Claim Your KLM Flight Delay Compensation

The KLM group achieved an arrival punctuality rate of 75% in 2023, which places it in the top 5 European aircraft operators based on this criteria. However, that means there is a 25% chance for passengers on KLM flights to not reach their final destination on time which generates a lot of frustration and stress for those affected. 

Luckily, European Regulation 261/2004 protects the rights of air passengers who have experienced a KLM flight delay, cancelation, or denied boarding. Travelers could claim as much as $700 (€600) in compensation from the Dutch airline if their flight was disrupted and KLM was to blame for it. 

The procedure of claiming KLM compensation is as simple as possible with SkyRefund: to initiate a claim, you must only submit your flight details and personal information using our designated form . Our professional team will manage the next steps and will keep you updated every step of the way. SkyRefund’s legal experts will liaise with KLM on your behalf and exert all efforts to defend your rights, even if this means taking the case to court. 

You can verify your eligibility with our free calculator and submit you KLM flight claim on our website. 

Air passenger rights for a KLM flight delay

Based on the provisions set in EC 261/2004 air passengers who experience a severe flight delay on a KLM operated journey are entitled to compensation from the airline. There are certain conditions that have to be met for compensation eligibility, namely: 

• the plane reached its final destination more than 3 hours later than planned (the plane is considered arrived once it has come to a full stop and the door has been opened);
• the delay was not the result of extraordinary circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions, restrictions imposed by the air traffic control staff, strikes at the airport(s), bird strikes, and security risks. 

EU261 is applied to all flights departing from EU airports, no matter what airline operates them, and to all flights operated by EU-registered air carriers. Thus, regardless of the passenger’s nationality, traveling with KLM from or to the United States, or any other non-European destination, would be protected by EC261’s provisions. In fact, long-haul flights are eligible for the highest amounts of compensation, as you will see in the next section.

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Compensation amounts for a KLM delayed flight

The size of compensation you can receive for a KLM flight delay depends on the flight distance and the duration of the delay. In any case, the arrival at your final destination should be at least 3 hours after the officially announced landing time in order for you to be eligible for reimbursement.

Missed connection and denied boarding 

If a KLM flight delay or cancelation causes you to miss a connecting flight, you will also be entitled to compensation according to EU261. The only requirement is that your two (or more) flights be booked under the same reservation number. That way, you will be able to claim compensation for your whole journey distance (that would mean higher reimbursement amount for connecting flights overseas).

Additionally, if the KLM staff at the airport refuses to let you on board due to overbooking or some other operational reason, you will also be eligible for compensation under EU261’s provisions.

How to maximize your chances for KLM flight delay compensation

• Contact the airline staff and insist on an explicit explanation for the delay: KLM could try to hide the real reason for the delay but if you suspect that there are no extraordinary circumstances involved, you should try to discover the truth.

• Request snacks and refreshments, food vouchers, and accommodation if applicable: in the event of a severe delay or cancelation, EU261 obliges KLM to provide meals and refreshments to the affected passengers. If they need to stay somewhere overnight, the airline is required to find suitable accommodation as well. 

• Collect all applicable documentation: any proof that the flight delay was not the result of extraordinary circumstances could be useful for your claim. You can take pictures of the information boards at the airport, make screenshots of emails or text messages, record airport announcements, etc. Additionally, we advise you to save the receipts for any delay-related expenses you were forced to make, those could be reimbursed later.
• Do not accept travel vouchers or credits as compensation:  in doing so, you would officially withdraw your right for EU261 compensation.

Why trust SkyRefund for your compensation claim

• Quick and effortless

To submit a claim for KLM compensation with SkyRefund you only need to fill in a short form with the flight itinerary and your personal data; the whole process wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. 

• Experience and expertise 

Our years of experience in protecting air passenger rights have given us the confidence that any compensation claim case can be solved, as long as we commit our best efforts to it. The legal experts at SkyRefund are determined to bring success to each of our customers and over 700,000 travelers from all over the world can confirm that.

• No win, no fee

You will not take any risks by submitting a claim with SkyRefund: we strictly adhere to our “No win, no fee” work principle. This means that until you have obtained your compensation from KLM, we will not charge you a commission fee. Once we have successfully negotiated your KLM reimbursement and you have received the money, 35% of the compensation amount will be charged for our services.

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