Claim KLM compensation for cancelled and delayed flights

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, according to the British and EU regulations, you might be entitled to compensation of up to €600  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. In one of the next sections of this article, you can learn more about different types of “extraordinary circumstances” that might cause a disruption to your KLM flight. 

Check your KLM flight status 

Check your flight status 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.

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 no matter what your destination is.

However, it’s worth mentioning that the rules are different for flights with non-British/non-EU airlines. In general, you are entitled to compensation if you are travelling with:

1. An airline headquartered in the UK or EU
2. An Airline is not headquartered in the UK or the EU but your flight departed from the UK or the EU.  

See the table below for detailed examples.

Can I get compensated for a delayed KLM flight?

Did you experience a delayed flight operated by KLM? Then you might be entitled to KLM delayed flight compensation — if you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late. Note that KLM must be the party responsible for the disruption for you to claim compensation.

Can I get compensated for a cancelled KLM flight?

Did you experience a cancelled flight operated by KLM? You can claim compensation if the cancellation was announced fewer than 14 days prior to the departure and if it’s the KLM’s negligence that caused the disruption, 

When can I claim a refund for my cancelled KLM flight?

The refund is awarded under one of the following circumstances:

1. KLM did not offer you any alternative flight.
2. KLM did offer you an alternative flight but you did not accept it and decided to no longer travel.

When can I get both compensation and a refund for a cancelled KLM flight?

Both compensation and refund are awarded if your flight is cancelled 14 days prior to departure and…

1. You were not offered an alternative flight by KLM.
2. You were offered an alternative flight that meets the criteria shown in the table below — but you did not take this flight.

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.

What do I do if I missed my connection flight due to KLM delay or cancellation?

You can claim compensation for a missed connection if you booked two flights at the same time and have them on the same ticket/reservation. It does not matter if both flights are handled by the same or by two different airlines, as long as they are both on the same ticket/reservation. Additionally, to claim compensation, the disruption must have been caused by a negligence of the airline and not a so-called “extraordinary circumstance” (such as extreme weather conditions.

How much KLM compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight? 

Its exact value depends on the distance of your flight.

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, which includes the following:

• Bad weather, such as dense fog and thunderstorms.
• A strike caused by workers in the aviation industry not related to the airline (eg. baggage handlers, security team at the airport).
  HOWEVER! A KLM strike caused by workers within the airline is NOT considered an extraordinary circumstance.
• Natural disasters (eg. hurricanes, wild fire, and volcanic eruptions)

You should remember, however, that sometimes airlines say that extraordinary circumstances occurred even if it wasn’t the case, to avoid compensating the passengers.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.com 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 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.

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.

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