- Mr Plane Guy
- Nov 8
- 7 min read
Flight Delay Guide: What to do if your flight is delayed
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this blog flying high (and fuels my overpriced airport latte habit).
I used to be part of a team at a London Airport that managed and reduced flight delays and trust me, they’re a daily part of airport life. Even on a good day, only around 70% of flights leave on time, meaning at least 1 in 3 flights will face some form of delay.
With Summer 2026 expected to be the busiest travel season on record, travellers should brace for longer queues, fuller airports, and plenty of “technical issues” announcements over the tannoy.Check average delays by airline in my UK Flight Delays 2025 Report
What causes flight delays?
There are countless reasons a flight might be delayed, from air traffic control restrictions and weather to crew shortages, congestion, or last-minute aircraft technical faults. Sometimes, it’s even a combination of all of the above.
The key takeaway? Delays are inevitable in modern air travel, but with the right plan, you can stay calm, make the most of the situation, and even claim compensation when eligible.
Can I do anything if my flight is delayed?
Yes, absolutely. The key is to stay calm and make a plan.
If you’re already at the airport, find somewhere quiet to sit down, take a deep breath, and start gathering information. Check the airline’s app, departure board, and flight tracker for real-time updates.
If you’re travelling with someone, communicate and plan together, stress won’t get the plane off the ground any faster! (And let’s be honest, I’d probably have a mini meltdown too if my flight home was delayed after a long trip.)
Instead of panicking, focus on what you can control:
Note what the airline staff are saying about the cause of the delay.
Start tracking how long you’ve been waiting (this matters for compensation).
Use the downtime wisely, grab a drink, find a lounge, or explore your delay options.
Get 30 % off a Priority Pass membership →Access 1,700+ lounges worldwide from £48 a year, it pays for itself after just two trips.Perfect for if and when your flight is delayed!
Plane Smart Survival Kit for Delayed Travellers
Being prepared is half the battle. Here’s what I always pack:
Portable charger + cables: keep devices alive, I use this Anker Power Bank on Amazon.
Reusable water bottle: refill post-security and avoid £5 airport bottles.
Snacks & activities: protein bars, downloaded Netflix shows, podcasts.
Airport lounge access: a quiet space with Wi-Fi and coffee can turn a delay into downtime.
Check out my FLIGHT DELAY 3 POINT ACTION PLAN
How Long Does a Flight Need to Be Delayed for Compensation?
In most cases, you can claim flight delay compensation if your flight arrives more than 3 hours late at its final destination and the delay is the airline’s fault (not weather or air traffic control).
Remember, this 3-hour window is based on your arrival time, not departure. So if your flight leaves 3 hours late but makes up 20 minutes in the air, you’ll arrive 2 hours 40 minutes behind schedule and unfortunately, you won’t qualify as I explain in my TUI Flight Delay Tips.
A flight starts the moment it pushes back from the gate, not from take off, if it pushes back up to 15 minutes within its scheduled, this is ON TIME.
Your flight arrives the moment it is on the stand, not from when it lands,
Plane Tip: Always take a screenshot of your flight’s gate push-back and arrival times on a live flight tracker (like FlightRadar24). It can make or break your compensation claim later.
Expect Delays
If your delay qualifies, you could be entitled to up to £520 per person under EU Regulation 261/2004. That applies to flights:
Departing from the UK or EU (any airline)
Arriving in the UK or EU on a UK/EU airline
And delayed by 3 hours or more due to the airline’s fault
You can check eligibility and submit a claim directly via AirHelp they’ve helped over 2.5 million passengers claim what’s owed, and they handle all the paperwork (perfect if your airline starts dragging its heels). Check if you can make a claim here
Plane Tip: Use your credit card’s travel insurance benefit, many Amex and Barclays Avios cards include delay cover you might not even realise you have.
FLIGHT DELAY 3 POINT ACTION PLAN
TAKE RECEIPTS
BE PREPARED
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
1. Take Receipts
As soon as you see a delay:
Document Everything: Take screenshots of the departure board and note the times, every minute counts!
Expenses: Keep receipts for any expenses at the airport and scan them into your phone.
Communication: Note what the airline staff say about the delay, including who you spoke to and when. Airlines often cite "extraordinary circumstances" to avoid compensating, so detailed records are essential.
2. Be Prepared
Always be ready for things to go wrong:
Snacks: Pack extra snacks to keep hunger at bay.
Medications: Ensure you have extra medication if needed.
For Kids: Bring additional activities, blankets, charged power banks, and nappies if traveling with children.
3. Know Your Rights
According to EU regulation 261/2004, if your flight is delayed by over 3 hours, cancelled, overbooked, or if you're denied boarding, you may be entitled to compensation. This regulation applies to flights departing from or arriving in EU countries, as well as some others like Turkey.
Check if you can make a claim here
How to Claim Compensation
Eligibility Check: Ensure your delay meets the criteria (over 3 hours, departing from or arriving in an EU country, etc.). You can check here
Gather Evidence: Use your documented evidence (receipts, notes, screenshots) to support your claim.
Submit a Claim: Contact the airline to submit your claim. If they refuse, consider seeking legal advice or using a compensation claim service.
Air Help have assisted over 2.5 million people in claiming back compensation from airlines, they are the experts in handling compensation claims with airlines that typically drag their heels!
How can I avoid delays?
My advice is to book yourself on an early flights, this is known as first wave,
flights usually leave the base after arriving in from a flight the previous evening, delays happen during the aircrafts rotations throughout the day. So you're less likely to get a delay from a flight early in the morning.
How do I avoid being bumped off a flight?
Airlines regularly over sell flights, if theirs been flight disruption this can cause lots of oversold flights due to the back log of displaced passengers.
Check in as early as possible, it's normally whoever checked in last that gets bumped off!
Which airline oversell flights?
Vueling do this alot! If you're on a Vueling flight check in for the flight as soon as check in opens, I wrote an article all about Vueling HERE Ryanair don't seem to oversell flight which is quite surprising!
According to Which, this is a list of airlines by their longest average delays......
Wizz Air 46 minutes and 18 seconds
TUI 40 minutes and 18 seconds
Qatar Airways 31 minutes and 48 seconds
Turkish Airlines 29 minutes and 30 seconds
Pegasus Airlines 27 minutes and 18 seconds
The now defunct airline Flybe
Tap Air Portugal 25 minutes and 48 seconds
Air Canada 25 minutes and 18 seconds
British Airways 23 minutes
Vueling 22 minutes and 12 seconds
What is Air Help Plus?
Air Help offer a disruption insurance, after all delays are inevitable! They have two levels of cover starting at just £2.92 per month!
Smart
Perfect for up to 3 trips per year
Perfect for most travellers
Protection for 3 trips
€100 when your flight’s disrupted
€100 for a lost or delayed bag
Lounge access during a disruption
Annual support
No-fee compensation service
Dedicated 24/7 support
Flight status updates
Travel perks
Save on eSIMs, car rental, and more
Pro
For up to 9 trips per year, so great if your a frequent flyer
Protection for 9 trips
€100 when your flight’s disrupted
€100 for a lost or delayed bag
Lounge access during a disruption
Annual support
No-fee compensation service
Dedicated 24/7 support
Flight status updates
Travel perks
Save on eSIMs, car rental, and more
Great value check it out here
Share Your Flight Delay Experiences
If you've experienced a delayed or cancelled flight, let me know in the comments. I can help guide you through the process to get up to £520 per person!
By staying informed and prepared, you can turn a frustrating flight delay into an opportunity to claim compensation. Save this guide and refer to it the next time you face an unexpected delay. Safe travels!
Plane Related reads:
10 Essential Tips for Dealing with Flight Delays and Cancellations
UK Flight Delays 2025: Which Airlines Are the Worst Offenders This Year?
Why Are So Many British Airways Flights Being Delayed and Cancelled?
Manchester Airport: The Worst in the UK for Flight Delays, Here’s What You Can Do
Your Complete Guide to London Luton Airport (2026 Edition)
Parking, Lounges, Hotels & Smart Travel Tips Before You Fly
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Flight Delay Guide: What to do if your flight is delayed.
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