Here’s the magic number for most flights: three hours. That’s the minimum delay that triggers compensation under Europe’s mighty EC261 law. If your flight lands 2 hours and 59 minutes late, the airline owes you a sincere shrug and a packet of pretzels. Hit three hours? You’re looking at €250 to €600 per person, depending on distance.
But wait—there’s a catch. The clock starts ticking when the doors open at your destination, not when you take off. So if your pilot pulls a "Fast and Furious" maneuver and makes up 15 minutes in the air, you might claw back under the wire. Airlines hate this one weird trick.
Short Haul? Don’t Let the Tiny Plane Fool You
For flights under 1,500 kilometers (think London to Paris or New York to Buffalo), the compensation is €250. That’s about the same as a decent hotel room where you could cry in the shower. For medium flights (1,500 to 3,500 km), you get €400. That’s a full set of noise-canceling headphones—or therapy, whichever comes first.
Anything over 3,500 km? €600. That’s almost enough to buy you a first-class ticket for the next flight, which is a very tempting, very toxic relationship move. Pro tip: If your flight is delayed by four hours or more, the airline also has to offer you a meal and a hotel. Yes, you get a free sandwich AND cash. Capitalism, but make it tragic.
