The delay is measured at the destination
For compensation, the key question is not how long the plane waited on the runway or how late it left. It is how late you reached your final destination. Under EU rules, arrival generally means the moment at least one aircraft door opens and passengers can get off. A delay of three hours or more can qualify, as can a cancellation, unless the airline can show that extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption.
The rules cover flights departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, and certain flights arriving in the EU from elsewhere when operated by an EU-based airline. Eligibility also depends on the route and circumstances, so a missed connection may matter if it makes you arrive at your ticketed final destination at least three hours late.
Compensation is separate from a refund
When compensation is due, the amount is set by the flight’s distance, not by the ticket price. It is generally €250, €400, or €600. That payment is distinct from other rights: a cancellation may also require the airline to offer a choice between a refund and rerouting, while long waits can trigger obligations to provide meals or accommodation in qualifying cases.
“Extraordinary circumstances” means events outside the airline’s control that could not have been avoided even if it had taken reasonable measures. Severe weather or air-traffic-control restrictions may fit; an ordinary operational problem does not automatically qualify. The airline must connect the disruption to the circumstances—it is not enough simply to call a flight “extraordinary.”
Keep the paperwork
Ask the airline for the reason for the disruption, and keep your booking, boarding pass, and receipts for necessary expenses. Claims go to the airline, not the airport. The practical consequence is that a cheap ticket does not necessarily mean a small compensation payment: when the rules apply, distance—not fare—is what sets the amount.
