Travel Insurance Flight Delay | AirHelp (2024)

When your flight is delayed for reasons within the airline's control such as overbooking, you have a right to care from your airline. This means that the airline is responsible for keeping you comfortable as you wait for your rescheduled flight. Depending on how long the delay is, meal and drink vouchers, an amenity kit, communication, and accommodation may be provided by the airline. However, flight delays caused by extraordinary circ*mstances such as bad weather and mechanical issues are not covered by the airline.

Travel insurance ensures you're not stranded for the duration of the delay. This insurance comes with certain fixed benefits to help you cover any reasonable additional costs incurred as a result of the delay. These include food and drinks taken as you wait at the airport. If the delay goes on for more than 12 hours, travel insurance covers accommodation and transport costs incurred as you make your way from the airport to the hotel and back.

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Travel insurance also provides you with an option to abandon your flight arrangements and claim the cost of flights and unused accommodation.

Before incurring any additional costs as a result of a flight delay, it is important to read your travel insurance policy document to make sure you understand the circ*mstances under which it will come into play as well as the limits provided. This makes sure you stick to your limits, which is a key factor for travel insurance flight delay compensation. It is important to keep any receipts from the incurred additional expenses resulting from a flight delay. These are required by your insurance provider as proof of claim. They also provide your insurer with the total amount spent waiting for the delay to be resolved.

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

We should note that if extraordinary circ*mstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circ*mstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.

Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

In some circ*mstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Calculator.

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.

• Ask why the flight was delayed or canceled.

• Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

• If you had a canceled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.

  See Also

  Claiming for costs and compensationFlight delay compensation: What you need to know

• Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.

• Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to compensation.