Flight disrupted? Here’s how much money you should actually get

You probably already know that if your flight is delayed or canceled, you might be entitled to compensation. This is money that airlines pay to make up for the inconvenience of a flight disruption.

But how much can you actually get? 

Well, that depends on where you're flying and whether you qualify. Airlines typically have to follow the local laws of the countries they operate in. So, if your flight is disrupted, your compensation is determined by that country’s air passenger regulations.

Not every delay or cancellation qualifies for compensation, though. Generally, the airline must be responsible for the disruption for you to be eligible.

So, let’s take a closer look at how much compensation different countries offer!

In the EU

The EU, including countries like Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, all follow regulation EC 261.

EC 261 is currently the strongest passenger rights regulation in the world because it has very clear conditions for qualifying for compensation.

Unlike some other laws, you get a standard amount of compensation. It’s calculated based on how far you’re flying and whether your flight is within the EU or not.

• €250 for flights under 1,500km

• €400 for all flights within the EU over 1,500km, or for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km

• €600 for flights over 3,500km

Heads up: Even if you’re traveling long distances, destinations that are geographically outside Europe but are technically EU territory are still considered to be a flight within Europe. So that means, if you had a delay from Paris to Reunion Island, which is east of Madagascar, unfortunately you’d still only get €400!

In the UK

UK 261 is basically the same law as Europe’s EC 261. By the end of 2020, the UK adopted many of the same passenger rights into its own law, which means the compensation is calculated in the same way — but in pounds instead of euros.

• £220 for flights under 1,500km

• £350 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km

• £520 for flights over 3,500km

There are times where your flight could fall under both UK and EU laws. In those cases, you can only get compensation under the law you claim with. No double compensation allowed!

In Brazil

Unlike the UK and the EU, passengers in Brazil don’t have standard compensation amounts when they experience a flight delay or cancellation. Their regulation, ANAC 400, instead requires courts to review each case individually.

This means that the courts could award you more or less money depending on whether you had to pay for essentials such as food, drinks, and transportation, or if you missed out on important events such as weddings, a planned vacation, concerts, and the like. In legal terms, you’re paid material or moral damages.

Since each person could receive a different amount of compensation — even if they were on the same flight — it can be difficult to figure out exactly how much you could get. However, you could get up to R$10,000 per person.

In Turkey

SHY Passenger, which is Turkey’s air passenger rights regulation, awards you compensation for cancellations, if you were denied boarding or if you were delayed over 3 hours.

The amount you get is based on the distance you’re flying and is calculated in euros. However, it’s paid out in Turkish lira, which means the amount you get can vary slightly depending on the exchange rate. Banks will always use the exchange rate from the day you purchased your ticket.

• €100 in Turkish lira for domestic flights

• €200 in Turkish lira for international flights under 1,500km

• €400 in Turkish lira for international flights between 1,500km and 3,500km

• €600 in Turkish lira for international flights over 3,500km

In Saudi Arabia

Compensation in Saudi Arabia differs depending on what happened to your flight. If you had a delayed flight, you get compensation based on how late you arrive.

• €60 for 3 to 6 hour delays

• €180 for delays over 6 hours

However, if you had a canceled flight, or if you had a delay and chose not to fly, you get awarded compensation based on what you paid for your ticket instead.

• 50% of ticket value for flights canceled 60 to 14 days before

• 75% of ticket value for flights canceled 14 days to 24 hours before

• 150% of ticket value for flights canceled less than 24 hours before

In the US

There are currently no established rules requiring airlines in the US to compensate passengers following a flight delay or cancellation. Though this may change in the future, generally you will only have the option to either refund or rebook your flight.

Some airlines may offer compensation as an extension of goodwill, but this purely depends on company policies.

In other countries

While some other countries, like Canada, China, and India, offer some compensation for flight delays, most of the world sadly still lacks passenger protection laws.

We hope to see more countries adopt these rights so travelers aren’t left stranded without support when facing a delay or cancellation. After all, no matter where you are in the world, you deserve fair compensation!

Check compensation with us!

Still unsure how much — or if — you’re owed compensation for your flight disruption? That’s what we’re here for. Simply use our easy compensation check and we’ll tell you exactly how much you’re entitled to.

Header image by Cottonbro Studio on Pexels.