Flight delayed by more than 3 hours? Up to €600 for you.
If you arrived at your destination at least 3 hours late, the airline normally owes you compensation of €250 to €600 per passenger, whatever the price of your ticket. The only exception: an event it could not have avoided, and it is up to the airline to prove it.
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Delayed flight: your rights in 30 seconds
01 A 3-hour arrival delay gives a right to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, depending on the distance.
02 The ticket price does not matter: a €30 low-cost ticket gives the same rights as a standard ticket.
03 While you wait, the airline must provide meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel, even during a storm.
04 In France, you have 5 years to claim. A flight delayed in 2022 can still be compensated.
How much can you receive?
The amount is set by European Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. It depends only on the flight distance and, for long journeys, on the length of the delay:
| Flight distance | Example | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | Paris–Rome, Lyon–Porto, Marseille–Algiers | €250 |
| EU flight of more than 1,500 km, or 1,500 to 3,500 km | Paris–Athens, Orly–Marrakech, Paris–Pointe-à-Pitre | €400 |
| More than 3,500 km outside the EU | Paris–New York, Lyon–Montreal | €600 (€300 if the delay is 3 to 4 hours) |
A couple with two children on a Paris–Athens flight delayed by 4 hours can therefore claim 4 × €400, i.e. €1,600.
The 3 conditions to check
- The delay at the final destination reaches 3 hours. A departure 4 hours late that makes up one hour in the air is not enough; conversely, a short delay that makes you miss a connection on the same booking may be enough.
- Your flight is covered by the European regulation. This applies to all flights departing from the EU, and to flights to the EU operated by a European airline (Air France, Transavia, Ryanair…).
- The cause is not an extraordinary circumstance. A technical fault, a crew shortage or a strike by the airline’s own staff do not exempt it. A storm, an air traffic control strike or an airspace closure may exempt it, if it proves it.
Your rights while you wait
Regardless of compensation, the airline must look after you at the airport:
| Flight distance | Assistance due from |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 2-hour delay at departure |
| From 1,500 to 3,500 km | 3-hour delay at departure |
| More than 3,500 km | 4-hour delay at departure |
This assistance includes meals and refreshments, two communications (phone call or email) and, if departure is postponed to the next day, a hotel and transfers. If the airline does nothing, buy what you need within reason and keep all the receipts: they will be reimbursed on top of the compensation.
If the departure delay reaches 5 hours, you can also give up the journey and get your ticket refunded.
What to do if your flight is delayed?
- Ask for the cause of the delay at the desk, in writing if possible, or take a photo of the information screen.
- Keep your boarding pass and the airline’s messages.
- Note the actual arrival time at your final destination.
- Keep the receipts for your meals, taxis or hotel nights.
- Check your flight for free: we will tell you in a few minutes whether compensation is possible.
Your airline or your airport
By airline (pages in French): Air France · Transavia · easyJet · Ryanair · Volotea · Vueling · Wizz Air · Air Algérie · Royal Air Maroc · Tunisair · Corsair · Air Caraïbes · French bee · Air Austral · Lufthansa · KLM · Iberia · British Airways · Turkish Airlines · Pegasus · Emirates
By airport (pages in French): Roissy-CDG · Orly · Beauvais · Lille · Basel-Mulhouse · Nice · Marseille · Lyon · Toulouse · Bordeaux · Nantes · Algiers · Casablanca · Tunis · Pointe-à-Pitre · Fort-de-France · Réunion · Cayenne
Frequently asked questions
How long does the delay have to be for compensation?
At least 3 hours on arrival at your final destination. Below that, the fixed compensation is not due, but assistance while you wait may be.
My flight took off 3 h 30 late but arrived 2 h 50 late: am I entitled to compensation?
No: only the arrival delay counts, measured when the doors open. You do, however, keep your right to assistance while you wait.
The airline cites a “technical problem”: can it refuse?
Normally not. Technical faults are part of an airline’s normal activity and are not extraordinary circumstances, except in very specific cases such as a hidden manufacturing defect revealed by the manufacturer.
How long do I have to make a claim?
In France, 5 years from the date of the flight. The reform adopted in 2026 will reduce this period to 9 months for flights disrupted after it comes into force, expected in the second half of 2027.
Are children entitled to compensation?
Yes, if they had a paid ticket. Each passenger is entitled to their own compensation.
Sources: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 ↗European Union: passenger rights ↗Service-Public (in French) ↗
Information guide updated on 24 October 2026. It does not replace a review of your case.
How much does the airline owe you?
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