Flight Delayed 3 Hours
Compensation Guide
Disruption
The 3-hour threshold applies at your final destination — not at departure. A 4-hour departure delay that is recovered in air does not qualify.
The 3-hour clock is measured at the time the aircraft doors open at your final destination — not when wheels touch down, not when you land at a stopover.
US DOT 3-hour tarmac rule is separate — passengers must be offered deplaning after 3 hours on the tarmac. This is different from EC261's 3-hour arrival delay threshold.
Gyro writers are subject matter experts in passenger rights who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including EU regulations, government publications, court rulings, and airline policies. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
€250 for under 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500-3,500 km, €600 for over 3,500 km (4+ hours). For 3,500+ km flights with 3-4 hour delays, a 50% reduction (€300) may apply.
EC261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports (any airline) and flights arriving in the EU on EU carriers. The delay is measured at arrival, not departure.
Does a 3-hour delay at a stopover count?
No. EC261 compensation is based on arrival delay. If the pilot made up time and you arrived less than 3 hours late, you don't qualify.
No. The US has no equivalent of EC261's 3-hour compensation rule. US DOT provides refund rights for 'significant' delays but no fixed cash compensation.
Technically no — you need 3 hours or more. However, times can be contested (aircraft door opening vs. wheels down). Check your specific case.
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