Flight delayed or cancelled: compensation under EU law

This page has been automatically translated from German. The German version is the authoritative one: Deutsch

In short

• If you arrive at your final destination at least three hours late, you may be entitled to compensation of 250, 400 or 600 euros – depending on the flight distance (1, 2).
• In the event of a cancellation, this generally applies even if the airline has notified you less than 14 days in advance (1).
• In exceptional circumstances, such as bad weather or an air traffic controllers’ strike, the airline is not obliged to pay. Technical faults are generally not regarded as exceptional circumstances (3).
• You can make your claim yourself, free of charge, directly with the airline. In Germany, the claim becomes time-barred after three years, calculated from the end of the year in which the flight took place (3).

Which flights are covered by these rules?

• Flights within the EU – whether with an EU airline or another airline (1).
• Flights from the EU to a country outside the EU – with any airline (1).
• Flights from a country outside the EU to the EU – only with an EU airline (1).
• The rules also apply in Iceland, Norway and Switzerland (1).

How much compensation is available?

• 250 euros for flights of up to 1,500 km (1).
• 400 euros for flights of over 1,500 km within the EU and for other flights of between 1,500 and 3,500 km (1).
• 600 euros for flights over 3,500 km (1).

In the event of delays, it is the time of arrival at the final destination that counts: it must be at least three hours later than scheduled (2). If the airline offers you an alternative flight, the amount may be reduced by half, depending on the time of arrival (1).

Cancellation and overbooking

• In the event of a cancellation, you can choose between a refund of the ticket price or alternative transport – either as soon as possible or at a later date of your choice (1).
• If you were informed more than 14 days before departure, no compensation is payable. The airline must prove when and how it informed you (1).
• If, in the event of overbooking, you are denied boarding against your will, you are generally entitled to the same compensation – provided you arrived at the gate on time with valid travel documents (1).
• If you miss a connecting flight, you are only entitled to compensation if all the flights were part of a single booking (1).

Assistance at the airport

Regardless of any compensation, the airline must provide you with food and drink, as well as two free phone calls or emails, during long waiting times. This applies from a two-hour delay for flights of up to 1,500 km, from three hours for medium-haul flights and from four hours for all other flights (1). If your journey is not due to continue until the following day, you are entitled to hotel accommodation and transport to the hotel (1). If you are not offered anything, keep your receipts (1).

When is no compensation due?

The airline is not required to pay if it can prove that there were extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided (1). Examples include bad weather, strikes by third parties such as air traffic controllers, natural disasters or bird strikes (3). Technical faults are generally not regarded as extraordinary circumstances (3). However, the airline must still provide assistance and a refund of the ticket price (3).

How to claim your money yourself

1. Gather evidence: photos of the display board, your boarding pass, notes on times, and receipts for meals, taxis or hotels (3).
2. Send a written request to the airline – that is always the first step (3).
3. If the airline rejects your claim or fails to reply within two months, you can contact an arbitration board: the Travel & Transport Arbitration Board (söp) or the Air Transport Arbitration Board at the German Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz). The arbitration process is free of charge for you (3).
4. With the free ‘Flugärger’ app from the German consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale), you can check your entitlements yourself (2, 3).

Please note the time limit: in Germany, the claim becomes time-barred if more than three years have elapsed since the end of the year in which the flight took place (3).

Option: hire a service provider

New EU rules from 2027 at the earliest

In June 2026, the EU institutions reached a political agreement on new air passenger rights, for example regarding hand luggage and seats for children. According to the German consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale), the three-hour threshold and the compensation amounts will remain in place. Until the new rules come into force – from mid-2027 at the earliest – the existing rules will remain in force (4).

Planning your next trip? Our guide to comparing flights explains what to look out for when booking.

Please note: This page provides general information only and is not a substitute for legal advice. We do not recommend any specific provider. The circumstances of your individual case are decisive.

Sources

1. Europäische Union – Your Europe: Fluggastrechte (last updated on 23 June 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)
2. Verbraucherzentrale: Mein Flug war verspätet: Bekomme ich eine Entschädigung? (as at 10 August 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)
3. Verbraucherzentrale: FAQ zu Fluggastrechten: Alles Wichtige rund ums Thema (as at 15 April 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)
4. Verbraucherzentrale: Neue EU-Fluggastrechte: Was gilt bei Erstattung, Handgepäck & Sitzplatz? (as at 18 June 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)