Who gets paid for a delayed flight

Whether you get paid depends on where your flight departed, how long the delay was, and why it happened. The rules are different in the United States, Europe, Canada, and other regions — and they change based on the airline's reason for the delay.

In the European Union, passengers on flights departing from EU airports are covered by Regulation 261/2004. This means you may receive between €250 and €600 per person if your flight was delayed more than three hours at arrival, regardless of the ticket price. The payout applies even if you bought a budget ticket for €30.

In the United States, there is no federal law that requires airlines to pay you for delays. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to get you to your destination or refund your ticket, but compensation for your time, missed connections, or hotel stays is not mandatory. Some airlines offer it voluntarily; most do not.

In Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency requires airlines to pay compensation for delays of three hours or more caused by something within the airline's control. The amount ranges from CAD $125 to CAD $2,400 depending on flight distance.

Key Takeaways

  • European Union passengers can claim €250 to €600 per person for delays over three hours, but only if the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or air traffic control strikes.
  • United States passengers have no legal right to compensation for delays, though airlines may offer hotel vouchers, meal credits, or rebooking at their discretion.
  • Canadian passengers can claim CAD $125 to CAD $2,400 for delays over three hours caused by factors the airline controls, such as mechanical problems or crew scheduling.
  • Compensation claims must usually be filed within two to six years depending on your country, and you will need your booking confirmation and proof of the delay.
  • Airlines can refuse to pay if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances — bad weather, security threats, air traffic control decisions, or medical emergencies — even in regions with strong passenger protections.

European Union compensation rules

If your flight departed from any airport in the EU, or arrived at an EU airport on an EU airline, you are covered by Regulation 261/2004. The compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km.

You must have been delayed at least three hours from your scheduled arrival time. The delay must not have been caused by extraordinary circumstances — this is the key exception. Extraordinary circumstances include severe weather, security risks, air traffic control strikes, bird strikes, and medical emergencies. If the airline can prove the delay fell into one of these categories, they do not have to pay.

You can file a claim directly with the airline, or use a claims management company that will file on your behalf in exchange for a percentage of the payout (usually 25 to 40 percent). The airline has two months to respond. If they refuse, you can escalate to your national enforcement body — in the UK this is the Civil Aviation Authority, in Germany the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, and so on.

United States: what airlines must do, but do not have to pay

The Department of Transportation requires US airlines to either get you to your destination or refund your ticket if a delay becomes long enough that you decide not to travel. However, the airline does not have to pay you money for your time, missed connections, hotel stays, or meals.

What airlines must do: rebook you on the next available flight at no extra cost, provide accurate information about the delay, and allow you to speak to a representative. If your flight is cancelled and you choose not to rebook, the airline must refund your ticket within seven business days.

What airlines do not have to do: pay for a hotel, meals, phone calls, or transportation to the hotel unless the delay was caused by something the airline could have prevented. Some airlines offer these things voluntarily as a gesture of goodwill, but there is no law requiring it. Budget airlines in particular rarely offer anything beyond rebooking.

If you believe an airline violated Department of Transportation rules — for example, by refusing to refund a cancelled flight — you can file a complaint with the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division online or by mail. The DOT investigates and can fine airlines, but does not award money directly to passengers.

Canadian compensation for airline delays

The Canadian Transportation Agency requires airlines to pay compensation for delays of three hours or more at your final destination. The amount depends on the length of the flight: CAD $125 for flights up to 1,500 km, CAD $250 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and CAD $500 for flights over 3,500 km. For flights over 6,000 km, the compensation is CAD $2,400.

The delay must have been within the airline's control. This includes mechanical problems, crew scheduling issues, fuel problems, and maintenance. It does not include weather, air traffic control decisions, security threats, or other extraordinary circumstances.

You can file a claim with the airline first. If the airline refuses or does not respond within 30 days, you can file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency. The agency will investigate and can order the airline to pay. There is no time limit to file with the CTA, but it is best to file within two years of the delay.

What counts as an extraordinary circumstance

Airlines across all regions use the extraordinary circumstances defence to avoid paying compensation. Understanding what qualifies helps you know whether you have a real claim.

Weather is the most common extraordinary circumstance. Severe thunderstorms, heavy snow, fog, and high winds that make it unsafe to fly are not the airline's fault. However, if the airline had advance warning and chose not to cancel or reschedule, some regulators argue the airline should have acted sooner. This is a grey area and often leads to disputes.

Air traffic control decisions are extraordinary. If air traffic control orders a ground stop or delays your flight due to congestion, the airline cannot be held responsible. The same applies to runway closures, airport emergencies, or security incidents at the airport.

Medical emergencies on board, security threats, and bird strikes are all extraordinary. So are strikes by air traffic controllers or airport staff — though strikes by the airline's own employees are not.

Mechanical problems are not extraordinary in most cases. If an engine fails, a door malfunctions, or a system breaks, the airline is responsible for maintaining its aircraft. However, if a part fails without warning and there was no way to detect it beforehand, some airlines argue this qualifies as extraordinary. This is contested and varies by regulator.

How to file a compensation claim

Start by gathering your documents: your booking confirmation, your boarding pass, and proof of the delay. If the airline did not provide a written delay notice, take a screenshot of your flight status from the airline's website or a flight tracking app showing the delay time.

Contact the airline directly first. Most airlines have a compensation claims form on their website. Fill it out with your flight number, date, booking reference, and the delay duration. Include a copy of your booking confirmation and boarding pass. Send it by email so you have a record of submission.

The airline will respond within the timeframe set by your region's rules — usually two months in the EU, 30 days in Canada. If they refuse, they must explain why. If they claim extraordinary circumstances, ask them to provide evidence: weather reports, air traffic control statements, or maintenance records.

If the airline does not respond or refuses to pay and you believe they are wrong, escalate to your national regulator. In the EU, contact your national enforcement body. In Canada, file with the Canadian Transportation Agency. In the US, file a complaint with the Department of Transportation, though note that the DOT cannot award compensation — only investigate whether the airline violated its obligations.

You can also use a claims management company, which will file on your behalf. They typically take 25 to 40 percent of the payout. This is useful if you do not want to handle the paperwork yourself, but it reduces what you receive.

Time limits for filing a claim

In the European Union, you have six years from the date of the delayed flight to file a claim, though some countries have shorter limits. It is best to file within two years to avoid disputes about whether the airline still has records.

In Canada, there is no formal time limit set by the Canadian Transportation Agency, but airlines typically keep records for two years. Filing within this window is safest.

In the United States, there is no compensation claim to file because there is no legal right to compensation. If you want to pursue the airline for damages — for example, if you missed a connection and had to buy a new ticket — you would need to sue in small claims court or hire a lawyer. The time limit for this is typically two to three years depending on your state, but the burden of proof is on you to show the airline was negligent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim compensation if I was rebooked on a later flight?

Yes, if the rebooked flight arrived more than three hours late (in the EU or Canada), you can still claim. The delay is measured from your original scheduled arrival time to when you actually arrived, not from when you were rebooked. If the airline got you there within three hours of the original time, you have no claim.

What if the airline says the delay was weather and I think they are lying?

Ask the airline to provide evidence: official weather reports, air traffic control statements, or airport closure notices. If they refuse or the evidence does not support their claim, file a complaint with your regulator. The regulator can request the airline's records and investigate. Weather claims are common and regulators are experienced at spotting false ones.

Do I get compensation if I missed a connection because of the delay?

If your connection was on the same booking (one ticket), the airline is responsible for getting you to your final destination. If you arrived more than three hours late at your final destination, you can claim compensation in the EU or Canada. If your connection was a separate ticket, the first airline is only responsible for getting you to the connection airport on time — what happens next is not their problem.

Can the airline refuse to pay because I bought a cheap ticket?

No. In the EU and Canada, compensation is based on flight distance, not ticket price. You get the same payout whether you paid €30 or €300. In the US, there is no compensation regardless of ticket price.

What if I was flying as a standby passenger or with a voucher?

In the EU, standby passengers and those flying on vouchers are covered by Regulation 261/2004 as long as they were confirmed on the flight. In Canada, the same applies. In the US, there is no compensation either way. Check your ticket to see if you were confirmed or standby.