How to Claim Flight Compensation from an Airline

If you love traveling the world, chances are you’ve been frustrated with an airline at least once. Some are more unreliable than others—and you probably already have a few names in mind—but surprises can come from anywhere. Maybe the airline forgot to notify you about a change, or your flight was delayed, overbooked, or suddenly cancelled.

Airlines aren’t always upfront about your rights, but if the disruption was their fault, you could be entitled to compensation—and it might be more than you think.

Flight Compensation from EU Airlines

There are certain conditions. If you flew with an airline that’s registered in the European Union and if you landed in the EU, you may be eligible for compensation. Here are the main situations covered by EU Regulation 261/2004:

• Your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours at the time of arrival,
• Your flight was canceled less than 14 days before departure,
• You were denied boarding due to overbooking and weren’t offered an alternative flight.

For example, we recently helped a passenger whose Lufthansa flight was canceled last minute during the football cup in Germany. We helped them get $175 in compensation.

Get to know your rights better: the EU agreed to them in 2004. 

Compensation from Non-EU Airlines

Even if the airline is not based in the EU, you still have rights if your flight departed from any airport in the EU. It doesn’t matter whether you were flying to another EU destination or outside the EU—your compensation rights are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004.

For example, we helped one passenger after their Delta flight from Paris to New York was canceled. Another company told them there was no chance to claim because the issue was “operational”. Yet 20 days later, we secured their compensation. As they shared in TrustPilot: “I have no idea how they did it but I received the compensation money”.

 Remember, there are some circumstances like bad weather, bird strikes or terroristic threats, in which cases you cannot claim compensation from the airline.

How Much I Can Get in Compensation

The compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay:

• $265 (≈ €250) for flights under 1,500 km
• $425 (≈ €400) for flights between 1,500–3,500 km
• $700 (≈ €600) for flights over 3,500 km

In addition to financial compensation, airlines must also provide care—such as meals, refreshments, hotel stays, and alternative transportation—if you're left waiting due to a delay or cancellation.

Find out your expected compensation

Check your compensation

1 Passenger Passengers

- +

€250

1500 km
or less

€600

3500 km
or more

€400

1500 - 3500 km

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Key points about flight delay compensation

There is no compensation for delayed flights in the United States. However, under DOT regulations you may be entitled to an automatic refund of the ticket cost in cases of significant delays.

Compensation on Domestic Flights

If your flight was domestic or operated by a US-based airline and departing in the US, the rules are a bit different. Unlike in the EU, airlines here aren’t required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to pay cash compensation for delays or cancellations. Still, you do have some protections:

• You’re entitled to a full refund if your flight is cancelled and you decide not to travel.
• Airlines must offer rebooking on another available flight.
• During long delays, they’re expected to provide food or hotel accommodation in some cases.
• You’re protected against excessive tarmac delays.

One area where US law does offer real compensation is denied boarding due to overbooking. If you're bumped from your flight involuntarily, you may be owed up to $2,150 depending on the cost of your ticket and the substitute flight.  For other disruptions, policies differ depending on the airline and some provide more care than others.

While these protections are helpful, they don’t go nearly as far as the EU rules. So if your disrupted flight had anything to do with Europe—like a trip from New York to Paris or a return flight from Madrid, it's worth checking if EU compensation laws apply.

Why Use SkyRefund to Claim Compensation

At SkyRefund, we work on a no win – no fee basis, which means you only pay us if we successfully win your compensation. Our team knows exactly how to deal with airline claims, even when they try to avoid paying. If needed, we’ll take legal action on your behalf, making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

We helped another traveler after their American Airlines claim was originally denied. They explained: "Great company which helped me greatly to get money back from American Airlines which did not give me compensation for cancelling my flight twice on a row."

Best and Worst Airlines in 2025

No airline is perfect, but some are definitely more reliable and passenger-friendly than others. Here’s a brief look at how major airlines stack up in 2025:

In our ranking of the best airlines in 2025, Qatar Airways takes the top spot for punctuality, customer service, and overall value. According to Cirium’s latest data, the airline boasts:

• 87.24% on-time arrival rate

• 88.45% on-time departure rate

• 99.82% completion rate (across 14,833 flights monthly)

When we look at the US market, Delta Airlines stands out for its operational efficiency. It has received the Cirium Platinum Award for Operational Excellence four years in a row and was named the most on-time airline in North America. This recognition reflects Delta’s strong performance in areas like scheduling reliability, low cancellation rates, and consistent fleet management.

If you’re flying with Delta, it’s also worth knowing you can still get compensation. Flights that depart from the EU (like Paris to Atlanta) are still covered under the EU law. However, if you’re traveling entirely within the US (like Atlanta to Orlando), EU protections don’t apply—your rights fall under DOT regulations instead.

Budget Carriers

Budget airlines have opened up the skies to more people than ever—offering cheap fares and tons of destinations. But let’s be honest: flying low-cost often means giving up a bit of comfort and flexibility.

In the US, airlines like Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant offer some of the cheapest tickets around, but charge extra for almost everything—seat selection, carry-ons, even printed boarding passes. Delays and last-minute changes also happen more often than with full-service carriers.

In Europe, Ryanair and Wizz Air work much the same way. Their prices are low, but baggage rules are strict, and added fees can pile up quickly. Ryanair recently tightened its carry-on policy again, though both airlines still perform well when it comes to being on time.

Even on low-cost flights, your rights still matter—and if something goes wrong, we’re here to help you claim what you’re owed.

How to Claim Compensation FAQs

How to Claim Airline Compensation?

You can claim directly with the airline or save yourself the stress by using SkyRefund. All you have to do is fill out our claim form, leaving your personal information and flight details, and we’ll take care of the rest. It takes just a few minutes.

Can I claim airline compensation due to bad weather?

No. Weather disruptions are considered extraordinary circumstances, meaning airlines aren’t required to compensate you. However, they should still offer care (meals, accommodation) depending on the length of your wait.

What if there was a strike?

It depends. Airline staff strikes (like pilots or cabin crew) are generally eligible for compensation under EU law. Airport or air traffic control strikes are not.

What if I had connecting flights?

If all flights were part of the same booking and the delay or cancellation affected your arrival at the final destination, you are entitled to compensation—even if the delay occurred mid-journey. Check our guide to claiming missed connection compensation.

Not Sure What Applies to You?

Check the rules that apply to the airline you traveled with: