For compensation, a flight delay is measured on arrival, not departure: what counts is a delay of 3 hours or more at your final destination, measured when at least one aircraft door opens, not when the wheels touch the runway. The departure delay matters for care at the airport instead. Here is how it is counted and how to work out the right time when you are close to 3 hours.
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Flight delay compensation: departure or arrival time?
It depends on which right you are claiming. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 uses two different measures:
| Right | Where the delay is measured | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Care (meals, drinks, hotel) | At departure | 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance |
| Ticket refund if you decide not to fly | At departure | 5 hours |
| Compensation of €250, €400 or €600 | On arrival at the final destination | 3 hours |
So a flight can leave 3 and a half hours late but make up time in the air and arrive 2 hours 50 minutes late: you were entitled to care, but not to compensation. The reverse also happens: a flight that leaves 2 and a half hours late and then sits on the tarmac on arrival can go over 3 hours. The hour-by-hour thresholds are in our guide on a flight delayed by 2, 3 or 4 hours.
When a flight counts as "arrived": the doors opening
The Court of Justice of the EU has ruled that the arrival time is the moment at least one aircraft door opens, because only then can passengers get off. Touchdown does not count and neither does reaching the stand. The European Commission's guidelines add that the airline should record this time and provide it free of charge, on request, to passengers and authorities.
The difference can decide your compensation. An example on a Dublin–Paris flight due in at 10:00:
- touchdown at 12:50, doors open at 12:59: a delay of 2 hours 59 minutes, no compensation;
- touchdown at 12:50, a wait for the stand and doors open at 13:01: a delay of 3 hours 1 minute, €250 per passenger in compensation, unless there were extraordinary circumstances.
Which scheduled time counts
The starting point is the scheduled arrival time on your ticket or booking confirmation, not a time changed at the last minute. If the airline told you about a new schedule in advance, the rules on schedule changes apply instead: a new flight or a big change can count as a cancellation.
If you have a connection on the same booking, what counts is the delay on arrival at your final destination: a one-hour delay on the first flight that makes you miss the connection and arrive 4 hours late entitles you to compensation, based on the distance between your departure airport and final destination. See our guide on missed connections. If the flight lands at another airport, the delay is measured when you reach the airport you booked, as explained in our guide on diverted flights.
How to work out your real arrival time
- Note the time the doors open, or take a screenshot of your phone's clock as soon as you can get off.
- Save the notifications from the airline's app and any texts with updated times.
- Check flight tracking websites: they usually show touchdown and arrival at the stand, which come a few minutes before the doors open. See our guide on real-time flight status.
- Ask the airline for its recorded arrival time if you are close to the 3-hour mark.
- Keep your boarding pass and booking with the scheduled times.
When the delay is close to 3 hours, tracking websites may not be enough on their own: that is exactly when it is worth having your claim checked.
How much compensation is worth
If you arrive 3 hours or more late and the cause was not an extraordinary circumstance, compensation is €250 up to 1,500 km (such as Dublin–Paris), €400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km (such as Dublin–Tenerife) and for flights within the EU over 3,500 km, and €600 over 3,500 km outside the EU. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed it: enter your details on the flight delay compensation page and we handle the claim, reminders and, if needed, court action. Nothing to pay upfront, and you only pay 25% + VAT if you get compensated.
Frequently asked questions about how flight delays are measured
My flight left 4 hours late but arrived 2 hours 45 minutes late: am I owed compensation?
No. Compensation depends on the arrival delay, which here is under 3 hours. You were, however, entitled to care while you waited.
Is the delay counted from touchdown?
No, from when at least one aircraft door opens and passengers can get off.
Does time stuck on the tarmac after landing count?
Yes. Until the doors open, the flight has not arrived and the delay keeps growing.
With a connection, does the first flight's delay count or the last one's?
If the flights are on the same booking, it is the delay on arrival at your final destination.
How do I prove my arrival time?
With your own notes, the airline's notifications and data from flight tracking websites. You can also ask the airline for its recorded time.
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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 10/11/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.