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Your missed flight could mean up to €600 in compensation!

From the moment you submit your claim, our team works directly with the airline on your behalf. You’ll always be updated at every step.

We handle the airline; you get the compensation.

Table of Contents

  • Missed a Connection? Here’s How to Claim Up to €600
  • What Every Passenger Should Know About Missed Connections
  • Are You Eligible for Compensation?
  • Missed a Connecting Flight Because of a Delay?
  • Conditions You Must Meet to Claim Compensation
  • Steps to Take After Missing a Connecting Flight
  • If Your Flight Is Delayed by More Than 5 Hours
  • If Your Flight Is Delayed Until the Next Day
  • Connecting Flights with Different Airlines – Am I Still Covered?
  • Airport Services & Benefits You’re Entitled To
  • Denied Compensation? Check If Extraordinary Circumstances Really Apply

Missed a Connection? Here’s How to Claim Up to €600

If you miss a connecting flight and arrive at your destination more than 3 hours late, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004.

In addition to compensation, the airline must also provide:
  • Meals and refreshments after 2 hours of waiting.
  • Hotel accommodation and transport if an overnight stay is required.
  • Alternative re-routing to your destination at no extra cost.

👉 Don’t let a missed connection cost you—check your claim in minutes.

What Every Passenger Should Know About Missed Connections

  • Passengers can claim if they arrive 3+ hours late at the final destination.
  • Flights must be booked under one ticket/booking reference.
  • Compensation ranges from €250 to €600, based on distance and delay.
  • The airline is responsible for rebooking or arranging alternative transport.
  • Passengers have up to 3 years (varies by country) to file a claim.
  • Extra rights include meals, drinks, and accommodation if needed.

Missed Connection: Eligible vs. Not Eligible for Compensation

When Eligible for Compensation
  • You arrived at your final destination 3+ hours late.
  • Your flights were booked under one single ticket.
  • The missed connection was caused by an issue within the airline’s control (technical fault, crew shortage, operational error).
  • The airline did not offer re-routing or failed to minimize your delay.
  • Flight was covered under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (departing from an EU airport, or arriving in the EU on an EU carrier).
When Not Eligible for Compensation
  • The delay was under 3 hours at your final destination.
  • You booked flights on separate tickets/reservations.
  • The missed connection was due to extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, political unrest, air traffic control strike).
  • You voluntarily accepted a voucher waiving rights.
  • The flight was operated entirely outside the EU by a non-EU airline.

Missed a Connecting Flight Because of a Delay?

If a delay caused you to miss your connecting flight and you reached your final destination 3+ hours late, you may be entitled to compensation of €250–€600 per passenger under EU Regulation EC 261/2004

Here’s what you should receive:

  • Compensation based on flight distance (€250–€600).
  • Meals and refreshments must be provided after 2 hours of waiting.
  • Hotel accommodation if your flight continues the next day.

👉 Don’t leave money unclaimed—check your eligibility in 2 minutes Check Compensation →

Conditions You Must Meet to Claim Compensation

To determine if you’re eligible for compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, your flight must meet the following criteria:

  • Flights departing from the EU are always covered, regardless of the airline.
  • Flights arriving in the EU are covered if operated by an EU-based airline.
  • Applies to all passengers — business travel, package holidays, budget airlines, and children with paid seats.
  • You can claim compensation for flights up to 6 years in the past (varies by country).
  • Both delays and cancellations that cause a missed connection can qualify for compensation.

IMPORTANT : Even if the airline provides vouchers, meals, refreshments, or hotel accommodation, you may still be entitled to cash compensation of up to €600.

Steps to Take After Missing a Connecting Flight

To strengthen your claim and ensure you get what you’re owed:

  • Ask the airline for written confirmation of the cause of the delay.
  • Save all documents: tickets, boarding passes, expense receipts, and vouchers.
  • Claim your basic entitlements: food, drinks, and accommodation if needed.
  • Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you can claim.
NOTE : 👉 The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

If Your Flight Is Delayed by More Than 5 Hours

When your flight is delayed by over 5 hours, you are not required to continue waiting. Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you have important rights and options available to you:

  • Cancel your trip and request a full refund of your ticket.
  • Ask for alternative transportation to your final destination at no additional cost.
  • Receive care and assistance such as meals, drinks, and communication access while waiting.

Tip: If you choose not to continue your journey, always request the refund in writing to avoid receiving vouchers instead of cash.

If Your Flight Is Delayed Until the Next Day

If your flight is postponed to the following day, the airline must provide:

  • Hotel accommodation for the night.
  • Transport between the airport and the hotel.
  • Meals and refreshments during the waiting period.

These rights apply regardless of the cause of delay. Even in extraordinary circumstances, airlines must provide care and accommodation

👉 Bottom line: If your flight stretches into the next day, your airline must take care of your stay, meals, and transport costs.

Connecting Flights with Different Airlines – Am I Still Covered?

Your eligibility depends on whether your journey was booked under one reservation or separate tickets:

  • Single Booking (✅ Eligible):
    • Even if multiple airlines are involved, you’re protected.
    • If a delay causes you to miss a connection and arrive 3+ hours late, you can claim compensation
    • The operating airline must provide re-routing and alternative transport.
  • Separate Bookings (❌ Not Eligible):
    • If flights were purchased individually with different airlines, compensation does not apply.
    • The airline is not responsible for arranging onward transport
    • Example: Booking Paris–Frankfurt with Airline A and Frankfurt–New York separately with Airline B will not qualify as a protected connection.

Tip: Always book your journey under a single reservation when possible—it strengthens your rights under EU261.

Airport Services & Benefits You’re Entitled To

When your flight is delayed, EU Regulation EC 261/2004 ensures that airlines must provide free assistance. What you receive depends on your flight distance and the length of the delay:

Flight Distance
  • ✈️ Short flights (up to 1,500 km)
  • 🌍 Medium flights (1,500 – 3,500 km)
  • 🛫 Long-haul flights (over 3,500 km)
Delay Time
  • Over 2 hours
  • Over 3 hours
  • Over 4 hours
What You’re Entitled To
  • - Free meals & drinks - 2 free phone calls, emails, or faxes
  • - Free meals & drinks - 2 free phone calls, emails, or faxes
  • - Free meals & drinks - 2 free phone calls, emails, or faxes

Extra benefit: If the delay lasts overnight, the airline must also provide hotel accommodation and transport to/from the airport.

Tip: 👉 Don’t let your rights go unnoticed—check if you also qualify for up to €600 compensation.

Denied Compensation? Check If Extraordinary Circumstances Really Apply

Sometimes a missed connection is caused by events outside the airline’s control. In such situations, passengers may not be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004.

Examples of Extraordinary Circumstances
  • Birds striking the aircraft engines
  • Severe or extreme weather conditions
  • Strikes not directly linked to the airline (e.g., air traffic control strike)
  • Unavoidable security risks
  • Airport or airspace closures
  • Political unrest or instability
When Airlines Cannot Use This as an Excuse

Even if an airline claims “extraordinary circumstances,” passengers may still qualify for compensation if:

  • The airline could have reasonably prevented the issue (e.g., not stocking enough de-icing fluid before winter weather).
  • The disruption was worsened because the airline failed to take proper preventive measures.

Example: If the airline blames snow, but the real cause was their lack of de-icer supply, they may still be liable.

Why Legal Expertise Matters

Proving whether an event was truly extraordinary can be complex. Airlines often try to deny compensation under this rule. With professional support, passengers can challenge these claims and increase their chances of receiving up to €600 in compensation.