Flight delay compensation under EU 261

The three-hour rule, the distance bands and what blocks a claim.

TRY FREEFreeFree eligibility check, no win no fee

Free check, you pay only if you win
Up to €600 per claim under EU 261
Claims go back 2 to 6 years

What counts is when you reach the final destination, not when the plane left the gate. Arrive 3 hours or more late and EU 261 entitles you to €250 for up to 1,500 km, €400 for EU flights beyond that and for 1,500 to 3,500 km, or €600 past 3,500 km.

Compensair's table adds a detail for the longest routes: a flight over 3,500 km that lands between 3 and 4 hours late pays €300, and beyond 4 hours it pays €600. If the airline offered re-routing and you still arrived 2, 3 or 4 hours late, the amount may be cut by 50%.

Airlines point to extraordinary circumstances to refuse: air traffic management decisions, political instability, bad weather, security risks or strikes outside the airline. Compensair's advice is to double-check weather claims, since other flights leaving at the same time are a sign the excuse may not hold.

Separately from money, a delay of 2 hours or more can bring meals, refreshments and two calls or emails on the airline, and a hotel if you are moved to the next day. Keep receipts, then run the free check and let Compensair do the paperwork if the case looks good.

Deals you can use now

Deal	Code	Conditions
FreeFree eligibility check, no win no fee	—	Filing costs nothing. If a claim pays out, the service fee is 35% of the compensation, and a further 10% legal fee can apply when extra legal costs arise.

See Compensair in detailFlight compensation, up to €600 eachUp to €600 per passenger · Two minutes to file · Delay payouts by distance · Cancellations and the 14-day line

FAQ

Does a departure delay count?

Compensation is measured at the final destination. A departure delay of 5 hours or more gives a refund and a return flight, but money is tied to the arrival delay.

Which flights does EU 261 cover?

Flights within the EU, flights leaving the EU on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

How far back can I claim a delay?

Usually 3 to 6 years after the flight, depending on the airline.