Flight Delay Compensation Guide

Delayed, cancelled, or bumped? You may be owed money. Here's everything you need to know.

💰 Quick summary

EU flights: up to €600 per passenger for delays over 3 hours. US flights: up to $1,550 for involuntary denied boarding. Cancellations: always entitled to a full refund.

Am I Eligible?

✓

Flight arrived 3+ hours late (EU routes)

Compensation of €250-€600 depending on distance

✓

Flight cancelled with less than 14 days notice

Same compensation as delays, plus full refund

✓

Involuntarily denied boarding (bumped)

US: up to $1,550 cash. EU: up to €600 plus expenses

✗

Extraordinary circumstances

No compensation for severe weather, strikes, or security threats

EU261 Compensation Amounts

Flight Distance	Compensation	Example
Under 1,500 km	€250	London → Amsterdam
1,500 — 3,500 km	€400	London → Istanbul
Over 3,500 km	€600	New York → London

ℹ️ Who qualifies for EU261?

Any passenger on a flight departing from an EU airport (any airline), or arriving at an EU airport on an EU-registered carrier. This includes connections — if your first leg departs from the EU, you're covered.

US Domestic Rules

The US has no federal law requiring cash compensation for flight delays. However, since 2024:

Automatic refunds — airlines must refund cancelled flights and significant delays without you asking
Fee refunds — if you paid for Wi-Fi, seat selection, or bags and didn't get them, automatic refund
Tarmac delays — airlines must let you off the plane after 3 hours (domestic) or 4 hours (international)

Denied Boarding (Bumping) Compensation

Delay at destination	Domestic	International
0-1 hour	No compensation required	No compensation required
1-2 hours	200% fare (max $775)	200% fare (max $775)
2-4 hours	400% fare (max $1,550)	200% fare (max $775)
4+ hours	400% fare (max $1,550)	400% fare (max $1,550)

Claim by Airline

Select your airline for a specific compensation guide with their on-time stats and claim process.

Southwest Airlines(WN)

79.2%C

Delta Air Lines(DL)

84.2%B

American Airlines(AA)

Frontier Airlines(F9)

Hawaiian Airlines(HA)

83.9%B

Horizon Air(QX)

84.6%B

Check Your Compensation

Not sure if you qualify? Use our calculator to find out in under 3 minutes.

Compensation Calculator →

Information is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Compensation rules may change. Airline data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (2019-2025).