An overview of situations in which an airline is obliged to pay compensation or provide assistance (cancellation, delay of more than 3 hours, denied boarding).

Airlines dont have to pay you for every single problem, but there are clear situations when they are legally required to give you compensation or at least provide proper assistance. Knowing these rules can save you a lot of money and stress.

The most common cases where you have strong rights are flight cancellations, long delays, and denied boarding due to overbooking.

If your flight is canceled, the airline usually must offer you a choice between a full refund or a rebooking to your destination. If they dont inform you at least 14 days in advance, or cant offer a suitable alternative flight, you are often entitled to compensation. On top of that, they should provide meals, refreshments, and if necessary, hotel accommodation when the cancellation forces you to wait overnight.

For delays, the key moment is when you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late. If the delay is the airlines responsibility and not caused by extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or strikes, you may claim compensation. The longer the flight distance, the higher the possible amount.

Denied boarding happens when the airline overbooks the flight and doesnt let you on board even though you have a valid ticket. In this case you have very strong rights. You can claim compensation, and the airline must still get you to your destination, usually on the next available flight. They should also provide meals and hotel if needed.

In all these situations, the airline is also responsible for care and assistance. This means food and drinks during long waits, communication, and accommodation when an overnight stay becomes necessary. These rights apply even in some cases when compensation itself is not due.

Its important to understand that not every problem qualifies for money. If the issue was caused by bad weather, political instability, or security alerts, the airline is usually exempt from paying compensation, but they still often have to help with rebooking and basic care.

Always collect as much evidence as possible at the airport, photos of boards, written confirmations, boarding passes and receipts for any expenses you had to pay yourself. These documents make your claim much stronger later.

Understanding when airlines must pay you gives you confidence to act correctly instead of just accepting whatever they offer.