To check your flight status in real time, use the airline's website or app with your flight number, the airport's online departures board or a flight tracking app, and turn on notifications so you hear about delays, gate changes and cancellations straight away. Save the times as well: if you arrive 3 hours or more late, your screenshots and messages are the evidence you need to claim up to €600 in compensation. Here is how.
Where to check your flight status
- The airline's website or app: search by flight number or open your booking with the 6-character reference. It is the official source and usually sends push notifications, emails or texts.
- The airport's website: the departures and arrivals page shows times, gates and check-in desks in real time, just like the terminal screens at Dublin, Heathrow or Manchester.
- Flight tracking apps: services such as Flightradar24 or FlightAware show where the aircraft is and where it is coming from, which helps you spot a late departure early.
- Airport screens: they have the final say on gate and boarding, so keep checking after check-in.
A tip: if the aircraft due to operate your flight is still running late on its previous trip, your flight will very likely leave late too. Your flight number is on your boarding pass: our guide to reading a flight ticket shows where.
What flight statuses mean
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| On time / Scheduled | No change announced | Check again before you leave home |
| Delayed | New estimated departure time | Take a screenshot with the time and stay near the gate |
| Boarding | Boarding has started | Go to the gate now |
| Gate closed | No more boarding | Go to the airline's desk |
| Departed | The aircraft has left the gate or taken off | Follow the expected arrival time |
| Landed | The aircraft is on the ground | Note the time the doors open |
| Cancelled | The flight will not operate | Save the message and ask for a new flight or a refund |
| Diverted | Landing at another airport | Keep every message you receive |
Why saving the times matters for compensation
Under Regulation EC 261/2004, what counts is the delay on arrival at your final destination, not at departure. The EU Court of Justice has made clear that the arrival time is when at least one aircraft door opens, not when the wheels touch down. With 3 hours or more delay on arrival you are entitled, unless there were extraordinary circumstances, to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on distance. The airline has its own data, but your evidence avoids arguments.
What to save, step by step
- Before you leave: a screenshot of the flight status with the scheduled time and any delay announced.
- At the airport: a photo of the departures screen showing your flight and the updated time.
- Airline messages: keep emails, texts and notifications, especially cancellation notices, with date and time (notice matters: under 14 days means compensation).
- On arrival: note or photograph the time the doors open, for example using your phone's clock.
- The reason: write down what you were told at the gate or on board about the cause.
- Expenses: keep receipts for meals, transport and hotels if the airline did not look after you.
If the delay makes you miss a connection, the delay at your final destination is what counts: see our guide to a missed connection.
Did your flight arrive late? Check what you are owed
With your screenshots in hand, we handle the rest. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed compensation: you pay nothing upfront and our fee is 25% + VAT only if you get compensated. Start from our delayed flight or cancelled flight page.
Frequently asked questions about flight status
How do I know if my flight is delayed?
Check the airline's website or app with your flight number, or the airport's departures page, and turn on notifications.
Which arrival time counts for compensation?
The time at least one aircraft door opens at your final destination, not the landing time.
Are flight tracking apps reliable?
They are useful for following the aircraft, but for gate and boarding the airline and the airport screens are what count.
Should I take screenshots even though the airline has the data?
Yes: they are simple evidence you control, useful if the airline disputes the delay.
My flight left 3 hours late: am I entitled to compensation?
It depends on the arrival delay: if you arrive 3 hours or more late and there were no extraordinary circumstances, yes.
Work out your compensation now
Enter where you flew from and to: in 2 minutes you will know whether you are owed compensation and how much.
- Free check, no commitment
- No upfront costs: 25% + VAT only if we win
- We deal with the airline for you
Find out more
- Air passenger rights
- Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
- Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
- Overbooking: what you are owed
- What our service costs
Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.