You’re standing at the departure board with your kids, the clock is ticking, and suddenly that dreaded word pops up next to your flight: delayed. In a moment like this your stomach probably drops, but as a traveller with a family you have clear rights, and flight delay compensation is one of them well worth knowing about.
A delay of more than three hours caused by the airline means a right to financial compensation of between €250 and €600. Even if bad weather is to blame for the wait, the carrier still has to provide you with food, drinks and, if needed, a hotel. For a lap infant the compensation can be disputed, but if you paid a fee for them, definitely claim it.
You’ll learn exactly how to word your claim and how not to be fobbed off at the desk. On top of that I’ll walk you through the changes from the recently approved revision of the regulation, which comes into force in mid-2027. That way you’ll feel confident on every trip to come.
TL;DR
- Basic compensation under EU 261/2004: For a delay of more than 3 hours caused by the airline you’re entitled to €250, €400 or €600 depending on the length of your flight.
- The right to care always applies: The airline must provide food, drinks and, if needed, a hotel even when the delay isn’t their fault (for example due to bad weather).
- A big change for families in 2027: The revision of the regulation was approved on 13 July 2026 and will guarantee that children under 14 can sit next to their parents completely free of charge.
- Lap infants and money: ⚠️ Compensation for a child without their own seat is a very grey area, but if you paid any kind of fee for them, definitely put in a claim.
- New liquids rules at some airports: Some EU airports with new CT scanners now allow up to 2 litres of liquids, but the old 100 ml limit still applies at many terminals, so always check your specific departure point.
- Deal with a damaged stroller straight away: Report any damage or loss ideally right at the airport via a PIR report, or in writing within 7 days at the latest.
- Insurance helps with the wait: Commercial travel insurance can, for a delay of more than 2 hours, cover access to an airport lounge or pay out a small cash amount.
10 Things You Need to Know About Flight Delay Compensation With Kids
When a plane is delayed, most parents panic about how to keep the kids entertained and completely forget that strong European legislation protects them. So you don’t stand helplessly at the airport waiting for someone to take pity on you, I’ve put together the ten most important points you need to have at your fingertips.
1. Flight Delay Compensation Under EU Regulation 261
The basis for everything is European Regulation 261/2004, which gives you a clear right to financial compensation if the delay was the airline’s own fault. This covers situations like a technical fault with the aircraft, missing crew or poor scheduling, whereas bad weather or an air traffic controllers’ strike count as so-called extraordinary circumstances. The amount doesn’t depend on your ticket price at all, only on the distance of the flight, so you can get €250, €400 or up to €600 per person.
You become entitled to this money the moment you arrive at your final destination with a delay of more than three hours. Under established case law, this time isn’t measured from when the wheels touch the runway, but from the moment the aircraft doors open and you can actually get off. You have exactly the same right to compensation if the airline cancels your flight and tells you less than 14 days before departure.
💡 Tip: Always photograph the departure board showing the delay and carefully hold on to all your boarding passes. If you only have digital boarding passes in an app, take screenshots of them before they vanish from your phone for good after the flight.
2. The Right to Care Saves You Right There in the Terminal
While you’ll deal with financial compensation calmly once you’re back home, the airline has to provide the right to care immediately right at the airport. This is absolutely crucial for families with kids, because this right applies regardless of whose fault it was, so even if a hurricane is raging outside and compensation is off the table. It mainly covers food and drinks proportionate to the length of the wait, which you’ll usually get in the form of vouchers you can use in the airport restaurants.
If your delay drags on overnight, the airline has to pay for a hotel and also arrange transport between the airport and that hotel. Especially with a baby, the chance to give them a bath and settle them in a clean hotel room is a thousand times more valuable than the prospect of euros landing in your account later. So don’t let yourself be brushed off, and insist that spending the night on hard airport benches with a toddler simply isn’t an option.
💡 Tip: As soon as it’s clear the delay is going to be long, head straight to the airline desk and ask for meal vouchers. If there’s nobody there and you have to buy food yourself, carefully keep all your receipts so you can have these reasonable costs reimbursed after you return.
3. Lap Infants and Compensation: a Grey Area
This is a huge topic that regularly stumps lawyers and airlines alike, because the rules are anything but clear-cut. When you fly with a child under two who doesn’t have their own seat and sits on your lap, their right to compensation is a demonstrably disputed area ⚠️. Some sources argue that Regulation 261/2004 doesn’t grant compensation to a lap infant without a seat, because they aren’t travelling on a standard ticket.
Other legal interpretations, on the other hand, argue that the right arises even without a purchased seat, as long as some payment was made for the child, which in practice is the single most important criterion. If you pay a fixed fee for an infant, such as €25 with a low-cost carrier like Ryanair, or 10% of the adult fare with the major airlines, the child has a valid ticket and has demonstrably paid for transport. Case law across Europe, however, is still not uniform and carriers’ practices differ enormously.
💡 Tip: Always file a compensation claim for an infant with the airline, because filling in the form costs nothing. Just be aware that the first response may be a refusal, so if you paid for the child, don’t give up after the first email and escalate the case further.
4. A Big Revolution in Family Rights Arrives in 2027
After years of debate, the European Union has finally approved a massive revision of passenger rights, which brings absolutely fundamental relief for families with kids. This joint text was approved by the European Parliament by an overwhelming majority, and the Council of the EU gave its final green light on 13 July 2026. The new rules will actually take effect after a transitional period, so we can look forward to them roughly from mid-2027.
The biggest and most eagerly awaited change is the rule that a child under 14 will have to sit next to a parent completely free of charge. That will put an end to the nonsense of families being split up all over the plane and the forced fees just to sit together with your schoolchild. Under the new rules the airline will have a strict 30 days to pay out compensation and you’ll have 9 months to make your claim, plus the cancellation of return tickets if you don’t board the first leg will be expressly banned.
💡 Tip: ⚠️ During negotiations there was a fight over a guaranteed free cabin bag, but for now the approved text only confirms one personal item. We’ll only learn the exact dimensions from the Official Journal, so until then keep a close eye on the limits of your specific airline.
5. How to Survive a Delay in Crisis Mode
The theory of European law is all well and good, but when you’re standing in a packed hall and your child’s patience is running out, you mainly need to act fast. The first two hours of a delay decide what mental state the whole family ends up handling the situation in. One mum on the Mumsnet forum summed it up very honestly, describing how she spent a twelve-hour flight covered in sick after her eight-month-old threw up shortly after take-off, because the delay had thrown off their entire routine.
Kids soak up your stress absolutely reliably, so when you know what you’re entitled to, you’ll be far calmer. Top up your water at the fountains past security, buy some small snacks and find an airport kids’ play area to tire the children out. Lukáš and I fly most often out of two home airports, and one of them has fantastic play zones in both terminals that make the wait so much easier.
💡 Tip: Don’t give your child all the toys and activities from your backpack at once — flight attendants recommend rotating them roughly every twenty minutes. With older kids a fully charged power bank is a lifesaver, because if they’ve got something to do and understand the situation, they cope with the wait surprisingly well.
6. Your Lifeline in the Carry-On and Those Tricky Liquids
When a flight is delayed or cancelled, you usually can’t get back to your checked suitcase, so everything for the next 24 hours has to be on you. With babies that means plenty of spare clothes not just for the child but, to be safe, for you too, because a delay means more feeds and therefore a greater chance of an accident. Packing liquids and baby food is often the single most stressful part of the whole trip right before the security check.
Since 1 October 2025 some EU airports fitted with new CT scanners have introduced new rules, where you can carry a container with liquid of up to 2 litres, but there’s a huge catch. At many other terminals, especially for non-Schengen destinations, the old 100 ml limit still applies. The rules depend on your departure terminal, not your airline, so even with the same low-cost carrier you can fly from two different terminals with different rules. Always check the current situation at your specific airport before you travel.
💡 Tip: Baby food and milk are exempt from the 100 ml limit in the quantity needed for the journey, but be prepared for security to ask you to show the contents. ⚠️ If you’re thinking about sleep aids for children, remember that melatonin must not be given to children under 2, and for older ones only ever after consulting a doctor.
7. A Cancelled Flight and the Right to Rerouting
If your plane doesn’t take off at all and the airline cancels the flight, your rights don’t change; on the contrary, you have a clear right to a refund or to rerouting. The carrier must offer you a replacement flight on comparable terms at the earliest opportunity to get you to your final destination. This is the moment when, as parents, you need to be assertive and not settle for the first unfavourable offer.
Airlines really hate rerouting you onto their competitors’ flights, even though under European rules they should. Don’t let yourself be pushed onto a flight three days from now if in reality a competing airline is flying tomorrow morning and you could safely leave with them. Insist on it at the desk and refer to EU Regulation 261, which guarantees you the right to the earliest comparable flight.
💡 Tip: Even while waiting for a rerouted flight you keep the right to care, so if the airline rebooks you onto a flight the next day, they have to pay for a hotel, transfer and meals for the entire waiting time.
8. How to File a Compensation Claim Step by Step
If your delay exceeded the magic 3 hours and it wasn’t just a summer thunderstorm, once you’re back home sit down calmly at your computer and claim compensation directly through the airline’s website. Most carriers have a special EU 261 form on their site where you just enter the flight number, your booking details and attach copies of your boarding passes. The new rules will also give carriers a hard 30-day limit to process your claim, so the whole process should speed up significantly.
Specialist intermediary services, such as AirHelp, keep as your backup plan B. These companies charge a hefty commission on the amount recovered, so for clear-cut cases like a technical fault you’d needlessly lose part of your money. An intermediary is worth using only when the airline turns you down with a generic weather excuse but you strongly suspect they’re lying and just trying to avoid paying.
💡 Tip: Under the new rules you’ll have up to 9 months to file a compensation claim, but it’s best not to put it off and to fill everything in the very first weekend after you get back, while you still have all your boarding passes and receipts together.
9. A Damaged Stroller and What to Do About It
This is an absolutely specific nightmare for all travelling families: you hand over the stroller at the aircraft and at your destination it comes out on the belt with a snapped wheel. In these cases it’s not the European regulation that applies, but the international Montreal Convention, which sets the airline’s liability limit for baggage at around $2,175. We swear by our compact travel stroller, the Joolz Aer, which flies in the cabin with us, but if you’re checking in a big stroller, the risk of damage is huge.
The most fatal mistake tired parents make is discovering the damage, with the child crying beside them, and heading straight to the hotel thinking they’ll sort it out tomorrow by email. Really, never do this, because you have to report the damage ideally immediately at the airport at the claims desk (Baggage Claim). There you’ll fill in a so-called PIR report (Property Irregularity Report), which absolutely dramatically increases your chance of the airline accepting and paying out your claim.
💡 Tip: If you really can’t manage it at the airport, you have 7 days to report the stroller damage in writing, but keep the baggage tag and boarding pass for it, and photograph the stroller in great detail from every angle.
10. Insurance Versus Your European Rights
Parents often confuse the EU regulation with commercial travel insurance, even though each of them addresses a completely different problem. EU Regulation 261 protects you in situations where the airline itself cancels or delays a flight. Good cancellation insurance, on the other hand, is what you use when you can’t fly, because your child came down with a high fever or chickenpox the day before your dream holiday and you have to stay home.
But good travel insurance can also help you right there during a delay at the airport. Under current terms, many travel insurance policies, for a flight delay of more than 2 hours, cover access to an airport lounge or pay out a small cash amount (around €20) as compensation for the wait. That’s hugely handy with kids, because a lounge is quiet, has free food and more comfortable seating, which makes those first uncertain hours incredibly easier.
💡 Tip: A practical trap lurks in the timing of a cancellation, because if a child falls ill the night before an early morning departure, you usually won’t manage to cancel with the airline in time. For the insurer you’ll then need confirmation from the airline that you didn’t board the flight (a so-called no-show), and of course a medical report.
Practical Summary and Rough Figures
To keep everything crystal clear, I’ve prepared two handy tables with specific numbers and limits for 2026. You’ll see at a glance how much is at stake if things go wrong and which deadlines you mustn’t miss when making a claim.
Amount of financial compensation (EU 261/2004)
| Distance of your flight | Compensation per person | When the right arises |
|---|---|---|
| :— | :— | :— |
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. Rome – Milan) | €250 | Arrival delay over 3 hours |
| 1,500 km to 3,500 km (e.g. London – Tenerife) | €400 | Arrival delay over 3 hours |
| Over 3,500 km outside the EU (e.g. Paris – New York) | €600 | Arrival delay over 4 hours |
Limits for damaged strollers and baggage
| Stroller / baggage situation | Maximum compensation limit | Deadline for reporting |
|---|---|---|
| :— | :— | :— |
| Stroller damaged during the flight | Up to 1,519 SDR (approx. $2,175) | In writing within 7 days (ideally straight away via PIR) |
| Delayed delivery of the stroller | Up to 1,519 SDR (approx. $2,175) | In writing within 21 days of delivery |
| Complete loss of the stroller | Up to 1,519 SDR (approx. $2,175) | Once 21 days have passed since the delay |
Where to Next
If you’ve got a journey into the clouds with little ones ahead of you and want to be ready for absolutely anything, check out our other detailed guides. You’ll find plenty of practical tips in them, from choosing seats to packing toys.
- Flying with kids: the complete guide
- AirHelp review: claiming compensation for your flight
- Buying a plane ticket for a child
- Flying with a toddler
- How to keep a child entertained on a plane
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I receive compensation for a delayed flight?
You are entitled to financial compensation when you arrive at your final destination with more than three hours of delay. The delay is measured from the moment the aircraft doors open, and the delay must have been caused by the airline itself, not bad weather.
Is a child under two years old sitting on a lap entitled to compensation?
Unfortunately, this is ⚠️ a very contentious area with unclear interpretation. Generally speaking, if you paid any fee for the child (for example €25 with Ryanair), you should definitely file a compensation claim, but be prepared that airlines will resist and you may need to escalate the claim.
What about bringing drinks for children through security?
Baby food and milk have an exemption and you can bring the amount needed for the journey. Additionally, from October 1, 2025, a limit of up to 2 litres for all liquids applies at major European airports with new CT scanners, though at many airports (especially non-Schengen terminals) the strict 100 ml limit still applies.
What should I do if the airline damages my stroller?
You must report the damage ideally immediately after landing at the claims desk, where they will issue the necessary PIR protocol. If you don’t manage to do it on the spot, you have a maximum of 7 days to report it in writing, otherwise you will lose your right to compensation under the Montreal Convention.
When will the new rules for families come into effect?
The revision of the European regulation was finally approved in July 2026, but a one-year transition period is expected. In practice, the new rules will come into effect around mid-2027, when, among other things, children under 14 will get a seat next to their parents free of charge.
Can I give my child a sleeping aid for the flight?
Doctors strongly warn against this practice. ⚠️ Melatonin should not be given at all to children younger than two years, and for older children always consult with your paediatrician in advance. Better rely on adjusting their routine, comfortable clothing and a favourite toy.
What happens if our flight is cancelled completely?
If the airline cancels your flight, your rights remain very strong. You have the right to a refund or to rerouting to your destination at the earliest opportunity. While waiting for a replacement flight, the carrier must provide you with meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation.
Do I have to pay to sit together with my children?
For now, with many airlines it depends on their goodwill or you have to purchase seats, but that will change soon. Thanks to the new rules effective from mid-2027, airlines will be required to seat children under 14 next to their accompanying adult completely free of charge.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
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Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
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