Flight delay
Compensation may be available when arrival is delayed by at least three hours. Arrival at the final destination on the booking is generally decisive.
Know your rights. Assess your claim correctly.
European passenger rights when flights go wrong
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protects passengers in certain cases of long delay, cancellation, denied boarding and missed connections. Route, operating airline, final destination and cause are decisive.
Four central situations
Four key situations
Not every disruption automatically leads to compensation. The following categories show which facts are needed for a legal assessment.
Flight cancellation
Entitlement depends in part on when you were informed and what alternative transport was offered. Refund and compensation are separate rights.
Denied boarding and overbooking
Passengers who report on time with a valid booking and are involuntarily denied boarding may be entitled to compensation, care and alternative transport.
Missed connecting flight
With a single booking, delay at the final destination is often assessed. Separate tickets, self arranged transfers and third land routes require a different analysis.
Official sources and content review
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
- Your Europe: air passenger rights
- Council of the European Union: passenger rights reform
Legal status 15 July 2026: current claim assessment remains based on Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 presently applicable and the case law. The Council of the EU gave final approval to the reform on 13 July 2026. The new act has not yet been published in the Official Journal and is not yet applicable. According to the Council, the updated rules enter into force 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
TOPICS AND DISRUPTIONS
Passenger rights by type of flight disruption
Choose the specific disruption. Each page explains eligibility, exceptions, evidence and the next useful step.
Flight delay
Arrival delay, the three hour threshold, distance and €250, €400 or €600.
Cancelled flight
Notice period, rerouting, ticket refund and possible compensation.
Denied boarding and overbooking
Rights after involuntary refusal to board despite arriving on time.
Missed connecting flight
Single booking, delay at final destination, rebooking and separate tickets.
Extraordinary circumstances
Weather, air traffic control, external events and the duty to take reasonable measures.
Flight ticket refund
Refund, rerouting, vouchers and the distinction from fixed compensation.
Strike
Pilots, cabin crew, airport or air traffic control and the actual sphere of control.
Weather related disruption
Storm, snow, fog and evidence of the actual operational impact.
Technical problem
Ordinary technical faults, maintenance, replacement aircraft and exceptional cases.
Baggage problems
Delayed, lost or damaged baggage, reporting, deadlines and evidence.
Time limits and limitation
Why the available claim period can depend on applicable national law.
Specific flight
Check claimCheck your specific flight
Route, delay, cause and evidence together determine which rights may apply.