KLM - Ticket refund and compensation in case of flight delays and cancellations

KLM: Current flight delays and cancellations

Has your flight been delayed or cancelled? In the overview you will find all KLM flights that are currently delayed or cancelled and for which passengers can claim compensation or a ticket refund.

About KLM

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the oldest airline in the world. The airline is based at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. KLM is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance and flies to numerous destinations within Europe. KLM also maintains a large intercontinental route network and offers connections to Africa, Asia, North, South and Central America and the Middle East.

If you had problems with your last KLM flight, e.g. because your flight was cancelled or delayed, you as a passenger are protected by the UK Passenger Rights Regulation. In many cases, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline in the event of flight irregularities.

In the course of the coronavirus pandemic, KLM also had to cancel a large number of flights. However, the provisions of the UK Passenger Rights Regulation continue to apply. If your flight with KLM has been completely cancelled in direct connection with corona, you can claim reimbursement of the ticket costs from the airline. Because the airline is not at fault for the flight cancellation in this case and the cancellation is due to a so-called extraordinary circumstance, you are not entitled to compensation under the UK regulation.

Nevertheless, there are currently also flight cancellations that are not directly related to coronavirus. Because the willingness to travel and the demand for flights are still significantly lower than at normal times, airlines are cancelling flights time and again because they are not sufficiently full. This is referred to as cancellations for economic reasons. This is annoying for affected travellers.

The good news is that you may be entitled to compensation under certain circumstances. If you would like to check what claims you have against the airline in your case, you can do this easily with our online calculator. If you have a claim, you can then instruct the legal experts at Flightright to enforce your compensation or ticket refund. If Flightright is successful, you will receive your compensation or ticket refund minus a success commission (usually 20-30% plus VAT).

Flight problems with KLM: your rights at a glance

Your KLM flight did not go as planned? Would you like to know what you are entitled to in individual cases and what you should do? In our FAQ, we answer the most frequently asked questions about flight delays, cancellations, and overbooking with KLM.

What is the difference between compensation and ticket refund?

Unfortunately, not everything always goes according to plan when flying. If flights are severely delayed or even cancelled completely, air travellers suffer considerable inconvenience. The UK261 Regulation therefore grants travellers extensive rights in the event of flight problems. If the airline in question is responsible for the flight irregularity, travellers may be entitled to compensation. This so-called compensation payment is a form of compensation for the inconvenience caused.

If a flight has to be cancelled without replacement through no fault of the airline or if the flight times are extremely delayed so that a flight at the new times is no longer an option for the passenger, the airline is obliged to reimburse travellers for the ticket costs on request.

What am I entitled to if my flight is cancelled due to coronavirus?

If your flight is cancelled in direct connection with coronavirus, e.g. because official travel restrictions apply to the route, you are not entitled to compensation, but the airline must offer you alternative transport, a rebooking or a refund of the ticket costs. As a passenger, you have a free choice and can decide on an option. If you want the ticket price back, the airline must refund the money within 7 days. If you decide in favour of a replacement flight or a rebooking, you cannot claim an additional refund.

When can I receive compensation from KLM for a cancelled flight?

If you find out less than 14 days before the flight that it will be cancelled, you may be entitled to compensation. To be entitled to compensation, KLM must have been responsible for the cancellation. However, if the flight is cancelled due to so-called extraordinary circumstances, e.g. because airport staff are on strike or air traffic controllers are on strike, airspace is closed, there is severe weather or there are short-term entry restrictions, the airline does not have to pay any compensation. Incidentally, every air traveller with their own ticket has the right to compensation. Whether you are travelling as a business traveller, privately, as part of a package tour or with an individual booking is irrelevant for the compensation claim.

When can I receive a ticket refund from KLM for a cancelled flight?

If your flight is cancelled and the airline is not at fault, you cannot claim compensation. However, the airline must offer you a replacement flight, a rebooking and a refund of the ticket costs. You can choose one of these three options. Important: If you opt for a ticket refund, the airline can also offer a voucher as a refund, but you do not have to accept this and can insist on the ticket costs being paid out. If you have paid surcharges, e.g. for seat reservations or checked baggage, you must also get these costs back.

When can I claim compensation and a ticket refund in the event of a flight cancellation?

If the airline itself is responsible for the flight cancellation and you were informed of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure without being offered an alternative flight, you can claim compensation as well as a refund of the ticket costs from the airline.

How much compensation can I get from KLM?

The amount of compensation you are entitled to for your problem flight depends on the flight route. How much money you paid for the ticket is irrelevant for your compensation claim.

• Short-haul (up to 1500 kilometres): You are entitled to compensation of £220
• Medium distance (up to 3500 kilometres): You are entitled to compensation of £350
• Long distance (over 3500 kilometres): You are entitled to compensation of £520

According to the UK261 Regulation, the amount of compensation is calculated according to the flight distance:

How long can I claim compensation or a ticket refund for my flight?

You can assert your claims under the UK Passenger Rights Regulation in the UK up to 6 years after the problem flight. For example, if you experienced a long delay or flight cancellation in summer 2023, you can claim compensation or a ticket refund from the airline until the end of 2029. 

What rights do I have if my flight with KLM is overbooked?

If KLM informs you that you cannot fly as planned at short notice because your flight is overbooked, you are entitled to a replacement flight, compensation or a ticket refund under UK passenger law. If you have to wait several hours at the airport for your new flight, KLM must offer you so-called care services in the form of free drinks and snacks. If there is a problem with a flight and the departure is spontaneously delayed for several hours, passengers are always entitled to care services, regardless of the cause of the problem.

What am I entitled to if my departure is postponed to the next day?

If your departure is postponed to the next day at short notice and you only find out about this at the airport, the airline is obliged under the provisions of the UK Passenger Rights Regulation to organise hotel accommodation for you, including transfers, and to cover the costs. The reasons for the departure delay are not relevant to your entitlement to hotel accommodation. In the event that you have to organise the hotel yourself, you should have the airline staff confirm in writing in advance that they will cover the costs.

What should I do if I have a flight problem with KLM?

It can be helpful for the later successful enforcement of compensation claims if you have written confirmation of the reasons for the flight problem from the airline. It is best to ask the airline staff directly at the airport. If you have to wait a very long time for your flight at the airport because it has been significantly delayed, you should insist that the airline provides you with the care to which you are entitled. In addition, you should always check whether you are entitled to compensation or a ticket refund. The best way to do this is to use the Flightright online calculator. In just a few steps, you can find out whether you are entitled to money from the airline and conveniently instruct Flightright to legally enforce your claim.

When am I entitled to compensation due to a KLM strike?

You are entitled to compensation due to a KLM strike if:

• Your flight was delayed or cancelled due to a KLM strike.
• Your KLM flight was either delayed by 3 hours or more or cancelled less than 14 days before the departure date.
• You had a confirmed KLM flight reservation.
• The disruption to your KLM flight occurred within the last 6 years.
• You took an alternative flight and the new arrival time differed significantly from the arrival time of the original KLM flight.

Conditions for compensation from KLM in the event of a flight delay or cancellation?

If your KLM flight is delayed or cancelled, you may be able to claim compensation from the airline. However, there are certain conditions that must be met in order to receive compensation. For example, the delay or cancellation must be due to reasons for which KLM is responsible, such as technical problems or a strike. The flight must have taken off or landed within the EU. The delay must be at least 3 hours and passengers must be able to prove their identity and booking details. It should be noted that there are certain exceptions to these rules and that the airline always has the right to prove that the delay or cancellation is due to extraordinary circumstances and is therefore not entitled to compensation.

For example, if the outbound KLM flight from Munich to Lisbon (LIS) is delayed or cancelled, you can contact the airline to find out if you are entitled to compensation. It is also possible that KLM offers top deals for a replacement flight. It is always advisable as an airline passenger to find out about your rights in the event of flight delays and cancellations and, if necessary, to take steps to obtain compensation. With Flightright, you can find out in just a few minutes what you are entitled to for your cancelled or delayed flight.

According to Flightright Data, KLM had the following operational activities in 2023:

In 2023, KLM operated a total of 66.509 flights, of which 1.705 were cancelled and 166 experienced delays. These data reflect the extensive operational activities of the airline over the past year.

According to Flightright Data, the 5 most important airports served by KLM in 2023 were:

Had a flight problem with KLM?

Flightright takes care of your rights in the event of flight delays, cancellations, overbooking and missed connecting flights and is committed to ensuring that you receive your compensation or ticket refund from the airline.