Get Your EU Flight Delay Compensation and Keep More of It

When does the airline’s “Right to Care” obligation begin?

The airline is legally mandated to provide you with basic necessities once your delay reaches a specific time threshold based on the distance of your flight:

What exactly must the airline provide while I wait?

Once you hit the time thresholds above, the airline is required to provide:

• Food and Refreshments: Vouchers or meals and drinks appropriate to the length of the wait.
• Communication: Access to two free phone calls or emails.
• Hotel Accommodation: If the delay requires an overnight stay, the airline must provide a room.
• Transport: Free transport between the airport and the hotel (and back again).

What if the airline refuses to provide food or a hotel?

If airline staff is unavailable or refuses to provide care, you have the right to arrange these necessities yourself. Save every original receipt.

ClaimFlights is the Passenger Advocate. We don’t just chase the “easy” statutory money. We specialize in recovering these out-of-pocket expenses (taxis, hotels, meals, and even train journeys) in addition to your €600 compensation.

While airlines frequently ignore DIY expense claims from individuals, our legal team ensures they are fully reimbursed as part of your comprehensive case. With our proven courtroom rigor, airline independence, and expert legal partnerships, we have helped thousands of passengers across Europe.

Are there any limits on what I can spend?

Avoid the “Luxury Trap.” Courts typically only enforce “reasonable” expenses. Do not purchase alcohol, luxury hotel suites, or expensive clothing, as these are rarely reimbursed. Stick to essential food, water, and modest accommodation. Always choose the most cost-effective “reasonable” option to ensure the court upholds your claim.

Can I get a refund if the delay is too long?

Yes. If your delay exceeds 5 hours, you are no longer obligated to take the flight. You have the right to request a full ticket refund (and a return flight to your original departure point if you are midway through a journey). You can still claim your €600 compensation if the delay at the time of cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

With ClaimFlights’ complete claim handling, simply report your flight in minutes, and we take care of the rest—using our legal expertise to fight the airline on your behalf until you receive your rightful payout.

What if my flight wasn’t late, but they made me leave early?

Recent legal precedents have closed a loophole used by airlines. If an airline reschedules your flight to depart more than one hour earlier than planned, it is legally considered a “flight cancellation.” Unless you were notified at least 14 days in advance, you are entitled to the same compensation as a delayed flight (up to €600).

Should I accept an airline voucher or cash compensation?

Avoid the “Voucher Trap.” At the gate, stressed airline staff may offer you a travel voucher (e.g., €300 off your next flight) to “settle” the matter. Under EU 261, you are legally entitled to receive your compensation in cash, bank transfer, or cheque. Read the fine print before accepting a voucher; doing so could waive your right to claim full cash compensation later.

We handle all the bureaucracy with unmatched legal rigor and a commitment to lower fees and greater trust—a proven approach that has already helped thousands of passengers across Europe secure their rightful financial compensation.

Can I claim for a Multi-Leg or Connecting Flight?

Yes. If you booked a journey with multiple segments under a single booking (e.g., Los Angeles → Paris → Berlin), your eligibility is calculated based on the arrival time at your final destination.

Important: The delay is measured at the “final” gate, not the connecting airport.

Does my nationality affect my rights under EU261?

Not at all. A major point of confusion for travelers is whether being a U.S. or non-EU citizen disqualifies them. It does not. EU261 protection is based entirely on the flight’s route, not the passenger’s nationality.

Whether you are an American citizen flying from Paris to New York or a Canadian tourist flying from Frankfurt to Mexico, you are fully protected. The law treats you exactly like a European resident.

What if my flight was entirely outside the EU? (The Montreal Convention)

If your flight was entirely outside the EU (e.g., New York to Mexico City) and operated by a non-EU airline, you cannot claim statutory EU261 compensation. However, you aren’t without rights. You are protected by the Montreal Convention. Under this international treaty, you can claim for proven damages caused by the delay, such as:

• Lost hotel nights or missed event tickets.
• Expenses for essential items if your luggage was delayed alongside your flight.

Who do I claim against in a “Codeshare” flight? (The Operating Carrier Rule)

This is a common trap. You might have bought your ticket from Delta, but the flight was actually flown by Air France. Under the “Operating Carrier Rule,” you must file your claim against the airline that actually operated the flight (the one whose crew was on the plane), regardless of whose logo was on your ticket or booking confirmation.

The answer is a definitive yes. You do not need to file a claim immediately after your delay. However, your rights are subject to a “Statute of Limitations,” which is the legal deadline for starting a claim. This deadline depends on the laws of the country where the airline is headquartered or where the flight was scheduled to land or depart.

Don’t Let Your Money Expire

Airlines often bank on the fact that passengers will wait too long to seek justice. If your flight was 3 years ago in Germany or nearly 5 years ago in France, you can still claim your €600 today.

What exactly are “Extraordinary Circumstances”?

These are events that are outside the airline’s control and could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. In these cases, the airline is not required to pay compensation (though they must still provide your Right to Care).

The Airline is generally EXEMPT from paying in these cases:

• Severe Weather: Volcanic ash clouds, hurricanes, or snowstorms that result in the closure of the airport or airspace.
• Third-Party Strikes: Industrial action by Air Traffic Control (ATC), airport security, or baggage handlers not employed by the airline.
• Security Threats: Political instability, acts of terrorism, or security alerts at the terminal.
• Bird Strikes: The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that collisions between aircraft and birds are extraordinary events, meaning no compensation is due.
• Hidden Manufacturing Defects: While rare, if a manufacturer issues a mass recall or groundings for a safety defect, it is considered extraordinary.

When is the airline LEGALLY REQUIRED to pay?

If the delay is caused by factors inherent to the normal operation of an airline, it is not extraordinary. If your delay was caused by any of the following, you are entitled to your full payout:

1. Radical Transparency: You Get One of the Highest Net Payouts

We believe that the majority of your compensation belongs in your pocket, not ours. While many other claim companies hide the true cost of their service in the fine print, ClaimFlights doesn’t.

The “Net Payout” Advantage: Most large flight compensation firms charge a base service fee plus a “court fee” (often an extra 10–15%) if an airline refuses to pay and court intervention is involved. This can result in you losing 50% or more of your money.

Our Simple Fee: We charge a flat 25% success fee (VAT-free for US & non-EU customers; others have to pay the VAT of their country of residence).

What You Never Pay: We never charge extra court fees, administrative fees, or any hidden fees. We bear 100% of the financial risk and legal costs.

2. The Passenger Advocate: We Sue Where Others Give Up

Airlines often ignore individual claims or send automated rejections, banking on the fact that most passengers will eventually give up. ClaimFlights acts as your Passenger Advocate to break through this wall of silence.

Persistent Legal Escalation: We are not just a form-filling service. If an airline refuses a valid claim, we initiate full legal escalation. We take airlines to court at our own expense because our data-backed approach results in a near-perfect success rate.

The “Second Opinion” for Rejected Claims: Have you already been rejected by an airline or another compensation company? We specialize in “difficult” cases. We use our proprietary databases to re-evaluate claims that others have abandoned, ensuring no passenger is wrongly denied their rights.

3. Stress-Free, Data-Driven Service

Our process is designed to be completely maintenance-free for you. We handle the complexity while you stay informed.

Privacy-First & No Data Resale: Your travel history is your business. Unlike competitors that sell passenger booking data to third-party travel marketers, we are fully GDPR-compliant and maintain a no-resale commitment. We only collect what is strictly necessary to win your case.

Regular Status Update: You will never be left in the dark. We provide a status update at every stage, or whenever there’s news from the court or airline.

Database Power vs. Airline Excuses: We don’t guess; we prove. We verify every claim against our global aviation and weather databases. This allows us to debunk common airline excuses about “extraordinary circumstances” with forensic precision, ensuring your claim is built on facts, not flight-crew hearsay.