Air travel with EasyJet can be a rather exciting experience, especially when traveling on a holiday. However, a fun journey can become a nightmare if a significant delay creates a dent in your travel plans. If you are only flying out for the day, then a 5-hour delay can cause you to no longer want to travel.
In an earlier summer ranking of flight delays, EasyJet’s average delay was around 40 minutes, and more recent UK Civil Aviation Authority data analysed by Which? shows about 72% of its flights from the UK leaving on time between October 2024 and September 2025. However, unfortunate situations can still occur. Should this happen to you, you may wonder, can I get a refund? Moreover, what are my delayed flight compensation EasyJet rights? This article shall dwell deeper on the matter so that you can get your money back.
How Does EasyJet Approach the Matter?
EasyJet follows European regulations when it comes to refunds. These are given regardless of the time they are announced – so, if a flight gets canceled three weeks before your flight, you can get the money back if you no longer wish to go. However, the same rules apply to last-minute situations when you have been waiting at the airport for five hours or more.
According to EasyJet, if your flight gets delayed by five hours and you do not want to travel with them anymore, you can get full reimbursement for your ticket. The same applies if the delay ends in a cancellation and you no longer wish to fly out using their alternatives.
Like any other airline, EasyJet can try to find ways to sneak out of a refund by hanging onto technicalities. For this reason, you should make sure to gather all the important documents, including:
- Your original booking reference number, usually received when you buy the ticket
- Flight details, which include information on the flight you were supposed to board
- Proof of delay, such as a picture taken of the board
- Proof of expenses, such as meals you had to buy as a result of the delay
The more you can gather irrefutable proof that they were delayed for five hours or more, the easier it should be to get EasyJet claim for delayed flight.
How Are Your Rights Protected?
EasyJet is regulated under EC 261/2004 (and UK261 for flights from the UK), meaning almost every trip with them is protected. A full refund is only given under specific circumstances. However, if you arrive three hours or more late, you are entitled to late flight compensation EasyJet.
Unlike the full refund, this type of compensation requires you to have checked in on time (or turned up at the airport): the EU Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that passengers who skip a delayed flight without doing so are not entitled to it. The amount you are owed will likely depend on the distance that you are traveling, which includes the following:
| Distance | Type | Amount |
| Less than 1,500 km | Short-haul | 250 EUR |
| 1,500 km – 3,500 km | Medium-haul | 400 EUR |
| More than 3,500 km | Long-haul | 600 EUR |
This EasyJet 3 hour plane delay compensation can be opted for no matter if you get a refund. Its purpose is not only to return the money for a service you did not receive but also to compensate you for your troubles. You may be able to receive both, as long as you checked in on time for the delayed flight.
01The Bottom Line
Should you decide to no longer go on a flight with a delay of five hours or more, you have the right to a full refund, and you may also be owed compensation if you checked in on time. You just need to file a claim for all of your rights, and StopDelay can help you with this!
