Your rights in the event of a delayed or cancelled KLM flight
If your KLM flight was delayed or cancelled, remember that British and European regulations protect your air passenger rights. In certain circumstances, you might be entitled to KLM compensation of up to £520 as well as a full refund of your cancelled KLM flight’s ticket price.The most important legislation protecting your rights is European Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. Flying from or to the UK? Your air passenger rights are protected even after Brexit. European Flight Compensation Regulation has been adopted into British law as 'The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019’.
Was your KLM flight delayed? If you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you are most likely entitled to flight compensation.
Was your KLM flight cancelled? If you did not take any alternative flight offered by the airline, you are entitled to a refund. Additionally, if the flight was cancelled fewer than 14 days prior to departure, you might be entitled to cancelled KLM flight compensation.
Airlines are required by law to offer passengers particular assistance, or the "right to care," regardless of the reason for the delay. Vouchers can be used at food establishments, lodgings and transportation providers. The airline service desk at the airport is where you may pick up the vouchers. The airline is compelled by law to reimburse your expenses (as long as they are reasonable) therefore if the service desk personnel won't give you the vouchers, buy what you need nevertheless.
You are not entitled to flight compensation if your flight was cancelled or delayed due to an "extraordinary circumstance." Customers are only qualified for compensation if the airline is solely to blame for the flight's disruption.
I am travelling outside of the UK/EU with KLM. Am I still eligible for compensation?
Yes. As KLM is a European airline, you are entitled to compensation and refund whatever your destination is.
However, it’s worth mentioning that the rules are different for flights with non-British/non-EU airlines. See the table below for more information.
| Type of flight | Example | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Flying with a British carrier | Tokyo to London with British Airways | Yes |
| Flying with a EU carrier | Amsterdam to London with KLM | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier from the UK | London to Tokyo with Japan Airlines | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier to the UK | Tokyo to London with Japan Airlines | No |
KLM compensation for delayed flight
Did you experience a delayed KLM flight? Then you might be entitled to KLM flight delay compensation — if you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late. Note that KLM must be held responsible for the disruption to claim compensation.
Delayed or cancelled flight from the UK?
You have up to 6 years to claim compensation and refund — no matter the airline.
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KLM compensation for cancelled flight
Did you experience a cancelled KLM flight? Depending on the exact circumstances, you might be entitled to a refund, compensation, or both!
When can I claim compensation for my cancelled KLM flight?
Compensation is only applicable if your KLM flight was cancelled fewer than 14 days prior to departure. Additional criteria, as shown in the table below, also apply.
When can I claim a refund for my cancelled KLM flight?
The KLM refund is awarded if your KLM flight was cancelled and you did not take any alternative flight offered by the airline.
When can I get both compensation and a refund for a cancelled KLM flight?
Both KLM compensation and refund are awarded if your flight is cancelled 14 days prior to departure and…
You were not offered an alternative flight by KLM.
You were offered an alternative flight that meets the criteria shown in the table below — but you did not take this flight.
| Cancellation notice | Alternative flight | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 7 days in advance | Departs 1h+ earlier or arrived 2h+ later | Yes |
| 7-14 days in advance | Departs 2h+ earlier or arrived 4h+ later | Yes |
| Fewer than 14 days in advance | No alternative flight offered | Yes + refund |
KLM flight delayed by at least 3 hours or cancelled 14 days prior to departure?
Check if you can get flight compensation before it’s too late to claim!
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Can I get flight compensation if I cancel my KLM flight?
Under British/European air passenger rights legislation, you might not be eligible for flight compensation if you opt to cancel your KLM flight. Visit KLM's website or get in touch with their customer service department to find out more about their compensation and refund procedures.
KLM missed connection flight due to delay or cancellation
You can be qualified for compensation and/or a ticket refund if you made your bookings for both flights at the same time and the delay or cancellation meets the criteria.
Unsure if you are entitled to a KLM refund or flight compensation?
Always done on a no win, no fee basis.
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Check your KLM flight status
Check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport to be ready for any last-minute adjustments to your schedule. Visit the website of the airline, the website of the airport, or a flight tracker to monitor your KLM flight.
How much KLM compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
Its exact value depends on the distance of your flight.
| Distance of your flight | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Flights shorter than 1,500 km | Get £220 per passenger |
| Flight between 1,500 and 3,500 km | Get £350 per passenger |
| Flights of over 1,500 kilometres within the EU | Get £350 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres outside of the EU | Get £520 per passenger |
Extraordinary circumstances — can KLM deny me compensation?
There are situations in which KLM can rightfully deny your compensation or refund claim. We call these extraordinary circumstances.
Bad weather, for example thick fog, heavy rain, or thunderstorms.
A strike, most often specifically within the aviation industry.
HOWEVER! A strike of a specific airline/their crew is not considered an extraordinary circumstance!
Political circumstances, such as a terrorist attack or general security risk due to political unrest.
Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and hurricanes.
A collision between the aircraft and birds or other foreign objects.
An unruly or ill passenger.
Flight delays caused by the airport staff, such as extraordinarily long queues to security checks.
You should remember, however, that sometimes airlines say that extraordinary circumstances occurred even if it wasn’t the case.
We can have our legal team look into your case and fight for your rights based on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis — so there is no risk on your end. We boast over 10 years of experience and have won 98% of cases against the airlines.
=> Claim KLM compensation and refund with Flight-Delayed.co.uk
Get professional legal help with your KLM claim!
How long do I have to claim my KLM compensation and refund?
If you are flying to or from the UK, you have 6 years from the original departure date to claim your KLM compensation and refund.
However, if your itinerary does not include the United Kingdom, this time limit will differ depending on the local laws. For example, if you have a delayed KLM flight from Amsterdam to Berlin, you can claim compensation either under Dutch or German law. The former offers 2 years to submit a claim while the latter offers 3 years. The passenger can choose the more favourable law.
=> Check if you are still entitled to KLM refund and compensation with our Claim Calculator
How long do I have to claim my KLM compensation and refund?
If you are flying to or from the UK, you have 6 years from the original departure date to claim your KLM compensation and refund.
However, if your itinerary does not include the United Kingdom, this time limit will differ depending on the local laws. For example, if you have a delayed KLM flight from Amsterdam to Berlin, you can claim compensation either under Dutch or German law. The former offers 2 years to submit a claim while the latter offers 3 years. The passenger can choose the more favourable law.
=> Check if you are still entitled to KLM refund and compensation with our Claim Calculator
How long will it take to get my KLM compensation / KLM refund?
In many cases, the passengers we help receive their compensation and refund within a few weeks or months.
Thanks to our 10+ years of experience and having legal teams in 9 countries, we are able to process your claim swiftly and get it to the right people at the airline.
Unfortunately, if the airline is unresponsive and/or going to court is necessary, the wait time might get extended to an additional few months or even years. Rest assured, however, that we will always keep you informed on the status of your claim, be there to answer any questions you might have, and fight for your rights until the very end.
Plus, remember that we work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis — so you don’t have to pay us anything in advance.
One passenger filed a KLM claim through Flight-Delayed.co.uk and left the following review of their experience. “Fantastic company that helped get my refund from KLM! They ofc take a percentage since they are doing all the admin and work but it is worth it- I tried already several times and was getting no where with the airline so they really helped me out :) Very happy with the service.”
How to claim KLM compensation and refund?
We recommend starting with using our free, no-obligation Claim Calculator and checking whether you are indeed entitled to a KLM refund or compensation.
If you are, you can later either try claiming by yourself or let us handle the work for you. We will do all the necessary paperwork, bring the attention of the airline to your case and — if necessary — take your claim to court and fight there for your rights.
Why claim with Flight-Delayed.com
1m passengers helped
9 legal teams in 9 countries
98% of court cases won
Learn more about our fee on our Price List page or claim your KLM compensation or refund now right from your phone or your computer.
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM is the world’s oldest airline still in operation — in 2019, the airline celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since the 2004 merger, KLM has been part of the Air France–KLM Group and since 2003, KLM owns 100% shares of Transavia, a low-cost Dutch airline. Other subsidiaries of KLM include KLM Cityhopper, KLM Asia, and the cargo airline Martinair.
KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, Netherlands, by Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport — the third busiest airport in Europe. The airline currently serves over 160 destinations, of which about 70 are intercontinental flights to countries like the United States and China.
KLM is a rather punctual airline, with an on-time performance score of 81.7/100 and 4 out of 5 stars awarded by OAG in their 2018/2019 report. However, KLM delays and cancellations still happen, of which many are applicable for flight compensation and refunds.
Useful links
- Groningen airport compensation
- More details on delayed flight compensation
- More details on cancelled flight compensation
- Post-Brexit flight compensation rules in the UK
- Rules regarding missed flight compensation
- Rules regarding flight compensation in the case of denied boarding
- Claim Calculator — check if you are eligible for compensation