Can I get compensation for a 3-hour EU flight delay?
Yes. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers on EU-departing flights (or EU-carrier arrivals in the EU) delayed 3+ hours at their final destination are entitled to €250–€600 in cash, unless the airline proves an extraordinary circumstance such as severe weather or air-traffic control strikes.
Compensation is set by the flight distance, not the ticket price: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights between 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km. The delay is measured at arrival, not departure.
The airline must also offer duty-of-care (meals, communications, and a hotel if the delay runs overnight) regardless of the cause. If the airline rebooks you and you arrive less than 3 hours late, cash compensation drops away but duty-of-care still applies.
'Extraordinary circumstances' is a narrow legal bar: strikes by third parties, extreme weather, and safety risks qualify; crew shortages, technical faults with the aircraft, and most operational issues do not. Claim in writing within 3 years (varies by member state) and keep boarding passes plus any receipts.
Claim EU 261 compensation for a 3+ hour flight delay
- Confirm the flight is covered — EU 261 covers any flight departing an EU/EEA airport, and any EU/EEA-carrier flight arriving in the EU. Confirm the operating (not marketing) carrier before you claim.
- Measure the delay at arrival — Compensation triggers on arrival delay, not departure. Note the scheduled and actual arrival times shown on the airline app or FlightRadar24 for evidence.
- Collect duty-of-care receipts — Keep receipts for meals, transport, and hotel if you had to pay yourself. These are reimbursable in addition to cash compensation.
- File a written claim with the airline — Use the airline’s claim form or a plain-text email. Include booking reference, flight number, date, arrival delay in hours, and a clear request for the correct amount (€250 / €400 / €600 by distance).
- Escalate if refused — If the airline refuses or ignores you after 6 weeks, escalate to the national enforcement body (NEB) of the country you departed from, or use a small-claims court. Most first refusals are overturned.
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Last verified 2026-07-29.