What is the minimum flight delay for compensation in the EU?

Compensation - delay at arrival If you miss a connecting flight travelling within the EU or outside the EU on a flight originating from an EU country, you should be entitled to compensation, if you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than 3 hours.



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If your flight is delayed for two hours or more at departure, the airline must offer you care (meals and refreshments and, if necessary accommodation). If this delay means that, you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than 3 hours you may also be entitled to financial compensation.

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Flight Delay Compensation All flights that are less than 1,500 km (932 miles): 250 euros ($269) per passenger, if you're delayed by at least two hours. Internal EU flights over 1,500 km: 400 euros ($430) per person, if you're delayed by at least three hours.

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According to the DOT, airlines are not required to provide money or other compensation when flights get delayed, regardless of how late they are. However, when a “significant delay” takes place, passengers may receive refunds for seat selection fees or checked baggage fees.

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If there is a flight delay of 2 hours, the airline staff will usually provide you with vouchers that can be redeemed at local airport restaurants and snack bars.

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There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers. If your flight is experiencing a long delay, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.

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Any flight departing from an EU airport is covered. That means if you're flying back home on American, Delta, or United, the EU261 compensation rules will apply just the same as they would if you were flying an EU-based airline like Iberia, Lufthansa, or Air France.

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- Your flight needs to be delayed by at least 5 hours at departure to be eligible for a flight delay refund. - Your flight must be delayed by at least 3 hours at arrival to be eligible for flight delay compensation.

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How to File Your Flight Compensation EU Claim
  1. Keep your important travel documents, e.g. your boarding pass.
  2. Find out why the flight was delayed.
  3. Hold onto proof of the delay.
  4. Make a record of when you arrived at your final destination.
  5. Don't sign anything or accept any offers that may waive your rights.


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According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), there are tarmac delay rules that US airlines must follow: Carriers are not allowed to hold a domestic flight on the tarmac for more than three hours and an international flight for more than four hours, barring a couple of exceptions (like if the pilot deems it's ...

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Under EU261 rules, you may be entitled to up to 600 euros (~$630) in compensation if you arrive at your destination four hours late (or more) when flying long-haul, with lower payouts on shorter flights within Europe.

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Passengers who have experienced a disruption to their flight can claim EC 261 compensation from the airline of the specific flight. To be eligible, the flight must have departed from the EU with any airline or landed in the EU while being operated by a European airline.

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When flying from the U.S. to Europe, only flights operated by an EU-based airline will be eligible for EU261 flight delay compensation. This means if the operating airline is Aer Lingus, Air France, Iberia, Icelandair, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS, Swiss, TAP, or another EU-based carrier, the EU261 rule will apply.

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For the most part, it's up to individual airlines to decide how to compensate their passengers after a delay. “There's no specific policy on compensations, said Shaiy Howard, president and CEO of Travel by Shaiy, a travel agency based in South Florida. Just keep in mind that all airlines vary.

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Unfortunately, simply waiting more than 2 hours delay for a flight doesn't automatically qualify you for delayed compensation benefits. Airlines may also offer food and hotel vouchers to stranded passengers, so be sure to ask if you are delayed.

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For the most part, it's up to individual airlines to decide how to compensate their passengers after a delay. “There's no specific policy on compensations, said Shaiy Howard, president and CEO of Travel by Shaiy, a travel agency based in South Florida. Just keep in mind that all airlines vary.

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However, if your first flight is delayed for more than 3 hours, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline that caused the delay. In addition to compensation, the airline must offer you a choice between: Reimbursement of your ticket and a return flight to your departure airport if you have a connecting flight.

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