Flight Delay Compensation: Your Rights in Every Region (EU261, UK261, US DOT, Canada APPR)

What is flight delay compensation and who qualifies?

Flight delay compensation is a fixed cash payment airlines owe you when a disruption was their fault. Under EU261 and UK261 you can claim €250–€600 (£220–£520) for delays over 3 hours; Canada's APPR pays CAD $400–$1,000. The US has no fixed compensation law, but DOT rules guarantee refunds for cancellations and significant changes.

The key variables are where you fly from, which airline operates the flight, how late you arrive at your final destination, and whether the cause was within the airline's control. Compensation is per passenger, not per booking — a family of four delayed four hours from Paris to New York could be owed €2,400.

Crucially, compensation is separate from refunds and duty of care. Even when no compensation applies (bad weather, for instance), airlines in Europe and Canada must still feed you, hotel you and get you to your destination — or refund you in full.

How much compensation does each region pay?

EU261 pays €250/€400/€600 by distance for 3h+ delays on flights departing the EU/EEA (or arriving on EU carriers). UK261 mirrors it at £220/£350/£520. Canada's APPR pays CAD $400/$700/$1,000 for 3h+/6h+/9h+ delays at your destination. The US DOT mandates refunds and rebooking, not fixed compensation.

The table below is the cheat sheet. "Applies to" matters more than the headline number: EU261 follows the departure airport and the carrier, while Canada's APPR follows flights to, from and within Canada on any airline.

How do EU261 and UK261 work in practice?

EU261/UK261 pay fixed amounts when you arrive 3+ hours late for reasons within the airline's control: €250 (≤1,500km), €400 (1,500–3,500km) or €600 (3,500km+). UK261 pays the sterling equivalents (£220/£350/£520). Technical faults, crew shortages and knock-on delays count; genuine severe weather and ATC strikes usually don't.

Airlines routinely reject valid claims citing "extraordinary circumstances" — but courts have narrowed that defence hard. Ordinary technical faults, crew sickness, late inbound aircraft and IT failures are treated as part of running an airline and do not exempt payment. The burden of proof sits with the airline, not you.

Both regimes also impose duty of care during the wait: meals and refreshments after 2–4 hours depending on distance, hotel and transfers for overnight delays, and two free phone calls or emails. Keep receipts — reasonable out-of-pocket costs are reimbursable even when compensation isn't owed.

What are your rights on US flights under DOT rules?

US rules don't mandate fixed delay compensation, but the DOT requires airlines to refund you — in cash, automatically — when they cancel or significantly change your flight and you decline rebooking or credits. Tarmac delays over 3 hours (domestic) or 4 hours (international) are banned, and bumped passengers get up to $1,550.

Since the 2024 DOT automatic-refund rule, "significant change" means a departure or arrival moved 3+ hours domestically or 6+ hours internationally, a downgrade in cabin, or an added connection. If you take the rebooking instead, compensation for the delay itself is down to airline goodwill and their customer-service plans — ask for meal and hotel vouchers at the desk.

Involuntary denied boarding (oversales) is the exception with real teeth: 200% of your one-way fare up to $775 for short delays, 400% up to $1,550 for longer ones, payable in cash on the spot.

How does Canada's APPR compensate passengers?

Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations pay CAD $400 for 3–6h delays, $700 for 6–9h and $1,000 for 9h+ at your destination when the cause was within the airline's control. Large airlines pay the full amounts; small carriers pay roughly half. Claims go to the airline first, then the Canadian Transportation Agency.

The APPR also covers tarmac delays, denied boarding, lost baggage (up to ~CAD $2,350) and seating children near parents at no extra charge. One quirk: airlines must respond to compensation claims within 30 days, and unpaid claims can be escalated free to the CTA — though its backlog means patience helps.

How do you file a flight compensation claim?

To claim flight compensation: gather your booking reference, boarding passes and the actual arrival time; write to the airline citing the specific regulation (EU261/UK261/APPR) and amount owed; if rejected or ignored after 6–8 weeks, escalate to the national enforcement body, an ADR scheme, or use a no-win-no-fee service like AirHelp.

File directly first — it's free and you keep 100%. State the flight number, date, scheduled vs actual arrival, the regulation and the exact amount per passenger. Attach evidence: boarding passes, delay notifications, photos of the departures board. Vague rejections citing "operational reasons" deserve a written challenge asking for the specific extraordinary circumstance and its proof.

If you'd rather not fight, AirHelp handles the entire claim — evidence, airline correspondence and court if needed — for a success fee (typically 35%, nothing if you lose). For a €600 claim they'd take ~€210 and you'd net €390 with zero effort; for straightforward claims, DIY keeps it all.

Travel insurance can overlap: some policies pay a fixed delay benefit after 6–12 hours regardless of fault, which stacks on top of statutory compensation. Check your policy before writing the delay off.

• Deadline: EU261 claims are valid 1–6 years depending on country (UK: 6 years)
• Evidence: boarding pass + actual arrival time wins cases
• Escalation: national enforcement body or ADR is free
• Done-for-you: AirHelp charges ~35% only if you win
• Cash, not vouchers: you can refuse voucher offers