How Many Hours Do I Need To Be Delayed To Claim Flight Compensation?

How Many Hours Does A Flight Have To Be Delayed To Qualify For Compensation?

Under EU261, you are eligible to claim compensation if your flight is delayed by three hours or more, and the delay is the airline’s responsibility and not an extraordinary circumstance.

Compensation for flight delays is to make up for the inconvenience of your delay. Flights that arrive more than 3 hours later than their scheduled arrival time are eligible for compensation.

The legal definition of arrival time is when the first aircraft door has been opened. Airlines often incorrectly cite the arrival time as when the plane lands on the runway.

When Can I Claim Compensation For A Flight Delay?

Compensation for flight delays is awarded based on how many hours later you arrived at your final destination than your originally scheduled arrival time, not how late you took off.

For Example:

You could claim compensation if your flight departed 4 hours late and arrived 3 hours and 45 minutes late. In this instance, compensation would be due as you arrived three hours later than originally scheduled.

However, you would not be eligible to claim compensation if your flight departed 4 hours later than scheduled, but only arrived 2 hours and 45 minutes late.

In this case, you would not be eligible for compensation as you arrived less than three hours later than you were originally scheduled.

However, it is not always straightforward, as depending on whether you were delayed, your flight was cancelled, or if you were diverted or you missed a connecting flight, your rights to claim compensation and the amount you may be due may change.

The simplest way to see if you can claim compensation for your flight delay is to add your flight number and the date you flew to our flight delay compensation calculator.

We’ll instantly check your flight and let you know how much you may be eligible to claim.

How Long Does A Flight Have To Be Delayed To Claim Compensation?

You may be entitled to compensation if your flight arrives more than three hours late and the delay was the airline’s fault. This includes delays caused by issues such as technical faults or crew shortages, but not extraordinary circumstances like bad weather or air traffic control strikes.

Below, we explain your rights to claim compensation for flight delays under EU261 or UK261 for each hour that you may be delayed.

Can I Claim Compensation For A 1 Hour Flight Delay?

No, you would not be able to claim compensation if you were delayed by 1 hour. The minimum length of time needed before you would be eligible to claim is 3 hours.

Can I Claim Compensation For A 2 Hour Flight Delay?

Compensation under EU Reg 261 does not cover delays of 2 hours or less, so you would not be entitled to claim compensation.

However, depending on the length of your journey, the airline is responsible for providing care and assistance during your delay.

Can I Claim Compensation For A 3 Hour Flight Delay?

Yes, if you arrived at your destination 3 hours later than originally scheduled, and the airline was responsible, you would be eligible to claim compensation.

You can claim £220 for short-haul flights up to 1500 km and £350 for flights between 1500 km and 3500 km. You can claim £260 for long-haul flights over 3500 km with a delay between 3 and 4 hours.

Can I Claim Compensation For A Flight Delayed By 4 Hours?

Yes, you can claim compensation for a 4 hour delay as long as cause of the delay was not an extraordinary circumstance. If your flight was more than 3500 km, you can receive compensation of £520 for a flight delay of 4 hours or more.

Can I Claim Compensation For A 5 Hour Flight Delay?

If your flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, you can claim compensation or consider if you’d like a full refund. Your rights under EU261 expand as the regulation classifies flight delays of 5 hours or more as the same as a flight cancellation. In this instance, you have the right to get a full refund on the price of your airline ticket.

Can I Claim Compensation If My Flight Is Delayed By 6 Hours Or More?

For extended flight delays such as 6 hours or more, your rights under EU261 cover you to claim compensation and be entitled to a flight refund.

The same rules would apply for delays over 6 hours, including delays longer than 6 hours, including if they were over 24 hours.

How Much Compensation Could I Claim For A Delayed Flight?

The amount of compensation you may be able to claim for a flight delay will not only depend on the length of your delay, but also on the distance of your flight.

You can claim for each passenger individually and the compensation amounts are fixed and are not related to the ticket cost, the class of the fare you booked or whether you used air miles.

Compensation is paid to make up for the passengers for the loss of time and inconvenience. Our table below shows how much compensation you may be able to claim.

What Flights Are Eligible For Compensation Under EU261?

Under EU261 or UK261, you will be able to claim compensation for the following flights:

• Any flight leaving a UK or EU airport
• Any flight operated by a UK or EU airline arriving at a UK or EU airport.

For flights arriving at a UK or EU airport, your rights will depend on the airline you are travelling with.

For example, a flight from Orlando to Gatwick on British Airways would be covered under EU261 as BA, a UK-based airline, operates the flight.

However, the same flight from Orlando to Gatwick but on American Airlines would not be covered, as American Airlines is not an EU or UK-based airline.

What Are My Rights At The Airport When My Flight Is Delayed?

Article 9 of EU Reg 261 states that airlines must provide passengers with a level of “care and assistance” if their flight is delayed beyond a certain number of hours.

Airline passengers are eligible for “care and assistance” if their flight is delayed at least 2 hours (for flights under 1,500 km), delayed at least 3 hours (for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km), or at least 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km.

Regardless of the reason for the delay, the airline must provide passengers with:

• To keep you informed about the status of your flight
• Food and drink in reasonable relation to waiting time
• Free hotel accommodation when a stay of one night or more is necessary
• Free transport between the airport and the hotel
• Two free telephone calls, emails, telex or fax messages
• The airline should cover all these costs during the delay as part of their ‘care and assistance’ obligations.

However, we see cases where passengers have had to use their money to buy food and drink or get taxis to and from the airports.

Airline passenger rights for care and assistance applies to all flight delays and cancellations, even if caused by what the regulation calls an ‘extraordinary circumstance’.

What Is The Time Limit For Claiming Flight Compensation?

In the UK, you can claim for eligible flights that departed in the last six years. In Scotland, you have five years from the departure date to start your claim.

Bott and Co. proved this time limit at the Supreme Court in 2014, representing passenger James Dawson vs. Thomson. Following several appeals, Judges agreed with Bott and Co. that consumers have six years rather than two to bring a flight claim, as Thomson argued.