Flight Delayed 3 Hours? You May Be Owed Compensation

Quick answer:

Yes — if:

• Your flight arrived 3+ hours late at its final destination
• The delay was within the airline's control
• Your flight departed from the EU, or arrived in the EU on an EU airline

You can claim €250–€600 per passenger, depending on flight distance.

Check your delayed flight → Free, 30 seconds

The 3-Hour Rule Explained

EU261 was originally written for cancellations and denied boarding. The 3-hour rule for delays came from the Sturgeon ruling (C-402/07), where the European Court of Justice held that passengers arriving 3+ hours late deserve the same compensation as those whose flights were cancelled.

Two important details: delay is measured on arrival, not departure. And it's measured at your final destination — connecting flight delays count.

How Much You're Owed

• €250 for flights under 1,500 km
• €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km

Per passenger. A family of four on a delayed long-haul flight could be owed €2,400 total.

What Counts and What Doesn't

Airline pays: technical faults, crew shortages, IT problems, operational decisions.

Airline doesn't pay: severe weather, ATC restrictions, security incidents, political instability.

The gray area: airlines frequently claim "extraordinary circumstances" for things that don't qualify. Technical faults are not extraordinary, even if the airline frames them as unexpected.

Your Care Rights During the Delay

Even if the delay doesn't qualify for compensation, you have immediate rights: meals and refreshments for delays over 2 hours on short flights, hotel accommodation for overnight delays, and a full refund option for delays exceeding 5 hours.

These immediate entitlements are separate from your compensation. The airline owes you both.

What About UK, Canadian, or Turkish Flights?

UK departures: UK261 applies — same 3-hour rule, compensation in pounds (£220/£350/£520), 6-year claim window.

Canada: APPR covers delays with higher thresholds — CA$400 (3-6 hrs), CA$700 (6-9 hrs), CA$1,000 (9+ hrs) on large carriers.

Turkey: SHY does not provide financial compensation for delays — only care and assistance.

For more: EU261 vs UK261 — what changed after Brexit →

Should You Claim Yourself or Use a Service?

The claim is a letter citing the regulation, the flight details, and the amount. Takes about 15 minutes. Full walkthrough: How to claim EU261 compensation →

Or let FlightComp handle it — 25% of whatever we recover, no win no fee.

See if you're owed up to €600 → No signup, no cost

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get compensation if my flight was delayed only 2 hours? Not financial compensation under EU261 — the threshold is 3 hours on arrival. But you're entitled to care (meals, refreshments) for delays over 2 hours on short flights.

What if my flight departed late but arrived on time? No compensation. The 3-hour rule is measured on arrival.

Does the rule apply to connecting flights? Yes. The delay is measured at your final destination.

Can I claim for a delay that happened months ago? Yes — up to 3 years in most EU countries, 6 years under UK261.

The airline says "technical issue" — does that count? Yes. Technical issues are within the airline's control and are not an extraordinary circumstance.

Find out in 2 minutes if you can claim

Free eligibility check — no signup required. If you qualify, get your Flight Compensation Kit for $14.99 or let us handle everything for 25% (no win, no fee).