Airport issues: delays, cancellations & baggage compensation

Experiencing airport problems like flight delays, cancellations, or lost luggage? Under EU regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to compensation for delays, cancellations, or overbooking.

Explore your rights, and learn how FlyCompense can help you claim what you’re owed.

EC 261: Your rights explained

• In case of delays, cancellations, and overbooking, you are protected under EC 261.
• If the airline is responsible for the disruption, you could be entitled to up to €600.
• Strikes: airline staff strikes may qualify — airport strikes do not.
• For baggage issues, you may be entitled to compensation under the Montreal Convention.

EC 261: the legal foundation of your passenger rights

Under EC 261/2004, airlines are financially accountable when travel is disrupted — as long as the disruption wasn’t caused by something outside of the airline’s control.

EC 261 covers:

• Flight delays of over 3 hours
• Flight cancellations with less than 14 days’ notice
• Denied boarding due to overbooking

All passengers departing from an EU airport are covered. Flights arriving into the EU are covered only when operated by an EU airline.

Compensation calculator

Typical EC 261 compensation amounts by distance:

Airport delay compensation

You can claim under EC 261 if:

• You arrived at your destination more than 3 hours late
• The delay was within the airline's control
• Your flight took off in the EU (many flights into the EU also qualify)
• You checked in for your flight on time

If these apply, you could be owed up to €600 depending on flight distance and delay length.

Airport cancellation compensation

You could be entitled under EC 261 if:

• You were notified less than 14 days before departure
• The cancellation was within the airline's control
• Your replacement flight arrives significantly later than your original booking

You also have the right to choose between:

• Refund of the full ticket cost for unused segments
• Alternative transport to your final destination at the earliest opportunity
• Re-routing at a later date of your convenience (subject to availability)

Don’t miss out — check what you could claim today. No win, no fee.

Overbooked flights: your rights to airport bump compensation

If your flight is covered by EC 261 and you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you may be entitled if:

• You did not volunteer to surrender your seat for vouchers/benefits
• You were not denied boarding for a reason under your control (late at gate, missing documents, etc.)

Airport strike compensation

You could be eligible if:

• Your flight was disrupted by an airline staff strike
• Delayed 3+ hours or canceled less than 14 days before departure
• Your flight took off in the EU, or landed at an EU airport
• You had a confirmed reservation
• If re-routed, your new arrival time was significantly different

Airline staff strikes may qualify. Airport strikes are generally extraordinary circumstances.

Airport baggage delay compensation

For international flights, the Montreal Convention (MC99) covers delayed, lost, or damaged bags.

You can claim up to around €1,900 depending on the value of your bag contents.

• If contents are worth less than €1,900, reimbursement is up to your loss.
• If contents are worth more than €1,900, €1,900 is the maximum.

FlyCompense currently supports Montreal Convention baggage claims for eligible customers only.

AirHelp Score: the best airports worldwide

Top airports worldwide (latest AirHelp Score):

Ranking criteria:

• On-time performance (60%)
• Customer service (20%)
• Food and shops (20%)

How to claim airport compensation

You can claim by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on specialists. Here’s a checklist:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and travel documents.
• Gather proof (photos of boards, airline emails).
• Check eligibility.
• File your claim.

We’ll handle airline communication. No win, no fee.

Commonly asked questions