Arrival vs Departure Time — How Flight Delays Are Measured
This single point catches more passengers out than any other: flight delay compensation is based on when you arrive, not when you take off. A flight can leave two hours late and still owe you nothing if it makes up the time in the air — and a flight that pushes back on schedule can still qualify if it lands hours late. Knowing exactly how the delay is measured is essential to a valid claim.
This guide explains how arrival time is defined and why it matters. To check your delay against the threshold, use the compensation calculator.
How the Delay Is Measured
Arrival Is What Counts
The 3-hour threshold is measured at the end, not the start:
- Eligibility depends on arrival at your final destination
- Arrival is the moment at least one aircraft door is opened
- Not when the wheels touch down, and not the scheduled gate time
- A late departure recovered in the air may leave you under 3 hours — no claim
Why Airlines Sometimes Dispute It
The doors-open rule can be the whole argument:
- Airlines may quote touchdown time, which is earlier than doors-open
- A few minutes either side of the 3-hour line decides eligibility
- Your own record of when you got off the plane can be decisive
Final Destination on Connecting Flights
Measure the Whole Journey
Connections are judged end-to-end:
- Your delay is measured at your final destination, not the connection — see missed connection
- A short first-leg delay that makes you miss a connection can produce a large final delay
- This is how a 90-minute delay can still lead to a valid claim
Common Questions About Timing
My flight left two hours late but landed only 90 minutes late. Can I claim?
No. Because compensation is measured on arrival, a flight that recovers time in the air and leaves you less than three hours late at your final destination doesn’t qualify — however frustrating the wait at the gate was. The departure delay alone is irrelevant.
The airline says I landed on time, but we sat on the tarmac for ages. What counts?
The legal arrival point is when at least one aircraft door is opened, not when the wheels touched down. Time spent waiting for a gate or stuck on the tarmac counts towards your delay. If that pushed you past three hours, note when the doors actually opened — your record can settle a dispute.
How do I prove what time the doors opened?
Note it at the time if you can, and keep anything that corroborates it — messages timestamped on arrival, photos of the arrivals board, or a companion’s account. Flight-tracking services also log gate-arrival times. The burden is on the airline to justify a refusal, so a clear record of a borderline arrival is powerful.
Does a delay on the outbound affect my return claim?
No — each flight is assessed separately on its own arrival delay. A delayed outbound and a delayed return are two potential claims, each measured against the 3-hour threshold at that leg’s final destination.
Related Guides
Missed Connection Compensation
Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Am I Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation?
Extraordinary Circumstances Explained
How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation
Check If You Could Claim Compensation For Your Delayed Flight
If your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more, you may be entitled to compensation. Start a free flight delay claim check in minutes — no upfront cost. No win, no fee if your claim is accepted.
