Flight Delayed or Cancelled? What to Do in the First 30 Minutes at the Airport
In short
When your flight is delayed or cancelled, the first few minutes matter. Photograph the departure board, keep your boarding pass and any airline texts, then file your compensation claim (€250–€600) with the ClaimWinger app – straight from your phone, in 5 minutes. The app checks the delay automatically and guides you step by step.
Check if your flight qualifies for compensation
Fill in the form below to find out if you can claim up to EUR 600 for a delayed or cancelled flight. No upfront cost - you pay only if you win.
First 5 minutes: secure your evidence
The more evidence you gather on the spot, the easier it is to prove your claim later. Before you leave the departures area, do this:
Photograph the departure board
A photo of the board showing "delayed"/"cancelled", your flight number and the time is the fastest proof. Also screenshot the notification in the airline app.
Keep your boarding pass and booking
Don't throw away the boarding pass or booking confirmation. Save every text and email from the airline – especially the one stating the reason for the disruption.
Note the actual times
Write down when you actually departed and landed. For compensation, what counts is the arrival time at your destination, not departure. FlightAware and FlightRadar24 help confirm this.
Are you entitled to compensation?
If your flight departs from the EU or is operated by an EU carrier and you reached your destination 3 hours late or more (or it was cancelled due to the airline's fault), you're owed compensation under Regulation EU 261/2004. The amount depends on distance:
💶 How much (EU261)
File your claim with the ClaimWinger app – 3 steps
You don't have to wait until you get home. You can file straight from your phone, right at the gate:
Enter your flight number
The app checks your flight against a delay database and instantly estimates how much compensation you may be owed.
Add a photo of your boarding pass
Snap a photo of your boarding pass – that's enough to confirm your booking. You can also add the departure-board screenshot.
Sign the authorisation electronically
Sign with your finger on screen. Done – ClaimWinger takes over. You only pay a fee if the compensation is paid out.
Track Your Compensation Claim in the ClaimWinger App
Submit a claim, monitor progress and get notifications — all from your phone.
- Free to use
- Status notifications
- Submit claims on the go
What you can demand while you wait
Regardless of compensation, during a longer wait the airline must provide care (the right to care under Article 9 of EU261):
- Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time (usually from a 2-hour delay).
- Means to communicate – two phone calls, emails or messages.
- Hotel and transport if the flight is pushed to the next day. Keep receipts – you can reclaim costs.
If the airline fails to provide care, buy reasonable meals yourself and keep the receipts – reimbursement is a claim separate from EU261 compensation.
Track your case in the app
FAQ – Common questions
Do I have to file the claim while still at the airport?
No. You can do it anytime – depending on the country, claims remain valid for years. At the airport it's mainly worth gathering evidence, which is harder to do later.
Which phones is the ClaimWinger app available on?
The app is available on Android via Google Play. Downloading and creating an account is free.
How much does it cost to file through the app?
Filing is free. ClaimWinger charges a fee only on success – if you don't get compensation, you pay nothing.
What if the delay was under 3 hours?
EU261 compensation applies from 3 hours' delay at the destination. For a shorter delay you still have the right to care (meals, communication) and sometimes reimbursement of extra costs.
Can I claim for my whole family from one phone?
Yes. Each passenger has a separate claim, but you can add all your travel companions to a single case in the app.
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Check again - are you entitled to compensation?
Free verification • Up to EUR 600 • Pay only on success