A long-haul flight can be several hours late and still result in less compensation than a passenger expects. That is because EU passenger-rights rules allow the standard amount to be reduced by 50% in certain rerouting situations. For passengers trying to understand their compensation for a long-haul delay, the important details are not simply how late the original flight arrived. The distance of the journey, the alternative flight provided and its arrival time can all affect the final amount.
€600 Is Not Always the Final Figure
For flights covering more than 3,500 kilometres, the standard compensation amount can reach €600. However, Article 7(2) provides for a 50% reduction where qualifying rerouting conditions are met.
That means a passenger who would otherwise be looking at €600 could receive €300 instead.
The key point is that the reduction does not automatically apply to every long-haul delay. It is connected to the way the airline gets the passenger to their final destination after the disruption.
The Three Details That Change the Calculation
There are three things to examine together:
- The distance: The flight must fall into the over-3,500-kilometre category.
- The rerouting: The passenger must be rerouted to their final destination on an alternative flight.
- The replacement arrival time: The alternative flight must arrive no more than four hours after the original scheduled arrival time for the 50% reduction to apply.
These conditions work together. Looking at the length of the original delay alone is not enough to determine whether the compensation should be reduced.
Why Two Passengers Can Receive Different Amounts
Imagine two passengers affected by the same long-haul disruption.
The first stays on the original flight and eventually reaches the destination seven hours after the scheduled arrival time. The second is moved to another flight that reaches the same destination three hours after the original scheduled arrival.
Their outcomes can be different because the second passenger was rerouted and arrived within the timeframe relevant to the reduction.
This is why a simple calculation based on “how many hours late was the flight?” can give an incomplete picture. The journey that actually took place matters as well.
The €600-to-€300 Difference
The calculation is straightforward once the relevant conditions are established.
| Standard compensation | Possible reduction | Result |
| Up to €600 | 50% | €300 |
The important distinction is that the reduction changes the amount, rather than automatically removing the passenger’s underlying compensation right.
For someone dealing with a major disruption, that €300 difference can therefore depend on a relatively specific part of the journey: when the replacement flight reached the final destination compared with the original schedule.
Check the Replacement Flight, Not Just the Original One
Passengers should keep the details of both flights where possible. The original booking shows the scheduled arrival time, while the alternative booking can establish when the rerouted journey actually reached the final destination.
When a compensation amount appears lower than expected, these details can help establish whether the reduction was applicable.
Skycop can assess the flight distance, rerouting details and arrival timing together, then handle the claim process and airline correspondence on the passenger’s behalf.
A Reduced Amount Still Matters
Long-haul disruption does not always lead to the full standard compensation amount. When the applicable rerouting conditions are met, the €600 figure can be reduced to €300.
But the reduction should still be based on the specific circumstances of the journey. Checking the distance, the rerouting and the exact replacement arrival time gives passengers a clearer picture of what they may be entitled to receive.
A flight that ends several hours late is therefore not necessarily a simple €600 calculation. The way the airline completes the disrupted journey can determine whether the compensation is reduced.
