You can typically claim compensation if your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours. However, the total delay duration is just one of several critical factors that determine your eligibility for compensation.
Key Criteria for Flight Delay Compensation
Beyond the time a flight is delayed, several other conditions must be met for a successful compensation claim. These include:
- Delay Exceeding Three Hours: Your flight must arrive at its final destination with a delay of more than three hours compared to its scheduled arrival time. This is the primary threshold for compensation eligibility.
- Airline's Fault: The delay must be due to circumstances within the airline's control. This generally includes:
- Technical problems with the aircraft.
- Operational issues, such as staff shortages or crew being out of hours.
- Issues with connecting flights operated by the same airline (if part of a single booking).
- Situations not considered the airline's fault (and therefore typically not eligible for compensation) include "extraordinary circumstances" like severe weather, air traffic control strikes, political instability, or security risks.
- Single Booking: If your journey involves multiple flights (e.g., connecting flights or a return trip), it is usually required that all segments were booked together as a single reservation. This helps link the overall delay to the airline's responsibility for the entire journey. For a single, direct flight, this condition is inherently met for that specific flight.
Understanding the "More Than 3 Hours" Rule
The 3-hour delay threshold is calculated based on your arrival time at your final destination, not your departure time. For instance, if your flight was scheduled to land at 10:00 AM but arrived at 1:05 PM, that's a 3-hour and 5-minute delay, making it eligible if other conditions are met.
It's important to differentiate between delays that are the airline's responsibility and those caused by "extraordinary circumstances" which are beyond their control. For example, a delay due to an unexpected technical fault with the aircraft would likely be compensable, whereas a delay caused by extreme weather conditions would not.
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
If you believe you are entitled to compensation for a delayed flight, consider these steps:
- Keep Records: Document everything, including your booking confirmation, boarding passes, and any communication from the airline regarding the delay. Note the actual departure and arrival times.
- Understand Your Rights: Depending on the length of the delay, you may also be entitled to "right to care" (food, drink, communication, accommodation if overnight).
- Contact the Airline: Submit a formal complaint or compensation claim to the airline. Many airlines have specific forms or processes for this on their websites.
- Escalate if Necessary: If the airline rejects your claim or does not respond, you can escalate your complaint to an independent body, such as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme or the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.
For more detailed information on your rights and how to claim, you can refer to consumer advice services. For example, in the UK, organisations like Citizens Advice offer comprehensive guidance.
