Refund and Compensation for Delayed or
Cancelled KLM Flights

When are you entitled to compensation for a KLM flight?

You may be entitled to compensation in the following situations:

• Flight delay: Your KLM flight arrived at its destination with a delay of at least 3 hours.
• Flight cancellation: Your flight was cancelled and you were not informed within the time limits set by European regulations.
• Cause of the disruption: The disruption was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as:
  • Adverse weather conditions.
  • Strikes involving airport staff or air traffic control.
  • Airspace closures or security risks.
• Flight route: The Regulation applies to flights:
  • Departing from an airport within the European Union.
  • Operated by KLM, an airline registered in the Netherlands, within the EU.
  • Arriving at an EU airport when operated by KLM, even if departing from a non-EU country.

How to claim compensation for a delayed KLM flight

Here are the main steps to claim compensation for your KLM flight:

• Gather the necessary documents: Keep your boarding pass or e-ticket. Collect evidence of the delay or cancellation, such as emails, SMS messages, app screenshots, or photos of the airport departure boards.
• Check the cause of the disruption: Verify whether the disruption was caused by factors within the airline's control. If the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances, KLM may not be required to pay compensation.
• Submit your claim to the airline: Send your request together with all available information and supporting documentation.
• If you receive no response: If KLM does not reply or rejects your claim, you can file a complaint with the relevant National Enforcement Body in your country or with the competent authority in the Netherlands. Alternatively, ReFly offers a simpler and more effective solution by handling the entire claim process for you.

Stressed by the paperwork? Let ReFly handle it

If you'd rather avoid the hassle, ReFly.org can take care of the entire process for you. Here's what we offer:

• Free eligibility check: we'll quickly verify whether you're entitled to compensation.
• Complete claim handling: we manage all communications with KLM, so you don't have to deal with long waiting times or unclear responses.
• No Win, No Fee: you pay nothing upfront and only pay if we successfully recover your compensation. Our fee is deducted directly from the compensation amount, with no hidden costs.
• Proven expertise: our team specialises in passenger rights and airline regulations, giving you the strongest possible support — even when KLM disputes your claim.
• Flight data analysis: we use official aviation data to challenge generic airline justifications and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.

With ReFly, you can turn a frustrating travel experience into a successful outcome, without worrying about the paperwork.

How much compensation can you receive?

€250

€250 compensation applies to KLM flights covering distances of less than 1,500 km.

€400

€400 compensation applies to KLM flights covering distances between 1,500 km and 3,500 km.

€600

€600 compensation applies to KLM flights covering distances of more than 3,500 km, including intercontinental routes to Asia, Africa, North America and South America.

Can KLM reject my compensation claim?

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for airlines to reject compensation claims.

However, it is important to know that KLM can lawfully reject your claim only in specific situations.

These situations are known as extraordinary circumstances.

Examples of extraordinary circumstances that may exempt the airline from paying compensation include:

• Adverse weather conditions, such as dense fog, severe thunderstorms or heavy snowfall, which may occur at Schiphol during the winter months.
• Strikes involving airport staff or air traffic control.
• Airspace closures or restrictions imposed by the authorities.
• Political events, such as terrorist attacks or security risks linked to civil unrest.
• Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions or earthquakes.
• Bird strikes or collisions with foreign objects.
• Public health emergencies or exceptional measures imposed by the authorities.

However, it is essential to understand that technical issues, operational problems, or crew management issues are not automatically considered extraordinary circumstances.

If you want to maximise your chances of receiving the compensation you're entitled to, let ReFly handle your claim.

Our team will carefully analyse flight data, operational information and the airline's response to protect your rights.

And with our No Win, No Fee policy, you only pay if we succeed. Start your compensation claim with ReFly today!

KLM ticket refund: when can you claim one?

A ticket refund refers to the reimbursement of your airfare when a delay or cancellation makes your journey impossible or no longer worthwhile. This right applies in specific situations and must be requested directly from KLM.

Please note: ReFly handles monetary compensation claims only under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. If you wish to request a ticket refund, you must contact KLM directly.

When are you entitled to a KLM ticket refund?

You are entitled to a ticket refund if:

• Your flight is cancelled and you do not accept the alternative flight offered by KLM.
• Your flight is delayed by at least 5 hours, making your journey no longer worthwhile.
• You decide not to travel in the situations covered by the applicable Regulation.

What should you do during a KLM flight delay?

In the event of a significant delay, KLM is required to provide passengers with assistance under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004.

• This includes:
• Meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time.
• Hotel accommodation, if the delay requires an overnight stay.
• Transport between the airport and the hotel.
• Two telephone calls or electronic communications.

KLM voucher: you have the right to choose a cash refund

When a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed, KLM will often offer a travel voucher as the default solution. This voucher can be used for future bookings on the airline's website and is valid only for a limited period. Many passengers accept it without realising they have the right to request a cash refund to their original payment method instead.

Here's what you need to know about KLM vouchers:

• A KLM voucher is optional, not mandatory.
• If KLM cancels your flight, you are entitled to a cash refund to your original payment method.
• Accepting a voucher for your ticket refund does not affect your right to monetary compensation under Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, from €250 to €600, which is a separate and additional right.
• If you have already accepted a voucher for your ticket refund, you can still contact ReFly to claim the monetary compensation provided for under European law.

Don't let KLM persuade you to accept less than you are legally entitled to. ReFly will assess your case free of charge and help you choose the solution that gives you the best outcome.

Compensation for delayed KLM flights: delay thresholds

Compensation for a KLM flight delayed by 1 hour

A 1-hour delay does not entitle you to compensation, as it does not meet the requirements set out in Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004. However, it is important to monitor the situation and keep all your flight documentation.

Compensation for a KLM flight delayed by 2 hours

A 2-hour delay does not yet entitle you to monetary compensation. However, depending on the flight distance, KLM may be required to provide free assistance, such as meals and refreshments, for flights of up to 1,500 km.

Compensation for a KLM flight delayed by 3 hours

If your KLM flight arrives at its destination 3 hours late or more, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600, depending on the flight distance:

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km.
• €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km.
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km.

Compensation applies only if the delay was caused by KLM and not by extraordinary circumstances. Keep all your flight documentation to support your claim. Remember: the delay is calculated based on the arrival time, not the departure time.

Compensation for a KLM flight delayed by more than 4 hours

If your KLM flight is delayed by more than 4 hours, you may be entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. This situation is particularly common on KLM long-haul flights departing from Amsterdam Schiphol, where airport congestion or technical issues can easily result in delays exceeding 4 hours.

• €250 for flights up to 1,500 km.
• €400 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km.
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km.

In addition, for delays of this length, KLM is required to provide full assistance, including meals, refreshments and, where necessary, hotel accommodation.

KLM didn't respond or rejected your compensation claim: what should you do?

Unfortunately, this is a common situation: you've submitted your claim to KLM, waited for weeks, and received a generic rejection — often based on vague reasons such as “extraordinary circumstances” — or, even worse, no response at all. This does not mean you've lost your right to compensation.

Thanks to Italian Supreme Court Order No. 9002/2026, airlines can no longer rely on generic justifications: they must provide concrete, documented evidence that the delay or cancellation was unavoidable despite taking all reasonable measures. This gives you much stronger grounds to challenge a rejected claim.

Here are your options:

• 1. Follow up with the airline in writing: send a formal notice by email or registered mail, referring to Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 and the compensation amount you are entitled to. Give the airline a deadline to respond, for example 14 days.
• 2. File a complaint with the National Enforcement Body: if your claim has not been resolved by the airline, you can submit a complaint to the relevant National Enforcement Body in your country. For flights operated by KLM, you may also contact the competent authority in the Netherlands, ILT.
• 3. Let ReFly handle your claim: this is the simplest and most effective solution. Our legal team understands KLM's defence strategies, analyses your flight data, and pursues your claim through to a successful outcome. With our No Win, No Fee policy, there's no financial risk to you.

ReFly has a 98% success rate, even in cases where the airline has already rejected the passenger's claim. A rejection from KLM is not the end of the road: it's often just the beginning of the process.

Compensation for cancelled KLM flights

If your KLM flight is cancelled, you may be entitled to the same compensation amounts as for flight delays, provided that:

• The cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
• You were not informed at least 14 days before departure.
• If you were informed between 7 and 14 days before departure, your compensation may be reduced by 50% if you were offered an alternative flight that meets the conditions set out in the Regulation.