A flight delay in the EU can entitle you to a fixed compensation payment, regardless of the ticket price. Whether you receive it, and how much, depends on the flight distance, the length of the delay on arrival and the cause. The passenger rights regulation governs these points, which is why it pays to look at the details before you make a claim.
Short answer: According to the summary of the European Parliament, compensation amounts to 250, 400 or 600 euros. What matters is the flight distance and the delay on arrival, from three hours according to the case law of the European Court of Justice. Extraordinary circumstances can exclude the claim. Source status: March 2026. Status of this guide: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- Compensation depends on the flight distance and on the delay when you arrive at the final destination.
- The summary lists delay thresholds of 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on the distance. For compensation in case of delay, the European Court of Justice has recognised a claim from an arrival delay of three hours.
- The amounts are 250, 400 and 600 euros, depending on the distance of the flight.
- For a cancellation, you are entitled to compensation unless you were informed in good time and no extraordinary circumstances apply.
- Direct your claim first to the airline, with evidence and details of the flight and arrival time.
Which distance counts?
The distance determines which amount and which threshold apply. The European Parliament summary distinguishes three bands. What counts is the delay on arrival, not the delay at departure. For this reason you should document the actual arrival time at the destination airport.
| Flight distance | Delay threshold according to the summary | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | from 2 hours | 250 euros |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, or within the EU over 1,500 km | from 3 hours | 400 euros |
| over 3,500 km | from 4 hours | 600 euros |
The table follows the figures in the running text and the footnotes of the summary. The summary itself contains an incomplete table with four distance classes but only three amount levels. To place your flight correctly, check the distance between departure and destination airport with a route calculator, and the regulation text on EUR-Lex. For a delay, the Court of Justice has recognised the compensation claim from three hours; the 2, 3 and 4 hour thresholds in the summary do not replace that limit. On the planned reform of the regulation, the summary (status March 2026) says: Parliament closed its second reading on 21 January 2026, the Council rejected the amendments on 24 March 2026, and conciliation has begun. Check the current status and any new thresholds with the European Parliament; until then the existing regulation applies.
When is there money for a cancellation?
The regulation also provides for compensation in the event of a cancellation. According to the summary, the claim exists unless passengers were informed at least two weeks before the flight or extraordinary circumstances apply. The length of a delay is not decisive for this. If the case is disputed, the competent body or a court has to decide whether a circumstance was extraordinary.
According to the summary, since the Sturgeon judgment (2009) the European Court of Justice has extended the compensation claim to delays of three hours or more and has thus placed such passengers on the same footing as cancellations. This case law may matter to you if a flight arrives very late and was not cancelled.
What counts as an extraordinary circumstance?
The regulation recognises extraordinary circumstances as an exception to the duty to pay compensation. Whether a specific case falls under it depends on the facts and on case law, not solely on the reason the airline gives. A written explanation helps you check the information the airline provides. According to a footnote in the summary, extraordinary circumstances are, under the case law of the Court of Justice, limited to force majeure.
Technical faults and staffing questions are often debated in practice. Because the assessment depends on the individual case, collect evidence before you expect a decision, and keep any explanation the airline gives you.
Why the arrival time matters so much
Many claims fail not because of the law but because of missing evidence. The compensation threshold refers to arrival at the final destination. If you had a connecting flight, the arrival of the last flight on your booking counts, not that of the first. This is especially relevant for connections that run on a single booking.
Note both the scheduled and the actual arrival time in local time. A screenshot of the airline flight status display or of a flight portal helps, because the figures can change later.
How to file the claim correctly
A claim begins with the documents. Collect your boarding pass, the booking confirmation, the actual arrival time and all messages from the airline. If the airline disputes the delay or cancellation, you need these records for a complaint or a conciliation procedure.
- Note the flight number, date and departure and arrival times, and save the flight status display as a screenshot.
- Submit the claim to the airline in writing and attach the evidence.
- Wait for a reasonable response period. If no answer comes or the claim is rejected, a conciliation body may be an option.
- For high amounts or complex questions, consult a consumer advice centre.
What to keep in mind before you claim
- Keep receipts for meals or accommodation if you paid for them yourself. Which services an airline must offer during long delays is set out in the regulation.
- Ask for the reason for the delay or cancellation in writing before you agree to any rebooking.
- Watch the deadlines. In Germany, compensation claims under the regulation fall under the regular three-year limitation period (Section 195 BGB); conciliation and filing deadlines can differ.
- Check whether your travel insurance covers the costs. Its conditions are independent of the regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get money if I miss a connecting flight?
That depends on where the delay arose and how you booked. What counts is the arrival time at the final destination, not only the delay of the first flight. Read the booking conditions and check the arrival time of the last flight.
What if the airline blames the delay on a strike?
Do not rely too quickly on the airline explanation. Ask for a written reason, keep it and compare it with the information published by the airport. Whether the explanation is sufficient to exclude a claim is decided in a dispute by the competent body.
Which documents should I bring to a conciliation?
Bring everything that proves the flight and the arrival time: boarding passes, the booking, correspondence and screenshots of the displays. The more complete the documents, the easier the review.
Do I get money if I voluntarily rebook onto a later flight?
Clarify this before you rebook. The Parliament summary does not cover this case in detail. Ask the airline in writing whether the rebooking affects your claim.
Does my claim expire?
The Parliament summary contains no information on this. According to the Federal Court of Justice judgment of 4 June 2024 (X ZR 62/23), claims under the Air Passenger Rights Regulation fall under the regular three-year limitation period of Section 195 BGB, as beck-aktuell reported on 4 July 2024. For flights with a link to other countries or for conciliation procedures, other deadlines may apply. Check the deadline with the competent body before you wait, and file your claim promptly.
Do I have to write to the airline directly?
Yes, the claim is usually addressed first to the airline. If no answer comes or the claim is rejected, a conciliation body or a court may be an option. Setting a deadline in your letter creates clarity for both sides. Note the date on which you sent it so you can later prove when you contacted the airline.
What belongs in the letter?
State the flight number, date, booking reference, route, the actual arrival time and the amount you claim. Attach copies of the evidence and keep the originals. A short, factual account is usually more effective than a long complaint.
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Sources: European Parliament, summary on air and rail passenger rights, No. 03/2026 (status March 2026) (in German). Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, regulation text on EUR-Lex (in German), the legal framework that the summary condenses. beck-aktuell: Federal Court of Justice, judgment of 4 June 2024, X ZR 62/23 on limitation (secondary source, report of 4 July 2024, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
