Here’s where it gets juicy. Airlines can avoid paying if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances. Think: volcanic ash, a bird strike, an actual lightning bolt from Zeus, or a pilot who forgot his pants. Bad weather? They’re off the hook. Strikes? Sometimes yes, sometimes no—it’s a legal fog machine.
Get Paid for Waiting: Flight Delay Compensation Explained
But here’s the secret: airlines love to blame "weather" when it’s actually a broken toilet or a lazy crew. In 2026, a court ruled that a mechanical issue is NOT an extraordinary circumstance. So if the engine smells funny, that’s their problem, not yours. You get the cash. Fun fact: Birds are technically extraordinary. Pigeons, however, are just ordinary jerks.
The Waiting Game: You Have More Time Than You Think
You don’t have to file your claim while still wearing the same socks you left home in. In the EU, you have up to three years to demand your euros. In the UK, it’s six years (because Brits love a good queue). In the US, however, the rules are softer—they only owe you a refund if you’re bumped, not just delayed. It’s like the Wild West, but with worse coffee.
Don’t wait too long, though. Airlines keep records for a while, but they’re also masters of forgetting. I once waited 11 months to claim €600, and the airline responded with a PDF that looked like a ransom note. Still paid. The moral: sulk now, claim later.
Flight Delay Compensation: AirAdvisor's Expert Guide
