EU Retains €250‑600 Flight Delay Compensation; Experts Advise Airport Arrival Times

The 27 European Union member states have agreed to keep the current three‑hour threshold for flight‑delay compensation. Passengers whose flights are delayed by three hours or more may claim compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the distance of the journey. The proposal to raise the threshold to four hours was rejected, and the decision will be forwarded to the European Parliament for further review.

Airline and travel experts advise passengers to allow extra time at airports: for domestic flights, arrive at least 90 minutes to two hours before departure, while larger hub airports may require two to two and a half hours. For international flights, a standard recommendation is three hours, extending to three and a half‑four hours at busy airports or during peak travel seasons. Additional factors such as luggage drop deadlines (45–60 minutes before departure), airport size, time of day, and weather conditions can affect the required arrival time.