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?
Flight issues and their cause
Flight issues can be attributed to a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the control of airlines. These unforeseen events are termed "extraordinary circumstances" under the EC 261 regulation.
Your rights
Airlines are not obligated to compensate passengers if the flight issue is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control. However, you still have certain rights.
What are Extraordinary Circumstances
Unpredictable and severe weather events, like hurricanes or volcanic ash clouds, can disrupt air travel. Airlines are not held responsible for issues caused by these uncontrollable weather conditions.
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:
Gather flight information
Collect details about your flight, including the flight number, date and your reservation booking number.
Keep all your documentation
Have your boarding passes, receipts for expenses and any communication with the airline.
Submit a claim with Flywize
Use our quick and easy online form to check your eligibility for free and submit your claim for compensation.
Let us handle it
Our team of experts will take care of the communication with the airline and handle the entire process.
Takes less than 5 minutes
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.
Business Travel and Compensation
If you travelled for a business trip paid by your employer, it is still you who is eligible for compensation up to 600 € in case of a flight delay, cancellation, missed connection or overbooking.
Your employer purchased the ticket for your business trip.
Your flight was delayed or cancelled.
You as the passenger have the right to compensation.
Under EC 261, it is stated that it is the passenger who is entitled for compensation, not the person or company who paid for the ticket.
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.