If your flight is significantly delayed, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation, ranging from on-site assistance to financial compensation, depending on the circumstances. Here’s what you need to know to assert your rights.
Conditions for Compensation
To be eligible for assistance or compensation, your flight delay must be at least:
- 2 hours for flights of 1,500 km or less.
- 3 hours for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km outside the EU.
- 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km outside the EU.
If the delay reaches 5 hours or more, and you choose not to travel, you have the right to request a full refund of your ticket directly from the airline.
Assistance and Support
When the delay meets the required conditions, the airline must provide you with free assistance while you wait for your next flight, including:
- Refreshments and meals
- Two free communications
- Hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel if the departure is postponed to the next day
| Important: If the airline does not provide this assistance, they must reimburse you for any expenses you have incurred. Be sure to keep all receipts to support your claim.
Financial Compensation
In addition to assistance, you may be entitled to compensation if your flight arrives 3 hours or more later than scheduled. The compensation amount is generally:
- £220 / €250 for all flights of 1,500km or less (e.g. Glasgow to Amsterdam);
- £350 / €400 for all flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (e.g. East Midlands to Marrakech);
- £520 / €600 for all other flights (e.g. London to New York).
| Important: You are not eligible for compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (such as a health crisis, extreme weather conditions, or air traffic control strikes). However, if the delay is caused by a strike within the airline itself, you can claim compensation.
How to Submit a Claim
You must submit your claim directly on the airline’s website. Due to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into effect on May 25, 2018, Voyage Privé cannot file the request on your behalf, as the claim process requires confidential personal information.
| Good to know : You can find all this information on ABTA website.