TRAVEL PROBLEMS · FLIGHT DELAYS
Flight delayed or cancelled? What you can claim
A quick EU and US checklist: when cash compensation applies, when you're owed a refund instead, and how to claim, either on your own for free or with a claim service.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you use AirHelp through the link on this page, at no extra cost to you. You can always claim directly with the airline yourself for free.
The 30-second answer
Europe (EU261): if you arrive 3 hours or more late, you may be owed €250, €400 or €600 depending on flight distance, unless the airline proves "extraordinary circumstances."
United States: there's no federal rule requiring cash compensation for delays. You are owed a refund if the airline cancels, or significantly delays or changes your flight and you choose not to travel.
Are the EU rules changing? Yes, from October 23, 2027. The reform, Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 (Official Journal, October 2, 2026), keeps compensation for "a delay at arrival exceeding three hours" and the EUR 250, 400 and 600 amounts. Reports of a new 4- or 6-hour threshold are wrong for the final text. Flights before October 23, 2027 stay under Regulation 261/2004. Everything else that changes: EU261 reform 2027 guide. Checked on EUR-Lex October 30, 2026.
Flew within, from or into Europe or the UK and arrived 3+ hours late? AirHelp checks whether your flight qualifies for free; it charges a fee (35%) only if it wins your claim.
Check your flight with AirHelp →
Affiliate link. Prefer to claim yourself for free? The rules, a free claim letter and both claim routes are below. US-only flights get refunds, not delay cash.
Does EU compensation apply to your flight?
According to the EU's official Your Europe guidance, EU passenger rights cover flights:
- within the EU, on any airline;
- departing the EU, on any airline;
- arriving in the EU from outside, only when operated by an EU airline.
The rules also extend to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
| Flight distance | Compensation (arrival 3+ hours late) |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
When airlines don't have to pay: disruptions that "could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken," such as air traffic management decisions, adverse weather or political instability. Most technical failures and airlines' own internal strikes are not treated as extraordinary.
Flying to or from the UK? The UK has its own version of these rules with amounts in pounds: see UK flight delay compensation (UK261).
Ready to claim yourself? Use this free EU261 claim letter template.
US flights: refunds, not delay cash
The US Department of Transportation says you're entitled to a refund if the airline cancels your flight for any reason, or significantly delays or changes it. A significant delay means arriving 3+ hours late on domestic flights or 6+ hours late on international flights. For delays within the airline's control, check the airline's customer service plan for meals, hotel or other amenities.
Flying a US airline? Each airline publishes its own commitments for delays it causes: see American Airlines, United, Delta and Southwest, or compare every airline side by side. Stuck overnight? See who pays for the hotel and meals. Offered a voucher? Read voucher or cash refund. Bag missing? See lost luggage compensation.
Checklist: do this before you leave the airport
- Keep your boarding pass and booking reference, and screenshot the delay notice.
- Note your actual arrival time at the gate. EU compensation depends on arrival delay.
- Ask the airline for the reason for the delay in writing if possible.
- Keep receipts for meals, transport or a hotel you paid for.
- Don't accept a voucher in place of cash if you'd rather have money. Read what you're signing.
Was your flight cancelled rather than delayed? The rules differ, including a 14-day notice rule. See Flight cancelled? Refund, rebooking or compensation.
Two ways to claim
1. Claim directly (free). Use the airline's claim form, cite EU Regulation 261/2004 with your flight details, and escalate to the national enforcement body if the airline doesn't respond.
2. Use a claim service. AirHelp checks eligibility and pursues the airline for you on a no-win-no-fee basis. As listed on AirHelp's fees page on September 28, 2026:
- Service fee: 35% of the compensation, including applicable VAT, charged only if they win.
- Legal action fee: an additional 15% if the case has to go to court.
- AirHelp+ membership (no fees deducted) starts at $22.99 per trip.
Example: a €400 claim paid through AirHelp's standard model would leave you €260 after the 35% fee, or €200 if legal action was also needed. Claiming yourself keeps the full €400 but takes your own time.
Check your flight with AirHelp →Affiliate link. Opens AirHelp's website, where you check eligibility and submit a claim.