What is a delayed flight and when does it qualify for compensation
A delayed flight is one that reaches its destination later than scheduled. A small delay is annoying, but it does not always entitle you to money. What matters is how much late you arrive and who is at fault.
The European law EU261 says that if you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late and the cause is the airline's responsibility, you are entitled to financial compensation of between €250 and €600. That right exists whether the flight left late or you lost everything through a missed connection, as long as the trip was on a single booking.
The amount does not depend on what you paid for the ticket, but on the distance of the flight. And it is paid per person: if several of you travelled, each has their own compensation.
What to do if your flight is delayed
If you are at the airport and your flight is running late, these steps will help you protect your rights:
- Keep your boarding pass and any message or email from the airline about the delay. They are your evidence.
- Note the times. When departure and arrival were scheduled, and when they actually happened. It is the arrival time at your final destination that counts.
- Ask for the care you are owed. After a certain wait, the airline must give you food and drink and, if you have to stay overnight, a hotel and transport.
- Keep the receipts for anything you have to pay yourself (a meal, a taxi, a hotel). You can reclaim those costs later.
- Check your compensation. When you reach your destination, search for your flight here and we will tell you whether you are eligible and how much.
Do not accept vouchers or sign documents that waive your rights without first checking what you are owed by law.
How much you are owed for a delay
Compensation for a delayed flight depends on the distance:
On some long-haul flights, the airline may pay only half if it offered you a re-routing that cut the delay substantially. You can see all the detail in our guide to flight compensation.
The 3-hour rule
It is the most common question: how much delay is needed to be paid? The answer is 3 hours or more on arrival at your final destination. And here is an important detail: it is not the departure time that counts, but the arrival time — specifically the moment the aircraft door opens.
That is why a delay of 2 hours 59 minutes does not qualify for compensation, but one of 3 hours 1 minute does. A few minutes make the difference, so note the real arrival time carefully.
If your delay is under 3 hours, you may still have other rights, such as care at the airport. And if the delay reaches 5 hours or more, you can give up the trip and ask for a refund of the ticket.
Delays due to bad weather and other causes
Not every delay is paid. The airline can escape compensation (but not the duty of care) if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances: events it could not control, such as a severe storm, an air traffic control strike or an airport closure.
By contrast, the airline's own internal causes do require payment: a technical fault on the aircraft, a shortage of crew, organisational problems, or "knock-on" delays from poor planning. Many carriers try to hide behind "force majeure" that is not really force majeure, so it is worth claiming even if they say no.
Delayed or cancelled flight: how they differ
Although both cases can qualify for compensation, they are not the same:
- Delay: the flight operates, but you arrive late at your destination. You are paid compensation if the arrival delay is 3 hours or more.
- Cancellation: the flight does not operate at all. As well as possible compensation (if you were told with less than 14 days' notice), you have the right to choose between a refund of the ticket or a re-routing.
In the list above you will see both types marked: "Delayed" for delays and "Cancelled" for cancellations. Whatever your case, learn how to claim step by step or check your flight directly in the search box.
Your rights during the wait
While you wait through a long delay, the airline has to look after you, even if in the end you are not owed compensation. Free of charge, it must offer you:
- Food and drink appropriate to the waiting time.
- Two calls, emails or messages.
- Hotel and transport if you have to stay overnight.
If the airline does not offer it and you pay yourself, keep the receipts: you can reclaim those costs as long as they are reasonable.
Check your flight with Quiescence.eu
We track flights live and cross-reference that information with the EU261 law to tell you, in seconds and in plain words, whether your delayed flight qualifies for money. Checking is free. And if you decide to claim with us, we work no win, no fee: we only get paid if you do. If you like, also learn how to claim step by step.
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Check my flightFrequently asked questions about delayed flights
How much delay is needed to claim compensation?
Three hours or more on arrival at your final destination. A delay of 2 h 59 min does not qualify; one of 3 h 1 min does. It is the arrival time that counts, not the departure time.
What do I do if my flight is delayed right now?
Keep your boarding pass and the airline's messages, note the scheduled and actual times, and ask for the food or hotel you are owed. When you reach your destination, check your compensation here.
Can I be paid if the delay was caused by bad weather?
Bad weather is usually treated as an extraordinary circumstance, so in that case there may be no compensation. Even so, you keep the right to care and, if you give up the trip, to a refund. It is worth checking.
Are the flights in the list all of the day's flights?
No. We show a selection of the disrupted flights (delays, cancellations and diversions) so you can find yours. Use the search box to find your flight by number, route or date.
What if my flight does not appear in the list?
That's fine. You can still start a check with the flight number and date: we will look up the information and tell you whether you are entitled to compensation.
How long do I have to claim for a delayed flight?
The time limit depends on the country of the flight and typically ranges from about 2 to 6 years. Even if your flight was a while ago, check it: you may still be within the deadline.