What a flight!

Weather

Your flight was delayed by weather

Severe weather is a genuine extraordinary circumstance, and airlines know it. It is also the easiest excuse to give and the hardest for a passenger to check — so check it.

When weather really does block a claim

Storms, dense fog, heavy snow, volcanic ash and lightning strikes are outside the airline's control. If your flight could not safely operate, no cash compensation is due — however long you waited.

When it does not

  • Other airlines flew the same route at the same time.
  • The weather was hours earlier and the airline simply never recovered its schedule.
  • The aircraft was out of position because of weather somewhere else, days before.
  • De-icing was available but the airline did not book a slot.

In each of those cases the real cause is the airline's recovery planning, not the weather itself — and the regulation requires it to take reasonable measures to avoid the disruption.

What you get regardless

Meals and refreshments appropriate to the wait, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel with transfers if you are stuck overnight. If the airline left you to pay, claim those receipts back — that right has no weather exception.

Quick answer

Severe weather is a genuine extraordinary circumstance, and airlines know it. It is also the easiest excuse to give and the hardest for a passenger to check — so check it.

Main rule
EU261 (EC 261/2004)
Potential compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Delay threshold
Usually 3+ hours at final destination
Coverage
EU/EEA departures and qualifying arrivals

Common questions

How do I check what the weather actually was?
Historical airport weather is public, and flight tracking sites show whether other aircraft departed. Both are good evidence if the airline's story does not hold.
My flight was fine but the inbound aircraft was weather-delayed. Does that count?
Sometimes. The further back the original weather event, the weaker the airline's defence.
The airline refused to pay for my hotel during a storm. Is that allowed?
No. The right to care applies even when compensation does not. Keep the receipts and claim them back.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.