hourslate, home
Menu

Flight delayed 3 hours: what compensation you are owed

Three hours is the line. Under EU261, UK261 and the Canadian rules, a flight that reaches its final destination 3 hours or more late can pay compensation, unless the cause excuses the airline. Under that, nothing is owed.

Updated

Hour by hour

Each column is one example flight with no extraordinary circumstances. The amount depends on the distance and, in Canada, on the size of the airline.

Compensation by arrival delay on four example flights
Arrival delayAmsterdam to Barcelona on KLM (1,241 km)Amsterdam to New York on KLM (5,848 km)London to New York on British AirwaysToronto to Montreal on Porter
2 hoursNothing owed under these rulesNothing owed under these rulesNothing owed under these rulesNothing owed under these rules
3 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 300 (up to EUR 600)UK261 GBP 260 (up to GBP 520)Canada APPR CAD 400
3.5 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 300 (up to EUR 600)UK261 GBP 260 (up to GBP 520)Canada APPR CAD 400
4 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 600UK261 GBP 520Canada APPR CAD 400
5 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 600UK261 GBP 520Canada APPR CAD 400
6 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 600UK261 GBP 520Canada APPR CAD 700
9 hoursEU261 EUR 250EU261 EUR 600UK261 GBP 520Canada APPR CAD 1,000

Why 3 to 4 hours can pay half

On a flight over 3,500 km that lands 3 to under 4 hours late, the airline may pay half: EUR 300 under EU261 and GBP 260 under UK261. From 4 hours the full amount applies. Flights between EU states are not reduced this way.

How the delay is measured

At your final destination, from the scheduled arrival to the moment the aircraft door opens. A delay at departure does not count by itself. On one booking with connections, the delay counts at the last airport. See connecting flights.

In the United States

No federal rule pays cash for a delay. If the airline changes your flight by 3 hours or more (domestic) or 6 hours or more (international) and you do not fly, you are owed a refund. See US refunds.

When the hours do not matter

Weather, air traffic control and strikes by people outside the airline usually excuse it under EU261 and UK261. See extraordinary circumstances. Use the calculator for your own flight.

Check your flight

Most checked airlines: Ryanair, easyJet, KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Canada, Wizz Air, TUI, Emirates, United. All airlines are on the airlines page.

Hours Late is not a law firm and not a claims company. It does not file claims for you. The results are estimates from published rules and the details you enter. They are not legal advice. Airlines and courts decide each case.

Sources