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Delayed Madrid–Latin America Flight: €600
Spain to Latin America flight 4+ hours late? You're owed €600 per passenger (€300 for 3–4 hours).
1. Your flight
2. What happened?
EU261 (EU rules) · 8031 km
600 €
600 € per passenger
You arrived 3+ hours late, so you can claim the full amount (unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances).
3. Your rights
- ✔Right to care while you wait: meals and drinks, and a hotel plus transport if you're delayed overnight. Keep receipts; reasonable costs can be claimed back.
- ✔Delay of 5 hours or more, or a cancellation: you can choose a full refund instead of flying.
- ✔Compensation is per passenger, including children with a seat.
- ✔Claims companies take 25–35% plus VAT. Claiming yourself is free.
- ✔You can ask for cash: you don't have to accept vouchers.
✉️ 4. Your claim letter
🧭 What to do next
- Send the letter to the airline's customer service or claims form, with your booking reference and boarding passes. Keep proof you sent it.
- Wait for the reply (the airline has a month to answer). Don't accept vouchers if you want cash.
- If they refuse or don't reply: file a complaint with AESA (Spain's aviation safety agency), free and online.
- Still not paid? Go to court: up to €2,000 you don't need a lawyer or court representative (juicio verbal).
General information, not legal advice. 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
✅ Rules last checked:
📚 Official sources: Reglamento (CE) n.º 261/2004 (EUR-Lex) · AESA
We build every tool from the official rules and re-check them when they change. Always confirm with the official source before you rely on a result.
🛠️ Spotted a mistake or an out-of-date rule? Tell us
Answer: under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, a flight leaving Spain (or arriving on a European airline) 3 hours or more late pays €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 within the EU over 1,500 km or up to 3,500 km, and €600 over 3,500 km. On long flights 3–4 hours late, the airline can pay half. Nothing is due in extraordinary circumstances (weather, air traffic control).
| Route (example) | Distance | 3 h late | 4 h or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid → Bogotá | 8031 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Mexico City | 9067 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Lima | 9526 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Buenos Aires | 10.085 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Barcelona → Santo Domingo | 7162 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Santiago de Chile | 10.719 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Quito | 8737 km | 300 € | 600 € |
Per passenger, when the cause is the airline's (fault, crew, overbooking). The Canary Islands count as EU for the Regulation.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to claim in Spain?+
Spanish courts apply the general 5-year limit to EU261 compensation. Still, claim from the airline as soon as you can and keep all proof.
Does a strike count?+
If it's the airline's own staff striking, yes (EU Court of Justice). Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances.