3 weeks ago
★★★★★
"Our flight to Rome landed in Naples. The taxi and the lost night at the hotel were fully reimbursed – plus €400 compensation per person. Excellent!"
Flight diversion · Rome✈ Flight diversion · EU law · up to 600 €
Flight diverted?
Secure up to 600 € compensation – free of charge.
Did your flight land at an airport other than booked? If the diversion led to a delay of at least 3 hours at the destination, you are entitled to compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004. Passengers friend reviews and enforces your claim.
No advance payments and 100% risk-free.
⚖️ Experts in EU passenger rights
💶 Up to €600 flight compensation
🚌 Rerouting at the airline's expense
✅ No Win - No Fee
⭐ 4,4 on Google
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Check compensation →
OVERVIEW
Flight Rerouting & Compensation – At a Glance
All essential facts regarding your compensation claim under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 – summarized compactly and clearly.
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Entitlement starting from a 3-hour delay at final destination – what matters is not the diversion itself, but how late you actually arrive at your booked destination airport. Claims apply starting from a 3-hour delay.
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Up to €600 compensation per person – tiered based on flight distance: €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km), or €600 (over 3,500 km).
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Right to free onward transportation – if your flight lands at a different airport, the airline must transport you to your original destination airport at their own expense – by alternative flight, train, or bus.
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Care services during the waiting period – meals, refreshments, and communication options starting from a 2-hour delay; if an overnight stay is necessary: hotel accommodation and transfers at the airline's expense.
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Reimbursement of consequential costs included – in addition to compensation, Passengers friend also enforces proven additional costs (alternative transport costs, hotel, meals) for you.
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No right to compensation in extraordinary circumstances – e.g., extreme severe weather, security risks, or medical emergencies on board that strictly require a diversion. Technical problems with the aircraft do not count as such. Consequential cost reimbursement remains possible even in extraordinary circumstances.
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Statute of limitations: 3 years – calculated from the end of the calendar year of the flight. Passengers friend checks your case free of charge – No Win, No Fee. Only 25% commission upon success.
COMPENSATION MADE EASY
No stress. No effort. No risk.
Passengers friend handles the entire process – from the initial review to the payout to your account. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
No Win – No Fee
Commission only on success – you take zero financial risk.
Only 25% Commission
More affordable than Flightright and AirHelp – more stays in your pocket.
Additional Cost Reimbursement
Hotel, taxi, meals due to delays – we claim those back for you.
1
Check claim
Submit flight details for free – online in 2 minutes.
2
We take over
Passengers Friend enforces your claim against the airline.
3
Receive payout
Compensation directly to your account – without any further effort.
CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
When am I entitled to compensation in the event of a flight diversion?
Not every diversion automatically leads to a claim for compensation. These requirements must be met:
Delay at destination ≥ 3 hours
The diversion resulted in you reaching your booked destination airport at least 3 hours later than planned.
Flight from EU airport or EU airline
The flight departed from an EU airport or was operated by an EU airline (even for departures outside the EU).
Valid booking present
You had a confirmed booking and arrived at the airport on time.
No extraordinary circumstance
The diversion was not caused by an unavoidable extraordinary circumstance (e.g., extreme weather, security situation).
Why is a flight diverted?
A flight diversion can have many causes – not all of which entitle the airline to refuse compensation:
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Technical issues – technical defect or emergency landing due to aircraft problems → airline responsible, claim exists
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Airport congestion / closure (airline-side) – if the airline did not book an alternative → claim usually exists
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Extreme weather / storm – extraordinary circumstance → compensation generally lapses
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Medical emergency on board – extraordinary circumstance → compensation lapses
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Security threat / airspace closure – extraordinary circumstance → compensation lapses
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Unsure? – Passengers Friend checks for free whether your specific case establishes a claim
COMPENSATION AMOUNTS UNDER EU LAW
How much compensation am I entitled to in the event of a flight diversion?
The amount of compensation depends on the originally booked flight distance – meaning the route between the departure airport and your planned destination airport. The decisive factor is the actual delay at your booked destination.
| Flight distance (originally booked) | Compensation per person * |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | up to €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | up to €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (long-haul) | up to €600 |
* Information in accordance with EU Regulation EC 261/2004. In addition, proven consequential costs (alternative transport costs, hotel, meals) can be reimbursed separately.
from 3 hours
Delay at destination
up to €600
per person
+ Consequential costs
additionally reimbursable
3 years
Statute of limitations (DE)
Check for free how much you are entitled to
In 2 minutes – directly online, no risk
YOUR CLAIMS
These rights do you have in the event of a flight diversion
Regardless of your claim for compensation, a flight diversion entitles you to additional rights that the airline must fulfill immediately:
1. Free onward transport to the destination airport
If your flight lands at an airport other than the one you originally booked, the airline is required to transport you to your original destination airport at its own expense—whether by a replacement flight, train, or bus. This obligation always applies, even if you are not entitled to compensation.
2. Assistance at the Alternate Airport
| Waiting Time | Airline Assistance |
|---|---|
| Immediately | Access to communication (telephone/email) |
| From 2 hours of waiting | Meals and refreshments appropriate to the length of the delay |
| If an overnight stay is required | Hotel accommodation plus transport between the hotel and the airport at the airline’s expense |
| From 5 hours of waiting | Right to a full ticket refund and a return flight to the original departure airport |
* Assistance must be provided regardless of whether you are entitled to compensation and also applies in the event of extraordinary circumstances.
3. Reimbursement of Follow-up Costs
If you incurred additional expenses as a result of the diversion—such as a taxi from the alternate airport, a last-minute hotel booking, or a missed connecting flight—you may claim reimbursement for these consequential costs in addition to your compensation. Passengers Friend will also pursue these claims on your behalf.
Has your airline refused to arrange your onward transportation?
Passengers friend will also pursue these claims on your behalf—No Win, No Fee.
AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY
Extraordinary circumstances – when does the claim no longer apply?
If an extraordinary circumstance applies, the airline is exempt from the obligation to pay compensation. Passengers Friend will check in cases of doubt whether the airline’s claim is legally valid.
| ✓ Airline responsible → claim exists | ✕ Extraordinary circumstance → no claim |
|---|---|
| Technical defect of the aircraft | Extreme weather / storm |
| Airline staff shortage | Medical emergency on board |
| Airport closure due to airline error | Security threat / terror warning |
| Incorrect planning / routing error by the airline | Airspace closure by authorities |
| Strike by the airline's own staff | Natural disasters |
| Financial problems of the airline | Bird strike |
⚠ Caution: Airlines often wrongly claim extraordinary circumstances
Especially in cases of diversions due to technical problems or staff shortages, airlines often reject compensation claims without proper justification. Passengers Friend knows this tactic and consistently enforces your claim – even in court.
YOUR ADVANTAGE
Why Passengers Friend – and not yourself or a lawyer?
Three options – one clear winner. Only Passengers friend combines maximum compensation with minimal effort and the lowest costs.
Passengers Friend charges a 25% commission, making it cheaper than Flightright (~28%) and AirHelp (35%) – and therefore one of Germany’s most affordable provider.
STEP BY STEP
How to proceed in the event of a flight diversion
1
Document
Keep your boarding pass, note or ask for the reason for the diversion, document your arrival time at the alternative airport, and save all receipts for consequential costs.
2
Submit claim
Submit your flight details to Passengers Friend – for free, online, in 2 minutes. We take care of the rest.
3
Receive money
Passengers Friend enforces compensation and consequential costs – by legal action if necessary. Payout directly to your bank account.
You should have these documents ready
- Booking confirmation with original destination airport
- Boarding pass (physical or digital)
- Proof of actual arrival (alternative airport + time)
- Receipts for incurred consequential costs (taxi, hotel, meals)
- Communication with the airline regarding the diversion
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What our customers say
4.4
★★★★★
Based on 191 Google Reviews
Verified on
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
5 weeks ago
★★★★★
"Didn't know I was still entitled to compensation for a diversion. Passengers friend enforced it quickly and without hassle. Highly recommend."
Flight diversion · Spain
2 months ago
★★★★★
"The airline didn't respond to my request. Passengers Friend took over the process and secured €600 after 3 months. Glad I didn't keep pursuing it myself."
Flight diversion · Long-haul
8 weeks ago
★★★★★
"Simple, fair, and successful. I was diverted along with 4 people – Passengers friend got the compensation for all 4 of us. Fair commission, great result."
Flight diversion · 4 peopleFAQ
Everything about flight diversions and compensation
Am I entitled to compensation for every flight diversion?
Not automatically. You are entitled to compensation if you reached your booked destination at least 3 hours late and no extraordinary circumstance applies. The diversion itself does not automatically create a claim – the decisive factor is the resulting delay. Passengers Friend checks your case free of charge.
My flight landed 200 km away from the destination – does the airline have to provide onward transportation?
Yes, absolutely. The airline is obligated to transport you to your originally booked destination at its own expense – by replacement flight, train, or bus. This obligation always applies, regardless of the compensation claim. If the airline refused this or did not cover the costs, Passengers Friend can also enforce these claims on your behalf.
Can I get taxi costs from the alternative airport reimbursed?
Yes. If the airline did not provide organized onward transportation and you travelled to your destination or back to the departure airport at your own expense, these additional costs can be reimbursed. Keep all receipts – Passengers friend will also enforce these claims on your behalf.
What happens if the airline rejects the claim?
We challenge the rejection and, if necessary, take legal action. An additional litigation fee of 10% gross only applies if a lawyer needs to be involved. Even then, with a total fee of 35%, we are still cheaper than all competitors.
My diversion happened 2 years ago – do I still have a claim?
In Germany, the limitation period is 3 years from the end of the calendar year in which the flight took place. A diversion from summer 2022 will therefore only become time-barred on December 31, 2025. It is best to check your claim now.
How much does the Passengers friend service cost?
The assessment is completely free of charge. In the event of success, we charge a 25% commission (incl. VAT) – one of the lowest commission of all German providers. No success means no fee. No financial risk for you.
