Frequently Asked Questions

Three main types: (1) Delays of 3 or more hours at your final destination — measured when aircraft doors open, not touchdown. (2) Cancellations with less than 14 days notice. (3) Denied boarding against your will due to overbooking. Missed connections on a single booking are also covered, assessed at the final destination arrival time.

No. EC 261/2004 applies based on the flight, not the passenger’s nationality. A passenger from Australia on a Ryanair flight departing Dublin has exactly the same rights as an Irish citizen on the same flight.

The amounts are fixed by law: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for over 3,500 km. On long-haul routes, the amount may be reduced to €300 if the airline rerouted you and you arrived within 4 hours of the scheduled time. These amounts cannot be reduced because of your fare class or how you booked

No. The threshold is 3 full hours or more at the final destination — not departure delay. If the aircraft doors opened at your destination less than 3 hours after your scheduled arrival time, the claim does not meet the EC 261 threshold. If it was 3 hours or more, it qualifies.

Possibly yes. Weather is only a valid extraordinary circumstances defence if it directly grounded your specific aircraft at your specific airport. If other airlines operated normally on the same route during the same window, or if the weather was mild enough to be foreseeable, the defence weakens. Ask the airline for the specific METAR weather data and the ATC restriction reference number. Vague ‘weather conditions’ rejection letters are routinely overturned.

Only for flights departing from an EU airport. Turkish Airlines is not an EU carrier, so EC 261 covers you only when your flight departed from an EU (or ECAA) airport. A Turkish Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Istanbul: covered. From Istanbul to Amsterdam: not covered under EC 261 (Montreal Convention may apply instead

Time limits vary by country and legal framework. In some places claims may go back several years, but the exact time period depends on where the claim is pursued.

We provide two things: (1) detailed guides on EC 261/2004, UK261, and ECAA rules so you understand exactly what you’re owed, and (2) a free eligibility checker that verifies your specific flight against those rules. If you want to claim directly with the airline, our guides walk you through each step. If you prefer a no-win-no-fee claims partner to handle it, we can connect you with one

No. FlyClaimer is an informational and referral platform. If you choose to continue with a claim service, the claim itself is handled by the relevant third-party partner.

No. We publish guides and check eligibility. If you use one of our referral partners, they manage the claim — correspondence with the airline, escalation if rejected, and where necessary legal action. We earn a referral fee from the partner if they take your case. You pay nothing upfront.

The honest range: 2 weeks to 18 months, depending on the airline and whether they dispute the claim. Airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways tend to respond within 4–8 weeks for straightforward cases. Airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air are more likely to reject at the first stage and require escalation. Cases that reach a national enforcement body or court can take 6–18 months. Most valid claims that are properly documented settle without going to court.

You need your booking confirmation (showing scheduled times) and your boarding pass. If you have them, also useful: any disruption notification from the airline, receipts for expenses during the delay, and a note of the actual arrival time at your final destination. If you don’t have everything, start anyway — the eligibility check requires only your flight number and date.

Nothing. The guides, eligibility check, and direct-claim guides are completely free. If you choose to use a referral partner, they operate on a no-win-no-fee basis — they take a percentage (typically 25–35%) from the compensation if your claim succeeds. If it doesn’t succeed, you owe nothing. FlyClaimer earns a referral fee from the partner, not from you

It depends on how you value your time and your confidence in the process. On a €600 claim, a 30% fee means the partner takes €180 and you receive €420. If you would not have filed the claim otherwise, or if the airline has already rejected you once, using a partner often results in more money than doing nothing. Our guides give you everything you need to claim directly if you prefer to keep the full amount

Reputable partners charge no upfront fees and should disclose their success percentage clearly before you submit. Always read the partner’s terms before proceeding. If a claims service asks for an upfront payment before confirming eligibility, that is a red flag.

You can reach out through our Contact page and we’ll point you to the most relevant information available on the site.

You can use the checker on the homepage or visit our main compensation guides to understand what rules may apply to your situation.