Compensation for a delayed flight – how to claim it and when you are entitled?

A delayed flight may mean not only several additional hours spent at the airport, but also specific passenger rights. Depending on the length of the delay and the cause of the problem, you may be entitled to meals, drinks, accommodation, a refund of the ticket cost, and, in certain situations, compensation for a delayed flight.

The most important thing, however, is to distinguish between several issues. The right to care while waiting is not the same as the right to compensation, and when determining financial compensation, the primary factor is the delay in reaching the final destination.

Article in brief

• You may be entitled to compensation if you reach your destination at least 3 hours late and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
• At present, compensation may amount to 250, 400, or 600 euros, depending on the length of the route and the duration of the delay.
• During a longer wait, the carrier should provide the passenger with appropriate care.
• If the departure delay reaches 5 hours, the passenger may choose to cancel the journey and request a refund of the ticket price.
• The complaint should first be submitted directly to the carrier.
• From 23 October 2027, new EU rules on air passenger rights will apply.

When is compensation available for a delayed flight?

Under the current rules, a passenger may be entitled to compensation if they reach their final destination at least 3 hours late and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances that the carrier could not have avoided despite taking reasonable measures.

This means that the plane taking off later on its own does not determine whether you are entitled to compensation.

A flight may take off with a significant delay but make up some of the time during the journey. Conversely, a shorter delay at departure may result in a delay of more than three hours on arrival.

Does the departure delay or the arrival delay count?

In the case of compensation, the key factor is the time of arrival at the final destination.

Therefore, if the plane took off two hours late but reached its destination with a delay of less than three hours, standard compensation for the delay is generally not available.

The right to care at the airport is a separate matter. Here, the expected departure delay and the length of the route are taken into account.

How much compensation is available for a delayed flight?

The amount of compensation depends primarily on the length of the journey.

Route length	Possible compensation
up to 1500 km	250 euros
over 1500 km within the EU and other routes of 1500–3500 km	400 euros
other routes over 3500 km	up to 600 euros

For some flights over 3500 km between the EU and a non-EU country, when the delay is at least 3 hours but less than 4 hours, compensation may be reduced to 300 euros.

The ticket price itself does not determine the amount of compensation. A cheap ticket therefore does not automatically mean lower compensation.

Are you entitled to compensation for a 2-hour delay?

Not always. A two-hour delay does not automatically entitle you to financial compensation.

However, it may trigger the right to care, especially in the case of shorter routes. Depending on the flight distance, the obligation to provide assistance begins after 2, 3, or 4 hours of waiting.

This is an important distinction: a passenger may be entitled to meals and drinks even if they do not yet meet the conditions for claiming financial compensation.

What should the airline provide during a delay?

For a sufficiently long departure delay, the carrier should provide passengers with assistance appropriate to the waiting time.

The right to care currently arises when the delay is:

• at least 2 hours - for flights of up to 1500 km,
• at least 3 hours - for longer flights within the EU and other medium-haul routes,
• at least 4 hours - for other longer flights.

Assistance may include meals and drinks appropriate to the waiting time, as well as the opportunity to communicate. If the flight is postponed until the next day, the carrier should also provide a hotel and transport between the airport and the place of accommodation.

If the airline does not provide the required care and the passenger has to pay for reasonable and necessary meals or drinks, it is worth keeping the receipts. They may be needed to claim reimbursement of the costs incurred.

What are you entitled to if your flight is delayed by 5 hours?

If the departure delay reaches at least 5 hours, the passenger may decide not to continue the journey.

In such a situation, you may be entitled to a refund of the full ticket price for the unused part of the journey and, in certain cases, also for the part already completed if continuing the journey no longer makes sense in the context of the original plan.

You do not have to wait indefinitely for a delayed flight if such a long delay means that the trip has lost its purpose.

When is compensation for a delayed flight not available?

The carrier may not be required to pay compensation if the delay resulted from extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

These may include, for example, certain severe weather conditions, security-related problems, airspace closures or other events genuinely beyond the carrier's control.

However, the airline's mere reference to “extraordinary circumstances” should not end the matter. The carrier should be able to demonstrate that such circumstances actually occurred and caused the delay.

Does bad weather always rule out compensation?

Not every report of bad weather automatically means that there is no right to compensation.

What matters is whether the weather conditions actually made it impossible or seriously hindered the operation of the specific flight and whether the carrier could have taken measures to limit the effects of the disruption.

Therefore, when compensation is refused, it is worth paying attention to the airline's exact reasoning.

Does a strike rule out compensation for a delayed flight?

It depends on the type of strike and the circumstances of the particular case.

You should not assume that every strike automatically releases the carrier from liability. A strike concerning the airline's own operations may be assessed differently from disruptions resulting, for example, from the actions of air traffic control or airport services.

If the carrier refuses to pay compensation due to a strike, it is worth checking its reasoning and the circumstances of the event.

Compensation for a connecting flight

If the journey includes several connections covered by a single booking, the delay in reaching the final destination may be relevant.

If you miss your connection because the first flight was delayed and arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation, provided the other conditions are met and the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.

The situation may be different if the flights were purchased separately as independent bookings.

When do EU passenger rights apply?

EU rules cover, among other things:

• flights taking place within the EU,
• flights departing from the EU and arriving outside the EU, regardless of the carrier's origin,
• flights departing from outside the EU and arriving in the EU, if operated by an EU carrier.

For the purposes of these rules, the relevant provisions also cover flights involving Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

How can you claim compensation for a delayed flight?

The first step should be to submit a complaint directly to the airline that operated the flight.

It is worth preparing the booking number, flight number, travel date, passenger details, and information about the actual time of arrival at the final destination. Boarding passes, messages from the carrier, and receipts for expenses incurred while waiting may also be useful.

The complaint should clearly state what the claim concerns - compensation for the delay, reimbursement of costs incurred while waiting, or both.

How long does the airline have to respond?

In Poland, a complaint must first be submitted to the carrier. If the airline does not respond within 30 days or the response is unsatisfactory, the passenger may use the further procedure for pursuing their rights.

It is worth keeping a copy of the submitted application and confirmation that it was sent.

What should you do if the airline rejects your complaint?

If a complaint concerning a flight connected with Poland is rejected or the carrier fails to respond within the required time, it may be possible, where appropriate, to contact the Passenger Rights Ombudsman at the Civil Aviation Authority with a request to initiate amicable proceedings.

Other avenues for pursuing claims may also be available, depending on the departure location, carrier, and nature of the case. The European Commission indicates that the first step should always be to submit a complaint to the airline.

What documents should you keep after a delayed flight?

There is no need to create complicated documentation, but it is worth keeping anything that may confirm the course of the journey.

The most useful documents include the booking confirmation, boarding pass, messages from the carrier, and receipts for reasonable expenses incurred while waiting.

It is also a good idea to record the actual arrival time and take screenshots of delay notifications.

New passenger rights from October 23, 2027

In 2026, Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 was adopted, changing the existing rules. The new provisions were published on October 2, 2026, but will apply only from October 23, 2027. Until then, passengers will continue to benefit from the current rules.

The new rules maintain the principle that compensation may be due when arriving at the final destination more than 3 hours late, while the basic amounts remain at 250, 400, and 600 euros.

From October 23, 2027, the carrier will also be required, among other things, to inform the passenger about a potential right to compensation within 96 hours of the end of the journey. The new rules also provide for a 9-month period for submitting a compensation claim and require the carrier to pay it or provide a reasoned refusal within 30 days of receiving the claim.

Frequently asked questions about compensation for a delayed flight

How delayed must a flight be to receive compensation?

Currently, the most important factor is the delay in reaching the final destination. If it is at least approximately 3 hours and is not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation.

How much compensation is paid for a 3-hour delay?

Depending on the length of the route, it may amount to 250, 400, or - for sufficiently long routes and if additional conditions are met - up to 600 euros.

Are you entitled to compensation for a 2-hour flight delay?

Not automatically. However, with such a delay, you may become entitled to care, such as meals and drinks, depending on the length of the route.

Does the airline have to provide food during a delay?

Yes, after waiting for a sufficiently long time. When this right arises depends on the flight length and is currently 2, 3, or 4 hours.

Can you give up a flight after a 5-hour delay?

Yes. If the departure delay is at least 5 hours, the passenger may be entitled to abandon the rest of the journey and receive a refund of the ticket cost under the rules set out in the regulations.

Are you entitled to compensation in bad weather?

Not always. If weather conditions constitute an extraordinary circumstance that could not have been avoided despite taking reasonable measures, the carrier may not be obliged to pay compensation. However, the airline should justify such a refusal.

Does a delayed connecting flight also entitle you to compensation?

It may. If the flights are part of a single booking and, due to the disruption, you reach the final destination more than 3 hours late, the conditions for compensation may be met.

Delayed flight - it is worth knowing your rights

A delay of several hours does not always mean automatic compensation, but it also does not mean that the passenger is without protection.

Depending on the length of the wait, you may be entitled to care, a hotel, a refund of the ticket price, or financial compensation. The most important things are to determine the actual delay at the final destination, find out the reason for the disruption, and keep travel-related documents.

If the airline refuses to pay compensation, it is worth checking the stated reasons and, if necessary, using the available complaints procedures.