Delayed · cancelled · bumped
Flight delayed or cancelled? Check what you’re owed
EU, UK and Canadian law sets fixed cash amounts when an airline delays or cancels your flight. Check yours in a minute, then claim free or with a no-win, no-fee service.
You could be owed
€600
per passenger, set by law
Compensation calculator
Compensation calculator
Check your flight with AirHelp
Enter your flight to start a free eligibility check (no win, no fee).
Or check with Compensair
A second opinion from another claims service.
Set by law
How much you can claim
EU261
EU Regulation 261/2004
- Up to 1,500 km€250
- Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or 1,500–3,500 km€400
- Over 3,500 km€600
Covers flights departing the EU (any airline), and flights into the EU on an EU airline. Source: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights.
UK261
UK Regulation 261/2004 (UK261)
- Up to 1,500 km£220
- 1,500–3,500 km£350
- Over 3,500 km£520
Covers flights departing the UK (any airline), and flights into the UK on a UK or EU airline. Source: UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk).
APPR
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations
- Large airline, 3–6 h lateC$400
- Large airline, 6–9 h lateC$700
- Large airline, 9 h+ lateC$1,000
Covers flights to, from and within Canada, on any airline. Source: Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations.
Hour by hour
What you’re owed, and when
- 2 h late
1. Care starts
Meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are delayed overnight (from 2 hours on short flights, 3–4 hours on longer ones).
- 3 h late
2. Cash compensation
Arrive 3 hours or more late for a reason within the airline’s control and you can claim a fixed amount per passenger.
- 5 h late
3. Refund option
Delayed 5 hours or more and no longer want to travel? You can ask for a refund and, if needed, a flight back to where you started.
Who pays
When the airline has to pay, and when it doesn’t
Airlines usually have to pay for
- ✓Most technical problems with the aircraft
- ✓Strikes by the airline’s own staff
- ✓Overbooking (denied boarding)
Extraordinary circumstances (no cash)
- Bad weather that makes flying unsafe
- Air traffic control restrictions and decisions
- Security risks and political instability
- Strikes by staff outside the airline (for example, air traffic controllers)
Even then, the airline still owes you care (food, drinks, a hotel if needed) and a refund or rerouting for cancellations.
Two ways
How to claim
Free, do it yourself
Claim directly with the airline
- 1. Keep your boarding pass, booking reference and any receipts.
- 2. Ask staff in writing what caused the delay or cancellation.
- 3. Use its complaint or claim form on its website.
- 4. No answer in 2 months, or a refusal you disagree with? Complain to the national enforcement body, or use dispute resolution or small claims.
No win, no fee
Let a claims company handle it
- They check eligibility for free and chase the airline for you, including in court.
- They keep a share of the payout only if they win: check their fee before you start.
211 airlines
Compensation by airline
Good to know
Flight compensation: questions
How much compensation can I get for a delayed flight?+
Under EU261: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on distance, if you arrive 3 hours or more late for a reason within the airline’s control. Under UK261: £220, £350 or £520. Under Canada’s APPR, large airlines pay C$400, C$700 or C$1,000 depending on how late you arrive.
Which flights are covered?+
EU261 covers flights departing the EU (any airline), and flights into the EU on an EU airline. UK261 covers flights departing the UK (any airline), and flights into the UK on a UK or EU airline. Canada’s APPR covers flights to, from and within Canada, on any airline.
Do I get compensation for a cancelled flight?+
Usually yes, if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline’s control, unless the airline rerouted you close to your original times. You also choose between a refund and rerouting.
What counts as extraordinary circumstances?+
Things the airline could not have avoided with all reasonable measures, such as bad weather, air traffic control decisions, security risks and political instability. Most technical problems and strikes by the airline’s own staff do not count.
How long do I have to claim?+
For EU261 and UK261 it depends on the law of the country where you claim, which differs across Europe. Under Canada’s APPR you must claim in writing to the airline within 1 year.
Is it free to claim?+
Yes, claiming directly with the airline is free. Claims companies such as AirHelp work on a no-win, no-fee basis and keep a share of the payout if they win.
Rules and amounts from the official sources: Your Europe (European Union): air passenger rights; UK Regulation 261/2004, Article 7 (legislation.gov.uk); Canadian Transportation Agency: Air Passenger Protection Regulations. Distances are straight-line between airports. This is general information, not legal advice. AirConnect may earn a commission if you claim through our links, at no extra cost to you.