Flight delayed 2 hours: what rights you have exactly
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
Your flight is running 2 hours late: at this point your right to free assistance begins, but not yet to cash compensation. The next hour is the one that moves the most money under Regulation (EC) 261/2004: if the delay on arrival passes 3 hours, you're owed between €250 and €600. This guide explains what you can demand now, how the time is counted, and what to do so you don't lose the compensation if the delay keeps growing.
Did your flight arrive late?
Check for free whether your delay already gives you a right to compensation.
Check my flight1What assistance you're owed after a 2-hour delay
Article 9 of the Regulation requires the airline to give you free assistance once the departure delay passes a threshold that depends on the flight's distance: 2 hours on flights up to 1,500 km, 3 hours on flights over 1,500 km within the EU or of 1,500–3,500 km, and 4 hours on longer flights. With a 2-hour delay, any flight up to 1,500 km has already reached that threshold.
What the airline owes you from 2 hours onward
Food and drink
In a reasonable amount given the waiting time
Communication
Two free calls, emails or faxes
Hotel and transfers
If departure moves to the next day
Cash compensation
Only if arrival is delayed 3 hours or more
If the airline doesn't give you this assistance at the airport, you can pay for it yourself within reason and claim the cost back afterwards. Keep the receipts.
2The difference between a departure delay and an arrival delay
This is the most common confusion: assistance is measured by the departure delay, but cash compensation is measured by the delay on actual arrival at your final destination — that is, when the aircraft door opens (CJEU, Germanwings, C-452/13), not when it touches down.
A flight can make up time in the air
If you leave 2 hours late but the aircraft flies faster or takes a shorter route and you land less than 3 hours late, there's no cash compensation, even though you were entitled to assistance on the ground.
The reverse is also true: a flight that leaves 2 hours late and also loses time in the air, arriving 3 hours or more late, is owed compensation.
3When it turns into cash compensation
As soon as actual arrival at your final destination is delayed more than 3 hours compared with the scheduled time, the right to compensation arises for the same amount as in a cancellation (CJEU, Sturgeon, C-402/07 and C-432/07).
Compensation per passenger if arrival passes 3 hours
Up to 1,500 km
Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–London
Over 1,500 km within the EU, or 1,500–3,500 km
Madrid–Tenerife, Barcelona–Athens
Over 3,500 km outside the EU
Madrid–New York, Madrid–Buenos Aires
You can see the full hour-by-hour table, including the 5-hour threshold for a ticket refund, in our guide on how long a flight has to be delayed to claim.
Check how much I'd be owed4What to do while you wait
- 1
Ask for assistance at the desk
Request meal vouchers or access to the service the airline owes you. If it refuses, keep the receipts for anything you pay yourself.
- 2
Watch the actual arrival time, not the departure time
It's the one that decides whether you're owed cash compensation.
- 3
Document the delay
Keep screenshots of the flight board, the airline’s messages and your boarding pass.
- 4
If arrival passes 3 hours, claim in writing
State the flight number, the date and the actual departure and arrival times.
- 5
Or let AviFly do it
We check your flight for free and handle the claim. We only charge if you get your money: 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT in court.
AviFly checks your delay for free
Nothing to pay upfront. We only charge if you get your compensation.
Check my compensationFrequently asked questions
Am I already owed cash compensation after a 2-hour delay?
No. With 2 hours you're entitled to assistance (food, drink, communication), but compensation of €250 to €600 only arises if arrival at your final destination is delayed 3 hours or more.
What should I ask for at the desk after a 2-hour delay?
Meal and drink vouchers, and access to two free calls or emails. If the airline won't give it to you, pay the reasonable costs yourself and keep the receipts to claim them back later.
What if the departure delay is 2 hours but the plane lands with less delay?
If actual arrival stays below 3 hours late, there's no cash compensation, even though you were still entitled to assistance while you waited on the ground.
Is the delay counted on departure or on arrival?
Assistance is measured on departure; cash compensation is measured on actual arrival at your final destination, when the aircraft door opens (CJEU, C-452/13).
Can I claim expenses if the airline didn't give me food?
Yes. If it fails to provide assistance, you can pay the reasonable costs yourself and claim them back afterwards, submitting the receipts along with your claim.