My Madrid–Bogotá flight landed five hours late. How much?

Over 3,500 km outside the EU, a delay of four hours or more is worth €600 per passenger.

I booked with British Airways but flew Iberia. Who pays?

The operating carrier — Iberia — even though the booking was made elsewhere.

How long do I have to claim?

It depends on the country whose courts would hear the case: three years in Germany, five in Spain, six in the UK and Ireland, two in some others. Older flights are often still claimable, so it is worth asking.

Airline guide

Iberia compensation

Iberia's long-haul network to Latin America means delays there can reach the top €600 band — the highest EU261 pays.

Quick answer

Iberia's long-haul network to Latin America means delays there can reach the top €600 band — the highest EU261 pays.

Airline: Iberia
Main hub: Madrid
Potential compensation: €250–€600 per passenger
Route coverage: EU departures; EU-airline arrivals

Does Iberia have to pay?

Iberia flies from EU and EEA airports, so EC Regulation 261/2004 applies to those departures regardless of where the flight is going. Short-haul across Spain and Europe sits in the €250–400 bands; Madrid to the Americas sits above 3,500 km, in the €600 band. Most of those routes fall in the €250 band, with longer ones reaching €400.

What usually decides the claim

On flights over 3,500 km, an arrival delay between three and four hours can be reduced by half, to €300.
Iberia Express and some franchise flights are still Iberia's responsibility if the ticket says so.
Technical faults discovered during routine maintenance are not extraordinary circumstances.
Codeshare flights are claimed against the airline that actually operated the aircraft.

How to send your claim

Iberia takes claims through its online customer relations form. Include the booking reference and attach boarding passes for every passenger.

If they refuse

Airlines often reject a first claim with a one-line reference to extraordinary circumstances. Ask them to state the specific cause and the reasonable measures they took. If the answer is unconvincing or none arrives within 14 days, escalate to the national enforcement body in the country of departure — for Madrid-based flights that is the regulator of that state — or to an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.

Common questions

My Madrid–Bogotá flight landed five hours late. How much?: Over 3,500 km outside the EU, a delay of four hours or more is worth €600 per passenger.
I booked with British Airways but flew Iberia. Who pays?: The operating carrier — Iberia — even though the booking was made elsewhere.
How long do I have to claim?: It depends on the country whose courts would hear the case: three years in Germany, five in Spain, six in the UK and Ireland, two in some others. Older flights are often still claimable, so it is worth asking.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — EUR-Lex
Air passenger rights in the EU — European Commission
Iberia official claim information — Iberia