European flight delayed? You might have more passenger rights than you realize. Here’s what you’re owed, what airlines must provide, and how to claim compensation the easy, stress-free way.

Three passengers sit at an airport under a sign showing delayed flights, with a plane outside the window

Air travel and delays go together like wine and cheese — except only one of those pairings is pleasant. Fortunately, the EU has some of the strongest flight-delay protections in the world. Whether you’re flying to, from or through an EU airport, you may be entitled to food, hotels, refunds or even cold hard compensation.

This guide breaks down exactly what your rights are, why they matter, and how to use them when you’re stuck on the wrong side of a departure board.

“Flight delays can derail vacations, business trips and the sacred duty of restocking French pharmacy skincare.

Luckily, EU air passenger rights are some of the strongest in the world.”

A man with tattoos on his arms and a beard flirts with the woman at the check-in counter at an airport, making her blush

Who Is Covered Under EU Passenger Rights?

Not every traveler falls under EU rules, so a quick check is in order. You’re covered if:

Your flight departs from a country in the EU or EEA (European Economic Area, essentially EU + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), regardless of the airline
You’re flying into the EU or EEA and your airline is based in the EU/EEA
You have a valid ticket and checked in on time (no fashionably late arrivals here)

If your itinerary ticks these boxes, congratulations — you’ve unlocked a handy bundle of passenger protections.

A couple are tired, holding their ears at a Mexican restaurant as a mariachi band plays behind them

When a Delay Triggers Your Rights

Not all delays are created equal, but your rights start kicking in long before compensation enters the chat. As the clock ticks, so do your entitlements:

Meals, drinks and communication support
Hotel stays if the delay drags into the night
Refunds or rebooking after the five-hour mark
Compensation if the airline is actually at fault

The longer the delay, the more the EU insists airlines take care of you — as they should.

A couple walks into a hotel room, exhausted, with their roller suitcases

Assistance You Should Receive During a Delay

EU rules break it down by flight distance:

Short flights: after about 2 hours
Medium distance: after about 3 hours
Long haul: after about 4 hours

Once those thresholds hit, the airline owes you “reasonable” food and drinks (interpretations of reasonable may vary), plus access to calls or emails so you can rearrange plans.

If the delay goes full Cinderella and hits midnight, the airline must provide a hotel and transport between the airport and your lodging — even if the delay wasn’t their fault.

An exhausted, unshaven man sits on an airplane, looking over at a young girl in a ponytail, chatting away and holding up her doll

When a Long Delay Entitles You to a Refund

If your flight is delayed five hours or more, you’re no longer obligated to keep the relationship alive. You can walk away — kindly, firmly — and request a full refund for the unused portion of your ticket.

If your delay makes a connecting trip pointless, you can also ask to be flown back to your original airport.

FIND OUT: Is travel insurance worth it?

Compensation for Delays That Are the Airline’s Responsibility

This is where things get interesting. You may qualify for compensation if:

You arrive 3+ hours later than planned
The delay was the airline’s fault, not extraordinary circumstances
Your journey falls under EU coverage rules

Compensation ranges from €250 to €600, depending on flight distance. Airlines can reduce the amount by half if they get you to your destination only slightly later than planned — but only if you accept the reroute.

This compensation is in addition to meals, hotels and refunds. Yes, you can get both.

A volcano erupts lava during a thunderstorm by an airplane on the tarmac with a couple of suitcases nearby

What Counts as Extraordinary Circumstances

Some delays really are out of an airline’s hands. These don’t qualify for compensation, but your care rights still stand. Extraordinary circumstances may include:

Intense, unsafe weather
Airport or airspace closures
Air traffic control restrictions
Political instability impacting safety

Even here, airlines must keep you fed, hydrated, and sheltered until things clear.

A determined, white-haired old lady rushes through the airport to make a connection, the cat in the carrier she holds upset

What Happens If You Miss a Connection

Missing a connection is peak travel misery. But if both flights are on the same booking and you reach your final destination 3+ hours late, you may be owed compensation.

It doesn’t matter if your second flight is outside the EU — if your journey started within the EU, your rights follow you all the way home (or all the way to Lisbon, Paris, or the Croatian island you still can’t pronounce).

Everyone sitting in the waiting area of an airport gate are on their phones, annoyed, and a sign above their heads shows their plane is delayed, and there's also a sad cat

What Airlines Must Tell You During a Delay

Airlines have to inform you of your rights, both via posted notices and written guidance when a delay activates your entitlements.

Spoiler: They’re not always great at this.

Even if they never mention your rights, your protections still apply — which is why it’s crucial to save everything: boarding passes, confirmations, receipts, and the timestamped existential texts you sent from the gate.

MORE MISHAPS: What to do if you lose your wallet abroad

Why You Should Document Everything

If you later decide to submit a claim, documentation is your best friend. Note:

Exact arrival time (doors open = the official moment)
Any expenses you paid out of pocket
What airline staff told you

Think of it as assembling a tidy little evidence folder — future-you will be grateful.

A gay couple sits, exhausted, in Mykonos, Greece, one with a neck pillow and holding a gyro, the other with a tropical drink next to a cat, as a seagull stands on their luggage

Claiming Compensation Through a Service

Airlines sometimes resist. They may delay, deny or make the claim process feel like emotional CrossFit.

That’s why many travelers use professional claim services. These companies take on the paperwork, the followups and the arguments — and only charge a fee if they win.

Passengers can claim compensation for a delayed flight through services like AirHelp, which aid travelers in understanding their rights and navigating the process without stress, jargon or chase-the-airline energy.

A woman at the assistance desk of an airport hands out food vouchers and bottles of water to passengers who have had delayed flights

Final Advice for Travelers

Flight delays can derail vacations, business trips and the sacred duty of restocking French pharmacy skincare. Luckily, EU air passenger rights are some of the strongest in the world.

If a delay hits, remember:

Your right to meals and care kicks in early
Refunds and rebooking appear at five hours
Compensation might be waiting if the airline is responsible

Stay calm, keep your documents and always double-check what you’re owed. And if you’d rather skip the bureaucracy entirely, a claim service can help make sure you receive every euro you deserve.

With the right knowledge, even a delay can’t stop you from traveling smarter — and maybe even arriving with a story worth telling. –Anya Thorne