Flight delayed? What to do, step by step
A practical checklist for delays: verify the information, know your options, and understand your rights.
1. Verify the delay with two sources
Check the flight number on a tracker and in your airline's own app or website. The airline's channels are authoritative for rebooking and compensation; trackers are often faster at reflecting operational changes. If the two disagree, trust the airline for decisions and keep checking both.
2. Mind the gate and the boarding time
A delayed departure does not mean a delayed boarding: gates can close at the originally planned time, and delays can shrink. Stay within reach of the gate area and keep an eye on the airport's own screens, which override everything else.
3. Know your rights
Passenger rights depend on where you fly and with whom. For flights departing the EU, or arriving in the EU on an EU carrier, Regulation 261/2004 sets out care (meals, refreshments, accommodation) and possible compensation for long delays, unless extraordinary circumstances apply. Other regions, such as the UK, US, Canada and Brazil, have their own rules.
Keep receipts for reasonable expenses caused by the delay, most claims require them.
4. Connections and the last flight of the day
If a delay threatens a connection on the same booking, the airline is responsible for rebooking you. Talk to staff or use the airline app's rebooking flow as early as possible, options disappear fastest for the last departures of the day.