✈ Flight delay · EU law · up to €600
Flight delay?
Secure up to €600 compensation – check now.
Was your flight delayed? Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation per person. Passengers friend checks and enforces your claim – completely risk-free, with no upfront costs.
No upfront payments and 100% risk-free.
⚖️ Experts in EU passenger rights
💶Up to €600 flight compensation
➕ Reimbursement of consequential costs included
✅ No Win - No Fee
⭐ 4,4 on Google
OVERVIEW
Flight delay & compensation – The key facts at a glance
All essential facts regarding your claim for compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 – summarized compactly and clearly.
EASY WAY TO COMPENSATION
No stress. No effort. No risk.
Passengers friend handles the entire process – from the initial review to the payout to your bank account. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
No Win – No Fee
Commission only upon success – you take no financial risk.
Only 25% Commission
More affordable than Flightright and AirHelp – more stays in your pocket.
Reimbursement of Consequential Costs
Hotel, taxi, meals due to waiting time – we claim those back for you.
Check Claim
Submit flight details for free – online in 2 minutes.
We Take Over
Passengers Friend enforces your claim against the airline.
Receive Payout
Compensation directly to your bank account – without any further effort.
COMPENSATION AMOUNTS UNDER EU LAW
How much compensation am I entitled to for a flight delay?
The amount of compensation depends exclusively on the distance between the departure and destination airports – not on the ticket price. For long-haul flights, up to €600 per person is possible.
| Flight Distance | 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 ** |
* Details in accordance with EU Regulation EC 261/2004. In addition, proven consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals) can be reimbursed separately – Passengers Friend enforces these for you as well. ** According to EU air passenger rights, a statutory cap applies to purely domestic flights within the European Union: the compensation amount is a maximum of €400, regardless of whether the flight distance exceeds the 3,500 km mark.
When is the compensation amount considered reduced?
For flights over 3,500 km, the compensation can be reduced to €300 if the actual delay at the destination is less than 4 hours and the airline offered an alternative means of transportation that got you to your destination no more than 2 hours later.
Check how much you are entitled to for free
In 2 minutes – online right away, no risk
CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
When am I entitled to compensation for a flight delay?
For a compensation claim under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, the following requirements must be met:
Flight departs in the EU or lands in the EU with an EU airline
Departure from an EU airport – or arrival in the EU with an EU airline.
Delay at destination of at least 3 hours
The decisive factor is the actual arrival time at the destination – not the scheduled departure time.
No extraordinary circumstances
The delay is not caused by an event that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures.
Within the statute of limitations
In Germany: 3 years from the end of the year in which the flight took place.
Quick Check: Does my flight qualify?
Flight from or to an EU airport?
Delay at destination ≥ 3 hours?
No clear extraordinary circumstances (storm, air traffic control strike, etc.)?
Flight not older than 3 years?
Uncertain if your flight qualifies?
We check for free – in 2 minutes, risk-free
WHEN IS THE CLAIM VOID?
When are airlines exempt from paying compensation due to extraordinary circumstances?
Airlines are exempt from the obligation to pay compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances. Important: In practice, airlines frequently and improperly invoke this exclusion—such as in the case of technical defects, which do not constitute extraordinary circumstances.
| ✓ Airline is responsible → Claim exists | ✕ Extraordinary circumstance → No claim |
|---|---|
| Airline staff shortage | Severe weather / extreme weather conditions |
| Strike by airline's own staff | Air traffic controller strike (external) |
| Technical problems with the aircraft (regular maintenance) | Lightning strike |
| Airline financial problems | Political crises |
| Failure to comply with staff rest periods | Natural disasters |
| Rotation delay of the previous flight | Bird strike |
| Airspace closure / airport shutdown | |
| Medical emergencies on board |
⚡ Note: Passengers Friend reviews every rejection
Airlines reject many legitimate claims by citing extraordinary circumstances—even when they do not legally apply. We know the most common rejection patterns and consistently challenge unjustified decisions, taking legal action if necessary.
SPECIAL CASE
Missing connecting flight due to delay: What to do?
If you missed your connecting flight due to a delay and both flights are on a single booking, the 3-hour rule applies at your final destination—regardless of whether the connecting flight is operated by a different airline.
What to do immediately?
- Contact gate staff right away
- Request meal vouchers
- Collect all receipts and proof
- Request a delay confirmation at the counter
- Document all expenses
What am I entitled to?
- Compensation according to EU 261/2004 (€250–€600)
- Rebooking onto the next available flight
- Food and drinks (after 2 hours of waiting time)
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary
- Reimbursement of consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals)
STEP BY STEP
How to proceed in case of a flight delay
Document
Keep your boarding pass, request a delay confirmation at the counter, take a photo of the flight status board.
Check claim
Free on passengersfriend.com – find out in 2 minutes if and how much you are entitled to.
We handle it
Passengers Friend enforces your claim – no hassle, no risk for you.
What documents do I need?
- ✓ Boarding pass or digital booking confirmation
- ✓ Booking reference / PNR
- ✓ ID card or passport
- + Airline delay confirmation (if available)
- + Receipts for additional expenses (hotel, transfer, meals)
WHY PASSENGERS FRIEND?
No stress. No effort. More money in your account.
Three ways to claim your compensation. Only one makes actual sense.
Enforce yourself
- Time-consuming correspondence with the airline
- Complicated documentation required
- Airlines often reject claims without reason
- Legal action at your own risk and expense
With Passengers Friend
- Only 25% commission – most affordable provider
- No success = no fee
- Legal proceedings possible – no extra charge
- German company, German law
- VAT always included
Hire a lawyer
- High legal fees – even if you lose
- Long processing times
- Mostly not air passenger rights specialists
- A lot of paperwork on your end
Transparent fees – cheaper than any competitor
With a €600 claim: You receive €450, our success fee is €150 (25% gross, incl. VAT).
For comparison: AirHelp charges 35%, Flightright from 28%. In legal cases, our total fee of 35% remains lower than all competitors.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What our customers say
"Didn't have to worry about a single thing. The entire process was handled for me and the full amount was successfully claimed in the end. If I had tried that myself, I would have failed."
Flight delay · Long-haul"Took a little while, but the result was definitely worth it. Fair commission, no stress. Friends and family already know about you – clear recommendation."
Flight cancellation"Simple submission, uncomplicated upload, then they took care of everything. The outcome even exceeded my expectations. Gladly again."
Delay · €600 compensation"Always reachable by phone, friendly, fast. Contact Passengers Friend right away if something is wrong with your flight – the results speak for themselves."
Missed connecting flightFAQ
Everything about flight delay compensation
No hidden costs. Clear answers.
At what point is a flight considered delayed under the EU regulation?
The decisive factor is the actual arrival time at the destination airport. For a compensation payment, the flight must arrive at the destination at least 3 hours late.
What happens if the airline rejects my claim?
We contest the rejection and, if necessary, take legal action. A gross court/litigation fee of 10% only applies if a lawyer has to be involved. Even then, with a total fee of 35%, we are cheaper than most competitors.
My flight was 2 years ago. Do I still have a claim?
In Germany, a limitation period of 3 years applies, calculated from the end of the calendar year in which the flight took place. A flight in March 2023 will therefore only become time-barred on December 31, 2026. It is best to check your claim now.
Do I have to contact the airline myself?
No. As soon as you have submitted your claim to Passengers Friend, we take over all communication with the airline. You don't have to worry about anything.
Do I also get money back if I had additional expenses?
Yes. In addition to the compensation payment (up to €600), proven consequential costs – e.g. for hotels, transfers or missed connections – can be reimbursed separately. Passengers friend also enforces these costs for you.
Does the EU regulation also apply to non-EU airlines?
Yes, if your flight departs from an EU airport – regardless of which airline operates it. If you fly from a non-EU airport, the regulation only applies if the operating airline is based in the EU.
