Flight Delay Compensation by Country (2026): Rules, Amounts and Thresholds Compared

Last updated: Jul 31, 2026

Whether a delayed flight qualifies for cash compensation depends mainly on the rules covering the route, not simply on how long you waited.

The EU, UK, Canada and Saudi Arabia set fixed payments for some qualifying delays. India and the UAE focus on care, refunds or alternate travel, while US federal rules mainly guarantee a refund when you reject a significantly changed itinerary.

Table of Contents

Flight delay compensation by country

This table compares the seven regimes using the rules currently in force. Private airline policies may offer more than the legal minimum.

Regime	When cash may apply	What you may receive	Current amounts	Main exception	First step
EU EU261	Arrival at the final destination is at least 3 hours late	Cash plus meals, refreshments and a hotel when required	€250, €400 or €600 by distance. The €600 amount may be reduced to €300 for a qualifying long-haul delay of 3–4 hours.	No cash when extraordinary circumstances could not have been avoided despite reasonable measures	Claim from the operating airline
UK UK261	Arrival at the final destination is at least 3 hours late	Cash plus care after 2–4 hours, depending on distance	£220, £350 or £520. A qualifying long-haul delay of 3–4 hours pays £260.	Extraordinary circumstances outside the airline’s control	Claim from the airline, then use ADR or the CAA route
Canada APPR	At least 3 hours late, caused by the airline and not required for safety, with notice 14 days or less before departure	Cash based on arrival delay and airline size	Large airlines: CAD 400, 700 or 1,000 Small airlines: CAD 125, 250 or 500	No cash for safety-required or outside-control disruptions	Claim in writing within 1 year
India DGCA CAR	No fixed cash payment for delay alone	Meals after 2–4 hours by block time; hotel in specified long-delay cases; refund or alternate flight for a domestic delay beyond 6 hours	Cash applies mainly to short-notice cancellations and denied boarding, not pure delay	Force majeure, weather, air traffic control and security causes can remove compensation and some facilities	Airline first, then AirSewa
United States 14 CFR Part 260	No federal cash payment for delay	Automatic refund if you reject a cancellation or significant change, including a 3-hour domestic or 6-hour international late arrival	Fare, taxes and eligible ancillary fees; generally within 7 business days by credit card or 20 calendar days otherwise	No compensation duty. Meals, hotels and free rebooking depend mainly on airline policy.	Airline or ticket seller, then US DOT
Saudi Arabia GACA rules	Arrival is at least 3 hours late	Cash plus care; hotel and transport after more than 6 hours	50 SDR from 3 hours; 150 SDR when the delay exceeds 6 hours	Security or safety reasons supported by reports approved by GACA can remove cash compensation	Airline first, then GACA
UAE GCAA CAR-PWP	No fixed cash payment for delay	At UAE airports: updates from 1 hour; meals and communication from 3 hours; hotel for qualifying missed connections or delays over 8 hours	Care and assistance rather than a fixed compensation tariff	The CAR-PWP does not set an extraordinary-circumstances exemption for these welfare steps	Airline first, then the GCAA

The EU and UK figures depend on route distance. Canada’s payment depends on both delay length and whether the airline is classified as large or small.

Which changes are not in force yet?

The current rules in the table still govern claims made in July 2026.

EU reform: The Council gave final approval to revised passenger-rights rules on 13 July 2026. The new regulation will apply 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal, so the existing EU261 rules remain the current basis for claims.

Canada reform: Proposed APPR amendments were published for consultation, but the current regulations remain in force and are still recorded as last amended in 2022.

The main difference: cash or care

Some systems set a fixed payment for qualifying delays. Others mainly require the airline to look after you or return your money.

Fixed cash may apply

EU: up to €600
UK: up to £520
Canada: up to CAD 1,000
Saudi Arabia: up to 150 SDR

No fixed cash for delay

United States: federal refund right
India: facilities and long-delay options
UAE: care at UAE airports

Which rules cover your flight?

Your passport normally does not decide the answer. The route and the operating airline matter more.

EU: Flights departing the EU are covered on any airline. Flights arriving from outside the EU are generally covered only when operated by an EU carrier.

UK: Flights departing the UK are covered on any airline. Inbound flights from outside the UK are generally covered when operated by a UK or EU carrier.

Canada, India and the US: Their rules cover flights to, from and within the relevant country, subject to each regulation’s detailed scope.

Saudi Arabia: GACA regulates passenger rights on domestic and international travel through Saudi airports.

UAE: CAR-PWP applies to disruptions at UAE airports and to commercial operators flying to, from or diverting to the UAE.

For example, an Emirates flight from Dubai to London is generally outside UK261 because it arrives from abroad on a non-UK, non-EU airline. The return from London is covered because it departs a UK airport.

A British Airways flight from Dubai to London is covered because it arrives in the UK on a UK carrier. On a single-ticket connection, the final-destination delay may matter when the itinerary falls within EU261 or UK261.

What each system means in practice

EU and UK

Both systems combine fixed compensation with meals, communication and a hotel when needed. Care remains available even when extraordinary circumstances remove the cash payment.

Canada

Canada pays only when the disruption was within the airline’s control and not required for safety. Rebooking and refund rights can still apply when cash compensation does not.

India

India does not pay cash for delay alone. Meals begin after 2–4 hours depending on block time, and a domestic delay beyond 6 hours triggers an alternate-flight or refund option.

DGCA Passenger Rights in India (2026): Delay, Cancellation and Denied Boarding Compensation Rules

United States

Federal rules require a refund when you reject a cancellation or significant change. They do not require fixed delay compensation, meals or hotels, although individual airlines may promise these benefits for disruptions within their control.

US Flight Delay Compensation Rules 2026: What You Are Actually Owed

Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Saudi Arabia sets a cash tariff in SDR and adds care as delays lengthen. The UAE instead sets welfare duties at UAE airports, including meals from 3 hours and accommodation in specified cases.

How to make a claim

Confirm the operating airline and route. The marketing airline on the booking may not be the company that operated the aircraft.
Record the actual times. Keep the boarding pass, booking confirmation and evidence of the final arrival time.
Claim directly from the airline. State the rule, amount or care obligation you believe applies.
Keep reasonable receipts. Reimbursement rules differ, so avoid unnecessary spending and document what the airline failed to provide.
Escalate to the regulator. Use the relevant national body only after giving the airline a chance to respond.

Frequently asked questions

Does a weather delay qualify for compensation?

Usually not for cash. Weather can remove compensation under the EU, UK, Canada and India rules, but care, rebooking or refund rights differ by regime and may still apply.

How long do I have to claim?

Deadlines vary. Canada gives one year to claim from the airline, while EU and UK claims follow the applicable national limitation period.

Should I use a claims company?

Try the free route first. Submit the claim directly to the airline and use the regulator or dispute-resolution channel before paying a company a share of the compensation.

Does the payment depend on my ticket price?

It depends on the regime. EU, UK, Canada and Saudi delay payments use fixed bands, while India’s cancellation and denied-boarding compensation is linked to the basic fare and fuel charge.

Which delay counts on a connecting journey?

The final destination often matters under EU261, UK261 and Canada’s APPR. The flights normally need to form one booking rather than separate self-transfer tickets.

Sources

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.