How to Claim the Maximum Compensation for Flight Delays & Cancellations

Are You Eligible for Flight Compensation?

If you’ve had a flight delayed 3 hours+, flight cancelled less than 14 days before scheduled departure date, missed a connection because of a late arrival, or were denied boarding a direct or connecting European flight within the last 6 years –you may be eligible for the following EU flight delay compensation:

• €600 for a delayed flight exceeding 4 hours and 3,500 km
• €400 for a delayed flight between 1,500 km – 3,500 km
• €250 for a delayed flight up to 1,500 km

Read more about why flights get delayed or cancelled.

Canada has similar regulations that came into effect in two phases throughout 2019, as do other countries. Fill out this quiz to find out if you’re eligible for flight cancellation compensation, late flight compensation, or compensation for missing a flight because it was overbooked.

If you’re in the airport right now and would like to know how and where you can start a flight delay claim online, click here.

All requirements to file a flight delay claim can easily be met, right in the airport, with a smart phone and a free airport WiFi connection.

Keep reading to learn more about the finer points of EU flight delay compensation.

If you’re interested in learning more about Canada’s watered down version of these EU regulations, click here to download a PDF comparison of Canada vs EU Flight Compensation Regulations.

EU Flight Delay Compensation

Regulation 261/2004 establishes common rules within the European Union in relation to flight cancellation compensation and protecting passengers rights if their flight is overbooked, delayed, or cancelled.

Regulation 261/2004 applies to passengers travelling with a European Union (EU) registered airline or any airline taking off or departing from the EU.

And that includes connecting flights, even if your final destination isn’t in the EU.

Flight cancellation compensation, getting bumped off a flight due to overbooking, and missed connections are all valid reasons to seek EU flight delay compensation over and above regular flight delays.

It may also be possible to receive flight delay compensation on a replacement flight (because yes, some people have that much bad luck).

Reasons for Your Flight Delay Claim

Passengers may be eligible to get flight compensation when:

• Flight is delayed more than 3 hours
• Flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure
• Flight is overbooked and passenger is denied boarding as a result
• Flight connection is missed due to landing behind schedule

“Extraordinary Circumstances”

It is common for airlines to cite “extraordinary circumstances” when rebutting a request for delay compensation.

However, rulings have been clarified over the years to indicate that unexpected technical problems or even hidden manufacturer defects don’t necessarily qualify as “extraordinary circumstances” and you’ll need someone well versed in the law to put your airline back on the same page.

I will not suggest that all airlines will conjure up lengthy legalese-filled responses when you claim compensation for a delayed flight in an effort to obfuscate, confuse, or make you feel like a dumb-dumb –but it kind of feels that way.

This little known company has a 98% success rate in court and more than 3 years of experience with flight delay claims. If they succeed in winning your flight delay compensation, you pay a small commission. If you lose, you don’t pay anything.

Ever Claim Compensation for a Delayed Flight?

If you’ve ever claimed compensation for a delayed, bumped, or cancelled flight, what was your experience like?

Your chances of winning flight cancellation compensation claims can be a tall order when you aren’t familiar with the latest legal developments.

Getting money that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise been able to get our hands on has made this one of the more powerful flight hacks in our repertoire. If you want to file a claim, click here.

Want to read our entire collection of flight hacks? Click here.