Flight delay compensation

The basic rule is simple: do not look only at how late the flight departed, but at how late you arrived at the final destination. If arrival was three hours or more late, the case is worth checking. If departure was three hours late but the aircraft recovered time and arrived earlier, the claim may be weaker.

The second condition is the route. Flights from the EU, flights to the EU on a European carrier and journeys under one booking through European hubs are often the most important for travelers from Serbia. Passenger nationality is usually not decisive.

The third condition is the reason for delay. A technical fault, late aircraft rotation, operational problems or crew shortage may often sit within the airline's responsibility. Bad weather, airport closure, air traffic control or safety events may be stronger arguments against fixed compensation, but even then you should check what the airline did to reduce the consequences.

The European model uses fixed amounts usually linked to route distance: 250 euros for shorter flights, 400 euros for medium routes and 600 euros for long routes. Ticket price is not decisive. A passenger who paid a cheap fare may have the same right as a passenger who paid much more.

On very long routes and delays between three and four hours, the amount can be reduced in some situations. For connections, the whole booking matters because distance and arrival at the final destination can change the assessment.

For flights from Belgrade, Nis or Kraljevo to European hubs, 250 or 400 euros are often relevant, while long intercontinental routes through EU hubs are a separate category. The safest approach is to establish the route first, then actual arrival time, then the cause of delay.

Airlines often cite bad weather, air traffic control, slot, previous flight, technical reason, operational reasons or safety. Some of these reasons can genuinely defeat a claim. The problem is that generic wording is not enough for a good assessment.

If the reason is weather, ask where the weather issue occurred and whether it directly affected your flight. If the reason is a slot, ask when the restriction lasted and why the final delay was so long. If the reason is a technical fault, ask whether this was ordinary operational risk or a genuinely unusual event.

A good claim does not ignore extraordinary circumstances. It asks for specific facts. That is much stronger than a message saying only that you were delayed and want money.

Keep the boarding pass, booking confirmation, airline messages, flight-status screenshot and receipts for waiting costs. If you receive a meal voucher, keep it. If assistance is not provided, spend reasonably and keep receipts.

If the wait goes overnight, ask for hotel accommodation and transfer. The right to care is separate from fixed compensation. Even if it later turns out that 250, 400 or 600 euros are not owed, food, accommodation or transfer costs may still matter separately.

For connections, immediately ask for a new solution to the final destination. If you buy a new ticket yourself because the airline is not helping, keep proof that you asked for assistance and that the cost was reasonable.

The claim should be short but precise: flight number, date, route, scheduled and actual arrival time, booking reference, explanation you were given and what you are requesting. If you have costs, separate them from fixed compensation.

Write that you request processing of a flight-delay compensation claim and, if the airline believes extraordinary circumstances apply, that you request a specific explanation of the event, time period and effect on your flight. This moves the response from generic wording into checkable facts.

If the airline does not respond or rejects the claim with a broad sentence, the next step is a follow-up with evidence and clear questions. The child guides below this page cover exactly those scenarios: technical fault, bad weather, slot, previous aircraft, hotel and deadlines.