How much compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled Middle East flight?
Since the Middle East is not a part of Europe, you are only eligible for Middle East delayed or cancelled flight compensation if your flight originated in Europe and/or was operated by a European airline. Flight compensation is only available if your flight was delayed by more than 3 hours upon arrival or if the cancellation of your Middle East flight was announced fewer than 14 days before departure. It should be noted that the airline must also be held accountable for the flight disruption.
You could be entitled to flight compensation if your flight to the Middle East was cancelled within 14 days before departure or delayed by 3 hours or more. The compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight and is received per passenger.
| 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 |
Keep in mind that the airline owes you special assistance if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes vouchers for food and beverages, communication, transportation, and accommodations as needed. You can directly redeem these vouchers at the airline's service desk in the airport. If the airline does not provide you with vouchers, you may purchase what you need and keep the receipts; the airline will be held responsible for repaying you.
Flight compensation for a delayed flight from/to the Middle East — check if you're eligible now!
If your Middle East flight was delayed, you might qualify for flight compensation under the EU regulations. Remember that because the Middle East is not part of Europe, you can only claim flight compensation for flights leaving from a European airport and/or operated by a European airline.
Moreover, Middle East delayed flight compensation is dependent on:
The length of the delay: your flight to the Middle East arrived more than 3 hours later than originally expected.
The responsibility of the airline: you can only claim Middle East flight compensation if the airline was responsible for the delay. (See below for further information; the airline does not have to compensate passengers for delays brought on by "Extraordinary Circumstances").
The amount of compensation varies according to flight distance: the longer your flight, the larger the compensation will be.
Was your flight delayed to or from the Middle East?
You can receive up to £520 in flight compensation!
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Cancelled flight from Middle East — Compensation and refund policies
If your flight to the Middle East was cancelled, you might be eligible for a ticket refund, flight compensation of up to £520 per passenger, or both. Continue reading to learn more about the conditions of flight compensation!
Claim flight compensation for your cancelled Middle East flight
If your Middle East flight from the EU/UK was cancelled, you could be entitled to up to £520 in flight compensation per passenger if your flight was:
Cancelled fewer than 14 days before the scheduled departure date, AND,
The airline was to blame for the cancellation (See the "Extraordinary Circumstances" section for information on when airlines can legally refuse to compensate passengers).
| 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 |
You will not be entitled to claim Middle East flight cancellation compensation if your flight was cancelled due to an industrial action at the airport, such as extreme weather. Industrial actions are not caused by the airline, so they are “extraordinary circumstances”.
Ask for the refund of your flight from Middle East
If your Middle East flight is cancelled, you can also receive a full refund. This is not the same as compensation. Middle East flight compensation is provided by the airline to passengers in the event of a cancelled flight when the airline is at fault for the cancellation and must compensate passengers. However, all passengers are eligible for a refund as long as they did not fly with the airline in the end.
Ask for the full refund of your ticket if your flight to the Middle East was cancelled and:
You were not offered an alternative flight by the airline, OR,
The airline offered you another flight, but you didn’t accept.
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Were you offered a voucher for your cancelled flight from the Middle East? Here’s what you should know
We strongly advise you not to accept a travel voucher instead of a monetary refund of your ticket price. Here is why:
Accepting a voucher means that you have to make a new booking with the same airline. Moreover, airlines usually set up a deadline for redeeming it.
You might not be able to exchange your voucher for a monetary refund if the airline files for bankruptcy. This would mean you could ultimately lose your money.
Flight delayed or cancelled to the Middle East, am I also entitled to flight compensation?
Yes, you might be entitled to flight compensation. However, given that the Middle East is not part of the European Union, British and European regulations only apply to flights leaving from the UK/EU and/or being operated by European airlines.
More information is in the table below.
| 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 |
Flight from the Middle East — can I receive flight compensation?
You can also receive flight compensation for a flight from the Middle East. However, since the Middle East is not a member of the European Union, think about checking local laws that could apply instead of European ones. For instance, for flights departing from Turkey or on a Turkish airline, you can claim flight compensation under Turkish laws as per the “Regulation on Air Passenger Rights” PDF by Turkish Airlines.
Extraordinary circumstances caused my Middle East flight to be delayed or cancelled. Can the airline really deny my claim?
When the airline is not responsible for the delay or cancellation, it can legally refuse to give flight compensation to passengers. These events are referred to as extraordinary circumstances. If any of the following apply to your Middle East flight delay or cancellation, you might not be eligible for flight compensation:
Bad weather conditions, such as thick fog, heavy rain, or thunderstorms.
A strike, most often specifically within the aviation industry (for example, a strike of air traffic control workers at a specific airport).
However, a strike of the airline's 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 ill or unruly passenger.
Flight delays caused by the airport staff, such as extraordinarily long queues to security checks.
Don't worry, you won't have to delve into the reasons why your Middle East flight was delayed or cancelled! Our experts will do the work for you by evaluating internal and external aviation data to ensure that you obtain your Middle East flight compensation.
How long can I claim for my delayed or cancelled flight from the Middle East?
You have 6 years from the date of your Middle East flight from the United Kingdom to request compensation or a refund. The exception is Scotland, where you have 5 years to submit a claim.
If the United Kingdom is not included in your itinerary, local laws will apply.
Are you uncertain about whether you can claim for your Middle East flight?
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How long before I receive my flight compensation for my flight from the Middle East?
Passengers who use Flight-Delayed.co.uk to request a flight refund or compensation frequently receive their money within a few weeks or months.
However, if the airline is unresponsive and/or the claim must be addressed in court, the waiting period could be extended by several months or even years.
No matter how long the claim takes, you can be confident that our team will keep you informed of any significant changes and will be available to answer any questions you may have.
How can I claim for a Middle East flight cancelled or delayed?
You can submit your compensation claim with Flight-Delayed.co.uk in just a few minutes!
Once your claim has been submitted, an expert will take care of everything for you. Starting with analysing your claim, they will then gather all necessary documents, get in touch with the airline and, if necessary, go to court to defend your right to flight compensation.
To file a claim for flight compensation through Flight-Delayed.co.uk, you must provide us with information about your flight. Keep your travel documentation, such as your passport, booking number, boarding pass, and any fees you paid as a result of the delay or cancellation. Our experts will be able to assist you in receiving Middle East flight compensation the more information we have about your cancelled trip!
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About the Middle East flights
The Middle East is an attractive region for a lot of travellers all around the globe. Trusting the Top 10 busiest airports in the Middle East from 2021, we can see that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are two countries attracting many tourists in their airports, whether it is their final destination or only for a layover.
Amongst the 10 busiest airports in the Middle East, we find Dubai International Airport, Hamad International Airport in Doha, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi International Airport and more.
Many Middle Eastern airlines are also international airlines flying from and to Europe, such as Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, flyDubai and more.
Examples of European airlines flying to the Middle East are British Airways, Air France, KLM, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, and more.
Useful links
- 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