Compensation in the event of a flight delay
Check your entitlement to compensation quickly and without obligation.
Payment per person possible
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According to EU regulations, you are entitled to up to €600 per person in compensation, depending on the duration of the flight delay and the distance of the flight. It doesn’t matter whether you have booked a package tour, are traveling individually or on business – air passenger rights apply equally to all passengers.
Don’t miss out on your compensation! Check now quickly and easily whether your flight is eligible for a refund – your air passenger rights make it possible.
Check quickly and easily online how much your compensation will be.
We will check your claim free of charge within a few minutes and take care of the rest.
If the claim is successful, we will transfer your compensation to you!
WE ENFORCE YOUR CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION
- Professional law enforcement - where airlines often block.
- 100% risk-free: You only pay when you get money.
- Quick & easy online check - in under 3 minutes. Without paperwork.
A flight delay can cause a lot of stress and frustration. Seemingly endless waiting times at the airport rob you of valuable vacation hours, or the schedule of your business trip is completely disrupted. There are also often additional costs for meals, rebookings or missed connecting flights. But many people don’t know this: In many cases, you are entitled to financial compensation for the inconvenience caused.
Your benefits with Passengers friend:
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Passengers friend
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Claiming it yourself (without a lawyer)
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Claiming it yourself (with a lawyer)
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Cost risk
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0,- €
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0,- €
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up to 600,- €
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Time required
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less than 3 minutes
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several hours
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several hours
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Stress factor
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100% stress-free
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Paperwork with the airline
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Appointments
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Service
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Experienced legal experts
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depending on the lawyer
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Prospects of successt
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high
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low
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depending on the lawyer
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What role the flight distance plays in the amount of reimbursement
If you have a flight that is delayed, you should first check the distance between the departure and destination airports. If your flight is delayed by at least three hours, you are entitled to compensation. The amount of compensation depends on the flight distance:
- For flights with a distance of up to 1,500 km, the compensation is up to €250 per person..
- For flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, you are entitled to up to €400.
- For flights with a distance of more than 3,500 km, the compensation can even amount to €600.
This regulation serves to ensure that passengers are adequately compensated for the inconvenience of a significant flight delay. The longer the flight and the longer the delay, the more serious the impact on travelers. Therefore, this tiered compensation is designed to provide fair compensation for lost hours and missed connections.
To find out whether your passenger rights apply in the event of a flight delay and whether you are entitled to a refund, you can easily check your flight now. Don’t miss out on your compensation and get back what you’re entitled to!
Claim care services in the event of a flight delay even retroactively
If your flight is delayed by as little as two hours, you are entitled to assistance in accordance with the EU Passenger Rights Regulation. The airline is obliged to provide you with free drinks and food during the waiting time at the airport to alleviate the inconvenience of the delay. In addition, you should have the option of making two phone calls or sending e-mails so that you can inform family, friends or business partners about the delayed flights.
| Delay | Entitlement to care services |
|---|---|
| from 2 hours | Meals and refreshments in reasonable proportion to the waiting time. two phone calls (or email, fax). |
| from 3 hours | Meals and refreshments in reasonable proportion to the waiting time. two telephone calls (or email, fax), according to the EU Passenger Rights Regulation 250 € to 600 € per person. |
| from 4 hours | Meals and refreshments in reasonable proportion to the waiting time. two telephone calls (or email, fax) Hotel accommodation if necessary. |
| from 5 hours | Travelers can cancel their flight. The airline must reimburse the ticket costs. |
Overnight stay and replacement transport in the event of long delays
If your flight is severely delayed and is even postponed to the next day, the airline must pay for the hotel costs and the transfer between the airport and your accommodation. It does not matter whether it is a domestic or long-haul flight – this regulation applies regardless of the flight distance.
The airline is generally obliged to provide the care services itself as benefits in kind. This means that it must primarily provide meals, drinks and accommodation itself. A direct payment for costs incurred due to delayed flights is not initially provided for.
However, if the airline does not meet this obligation to provide care, you have the right to buy your own meals, organize alternative transport or book a hotel room. This can be an alternative flight connection, a train journey or, in an emergency, a cab ride if there are no other options. You can then invoice the airline for the costs incurred. It is important that you keep all receipts and make sure that the costs are in proportion to the flight price.
Particularly in the case of long flight delays lasting several hours, you should find out about your rights at an early stage and check whether the airline is fulfilling its obligations.
No compensation in exceptional circumstances
In some cases, the airline is exempt from the reimbursement obligation. For example, if there is an “extraordinary circumstance”. The Air Passenger Rights Regulation does not provide a uniform definition for this. A medical emergency, for example, can cause delays at any time. In such cases, the airline can invoke an extraordinary circumstance. However, a medical emergency does not exist if a flight is delayed due to the illness of a crew member, as the airline must provide a replacement for such cases. These events must be distinguished from normal delays and operational procedures for the transportation of passengers.
A small consolation: Even if the airline is not at fault, you as a traveler are entitled to care services. You can find out what constitutes extraordinary circumstances in the following table:
| Yes - airline is responsible | No, the airline is not responsible |
|---|---|
| Staff shortage | Storm |
| Technical problems | Air traffic controller strike |
| Airline staff strike | Lightning strike |
| Economic problems of the airline | political crises |
| Non-compliance with staff rest periods | Natural disasters |
| Bird strike | |
| Airport and airspace closures | |
| Border closures | |
| Medical emergencies | |
| Technical failure at the terminal |
Also no reimbursement in the event of third-party strikes
If a flight is delayed or canceled due to a third-party strike, the EU Passenger Rights Regulation exempts the airline from the obligation to pay compensation. This means that passengers in these cases do not receive any direct compensation for the inconvenience. However, the airline must prove that it has taken all possible measures to prevent or mitigate the strike and its impact on flights.
The situation is different if the strike was caused by the airline’s own staff. Such strikes are usually caused by failed collective bargaining and are used as a means of exerting pressure to strengthen the negotiating position of the employees. As the airline is directly responsible for the cancellation or flight delay in this case, it must compensate passengers financially for the inconvenience caused.
If your flight is delayed or even canceled due to such a strike, you may be entitled to a refund.
Frequently asked questions on the subject of flight delay compensation
When am I entitled to compensation in the event of a flight delay?
If your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, you are entitled to compensation from the airline. Depending on the flight distance traveled, this can be up to €600 per person.
What rights do I have in the event of a flight delay?
Your rights have been protected by EU Flight Regulation 261/2014 since 2004. Depending on the flight distance traveled, you are entitled to compensation of up to €600 per person. In the event of a delay of several hours, the airline should provide you with free food and drinks. You are also entitled to 2 free phone calls and e-mails. In the event of an overnight delay, the airline must cover the cost of an overnight stay.
How do I get my compensation in the event of a flight delay?
We know from experience that airlines often ignore customer complaints or simply reject justified claims. With us, you have a competent partner at your side. Simply fill out the form on our website in just a few minutes and our travel law experts will take over your case immediately.
What influence can exceptional circumstances have on my refund?
Exceptional circumstances play a major role in the enforcement of your claim. The existence of extraordinary circumstances exempts the airline from paying compensation. In such cases, you are unfortunately not entitled to a refund.
I have booked a package tour and my flight has been delayed, what should I do?
A trip is called a package tour if at least 2 travel services are booked together – e.g. flight tickets and accommodation in a hotel. You may also be entitled to compensation of up to €600 per person for a package tour.