi imprevisti sono definiti "circostanze straordinarie" ai sensi del regolamento EC 261.
I tuoi diritti
Le compagnie aeree non sono obbligate a risarcire i passeggeri se il problema del volo è causato da circostanze straordinarie al di fuori del loro controllo. Tuttavia, i passeggeri godono comunque di determinati diritti.
Cosa sono le circostanze straordinarie
Eventi meteorologici imprevedibili e gravi, come uragani o nubi di cenere vulcanica, possono compromettere i viaggi aerei. Le compagnie aeree non sono ritenute responsabili per eventuali problemi causati da queste condizioni meteorologiche incontrollabili.
How to Claim Flight Delay
Compensation Under EC 261
If you've experienced a flight delay that falls within the criteria outlined by EC 261, you can claim compensation by following these steps:
Raccogliere informazioni sul volo
Raccogli i dettagli sul tuo volo, tra cui il numero del volo, la data e il numero di prenotazione.
Conserva tutta la tua documentazione
Tieni a portata di mano le carte d'imbarco, le ricevute delle spese e tutte le comunicazioni con la compagnia aerea.
Invia un reclamo a Flywize
Utilizza il nostro modulo online semplice e veloce per verificare gratuitamente la tua idoneità e inviare la tua richiesta di risarcimento.
Lascia che ce ne occupiamo noi
Il nostro team di esperti si occuperà della comunicazione con la compagnia aerea e gestirà l'intero processo.
Ci vogliono meno di 5 minuti
I was Offered a Travel Voucher for Flight Delay.
Am I still Eligible for Compensation?
When facing a flight delay, airlines often offer cash or travel vouchers to affected passengers. While these offers may seem tempting, it's important to be aware that by accepting cash or a travel voucher you lose your right to compensation under the EC 261 regulation.
Meal voucher
Airline may give you a food or drink voucher during your delay. This voucher is usually between 4 € - 20 € per person. You may accept a food or drink voucher, as it does not affect your right for compensation.
Travel voucher
During a flight delay, airlines often offer cash or travel vouchers to affected passengers. Be aware of the value of the voucher or cash, as by accepting it you lose your right to request compensation.
40% of passengers who accept a travel voucher receive less than their entitled compensation amount.
Viaggi d'affari e compensi
Se hai viaggiato per un viaggio di lavoro pagato dal tuo datore di lavoro, hai comunque diritto a un risarcimento fino a 600 € in caso di ritardo del volo, cancellazione, perdita di coincidenza o overbooking.
Il tuo datore di lavoro ha acquistato il biglietto per il tuo viaggio di lavoro.
Il tuo volo è stato ritardato o cancellato.
In quanto passeggero hai diritto a un risarcimento.
Ai sensi dell EC261, è stabilito che è il passeggero ad avere diritto al risarcimento, non la persona o la compagnia che ha pagato il biglietto.
Questions about Flight Delays?
Check our our FAQs
The timeframe for submitting a compensation claim varies based on the country where the flight took place. Typically, passengers have a window of up to 3 years on average from the flight date to claim their compensation. In some certain exceptions, claiming compensation for flights that experienced delays or cancellations even several years ago might be possible.
By accepting a voucher, you lose your right to compensation under EC 261. We advise to choose wisely, as statistics show that 40% of passengers who accept a travel voucher are undercompensated compared to the amount of compensation they could be entitled to.
Accepting any form of compensation, especially cash, from the airline waives your right to compensation under EC 261. It's essential to understand your rights and the amount of compensation you might be entitled to in your situation before accepting any form of travel voucher or cash from the airline.
In case your flight is delayed for less than 3 hours, you are not eligible for compensation. Although, after 2 hours of delay, the airline is required to provide food and drink (or a voucher to purchase refreshments).
To submit a claim with Flywize, you will need details about your flight, including the flight number, date and booking number. Additional documentation, such as boarding passes and proof of identity might be required in the process of claiming your compensation.
We may still be able to help you get your compensation even if you don't have all the necessary documents. We will advise you on what documents are required and assist you in obtaining them where possible.
The time it takes to receive compensation varies depending on the airline and the complexity of your case. In some cases, compensation can be paid out within a few weeks, while in others it may take several months. We will keep you updated on the progress of your claim throughout the entire process.
Yes, you may be entitled to a refund for reasonable expenses incurred during a delay, such as meals and accommodation or transportation to/from the airport. Keep receipts and relevant documentation to support your claim for Expenses Refund.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means we only charge our fee if we successfully claim compensation on your behalf. Checking your eligibility for compensation is free. If we can get your compensation, only then we charge our Service Fee of 35% of the received compensation, excluding VAT. However, if you use a promo code, our fee is lower. In case we are unsuccessful, or the airline rejects your claim for compensation, we will not charge you anything.
If you're uncertain about your rights, reach out to us for personalised advice and assistance. Our team of experts will check your eligibility for compensation for free, help you understand your entitlements under EC 261 and make the entire claiming process easy and worry-free.