✈ Flight delay · EU law · up to €600
Flight delay? Secure up to €600 in compensation
– claim now.
Was your flight delayed? Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation per person. Passengers Friend checks and enforces your claim – no risk, no upfront cost.
No upfront payments and 100% risk-free.
⚖️Experts in EU air passenger rights
💶 Up to €600 in flight compensation
➕ Reimbursement of consequential costs included
✅ No Win - No Fee
⭐ 4,4 at Google
OVERVIEW
Flight delay & compensation – At a glance
All key facts regarding your claim for compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 – compactly and clearly summarized.
EASY WAY TO COMPENSATION
No stress. No hassle. No risk.
Passengers Friend handles the entire process – from the initial check to the payout into your account. You don’t have to worry about a thing.
No Win – No Fee
Commission only upon success – you take no financial risk.
Only 25% Commission
Cheaper than Flightright and AirHelp – you keep more of your money.
Reimbursement of Consequential Costs
Hotel, taxi, meals due to waiting time – we claim it all back for you.
Check claim
Submit flight details for free – online in 2 minutes.
We handle it
Passengers Friend enforces your claim against the airline.
Receive payout
Compensation directly to your account – with no further effort.
COMPENSATION AMOUNTS UNDER EU LAW
How much compensation am I entitled to for a flight delay?
The amount of compensation is based exclusively on the distance between the departure and destination airports – not on the ticket price. For long-haul flights, up to €600 per person is possible.
| Flight Distance | Compensation per Person * |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | up to €250 |
| 1,500 – 3,500 km | up to €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (Long-haul) | up to €600 ** |
* Figures in accordance with EU Regulation EC 261/2004. In addition, proven consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals) can be reimbursed separately – Passengers Friend also enforces these for you. ** In accordance with EU air passenger rights, a statutory cap applies to purely intra-community flights within the European Union: The compensation payment is capped at a maximum of €400, regardless of whether the flight distance exceeds 3,500 km.
When is the compensation amount reduced?
For flights over 3,500 km, compensation can be reduced to €300 if the actual delay at the destination is less than 4 hours and the airline offered alternative transportation that brought you to your destination no more than 2 hours late.
Check for free how much you are entitled to
In 2 minutes – directly online, no risk
CLAIM REQUIREMENTS
When am I entitled to compensation for a flight delay?
For a compensation claim under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, the following requirements must be met:
Flight departs from the EU or lands in the EU with an EU airline
Departure from an EU airport – or arrival in the EU with an EU airline.
Delay at destination of at least 3 hours
The decisive factor is the actual arrival time at the destination – not the scheduled departure time.
No extraordinary circumstances
The delay is not caused by an event that was unavoidable even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
Within the statute of limitations
In Germany: 3 years from the end of the year in which the flight took place.
Quick Check: Is my flight eligible?
Flight to or from an EU airport?
Delay at destination ≥ 2 hours?
No clear extraordinary circumstances (storm, air traffic control strike, etc.)?
Flight not older than 3 years?
Unsure whether your flight counts?
We check for free – in 2 minutes, without risk
WHEN DOES THE CLAIM NOT APPLY?
Extraordinary circumstances: When does the airline not have to pay?
Airlines are exempt from paying compensation if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances. Important: In practice, airlines often wrongly invoke this exemption – for example, in the case of technical defects, which do not constitute extraordinary circumstances.
| ✓ Airline is responsible → Claim applies | ✕ Extraordinary circumstance → No claim |
|---|---|
| Airline staff shortage | Severe weather / extreme weather conditions |
| Strike by the airline's own staff | Air traffic control strike (external) |
| Technical problems with the aircraft (regular maintenance) | Lightning strike |
| Financial problems of the airline | Political crises |
| Non-compliance with staff rest periods | Natural disasters |
| Rotational delay from the previous flight | Bird strike |
| Airspace closure / airport closure | |
| Medical emergencies on board |
⚡ Note: Passengers friend reviews every rejection
Airlines reject many valid claims citing extraordinary circumstances – even when these do not legally apply. We know the most common rejection patterns and consistently challenge unfounded decisions, taking legal action if necessary.
SPECIAL CASE
Missed connecting flight due to delay: What to do?
If you miss your connecting flight due to a delay and both flights are on a single booking, the 3-hour rule applies at the final destination – regardless of whether the connecting flight is operated by another airline.
What to do immediately?
- Speak to the gate staff immediately
- Request food and meal vouchers
- Keep all receipts and proof of purchase
- Request written confirmation of the delay at the counter
- Document all additional expenses
What am I entitled to?
- Compensation under EU 261/2004 (€250–€600)
- Rebooking onto the next available flight
- Food and refreshments (for waiting times of 2h+)
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is needed
- Reimbursement of consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals)
STEP BY STEP
How to proceed in the event of a flight delay
Document
Keep boarding pass, request written confirmation of the delay at the counter, photograph the departure board.
Check claim
Free on passengersfriend.com – in 2 minutes you will know whether and how much you are entitled to.
We handle it
Passengers friend enforces your claim – no effort, no financial risk for you.
What documents do I need?
- ✓ Boarding pass or digital booking confirmation
- ✓ Booking reference / PNR
- ✓ ID card or passport
- + Written delay confirmation from the airline (if available)
- + Receipts for consequential costs (hotel, transfer, meals)
WHY PASSENGERS FRIEND?
No stress. No effort. More money in your account.
Three ways to claim your compensation. Only one really makes sense.
Do it yourself
- Time-consuming correspondence with the airline
- Complicated documentation required
- Airlines often reject claims unjustifiably
- Lawsuit at your own risk and expense
With Passengers friend
- Only 25% commission – most affordable provider
- No success = no fee
- Legal proceedings possible – no extra charge
- German company, German law
- VAT always already included
Hire a lawyer
- High legal fees – even if you lose
- Long processing times
- Usually not flight passenger rights specialists
- A lot of paperwork on your end
Transparent fees – cheaper than any competitor
For a €600 claim: You receive €450, our success fee is €150 (25% gross, incl. VAT).
For comparison: AirHelp charges 35%, Flightright from 28%. In the event of a lawsuit, we remain cheaper than all competitors with a total fee of 35%.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
What our customer say about us
“Didn't have to worry about a single thing. The entire process was taken care of and in the end the full amount was enforced. Had I tried this myself, I would have failed.”
Flight delay · Long haul“Took a little bit of time, but the result was all that mattered. Fair commission, no stress. Friends and family already know about you – highly recommended.”
Flight cancellation“Simple submission, hassle-free upload, then they handled everything. The result even exceeded my expectations. Gladly again.”
Delay · €600 compensation“Always reachable by phone, friendly, fast. Contact Passengers Friend right away if something is wrong with your flight – the results speak for themselves.”
Missed connecting flightFAQ
Everything about flight delay compensation
No hidden costs. Clear answers.
When is a flight considered delayed under the EU Regulation?
The decisive factor is the actual arrival time at the destination airport. For compensation, the flight must arrive at the destination at least 3 hours late.
What happens if the airline rejects my claim?
We contest the rejection and will take legal action if necessary. A litigation fee of 10% gross only applies if a lawyer has to be involved. Even then, with a total fee of 35%, we remain cheaper than most competitors.
My flight was 2 years ago. Do I still have a claim?
In Germany, a limitation period of 3 years applies, calculated from the end of the calendar year in which the flight took place. A flight in March 2023 therefore will not expire until December 31, 2026. It is best to check your claim now.
Do I have to contact the airline myself?
No. As soon as you have submitted your claim to Passengers friend, we take over all communication with the airline. You don't have to worry about anything.
Do I also get money back if I had consequential costs?
Yes. In addition to the compensation payment (up to €600), proven consequential costs – e.g., for hotels, transfers, or missed connections – can be reimbursed separately. Passengers Friend will also recover these costs for you.
Does the EU Regulation also apply to non-EU airlines?
Yes, if your flight departs from an EU airport – regardless of which airline operates it. If you fly from a non-EU airport, the regulation only applies if the operating airline is based in the EU.