Qatar Airways passenger rights
Qatar Airways delayed flight: compensation and your rights
Qatar Airways is licensed in Qatar, outside the regions we cover, so no home-country scheme is shown. EU261, UK261, Canada's APPR or US rules apply to its flights on routes they cover, for example any flight departing from the EU or the UK.
This page covers the law, not airline policy
Rules that can apply to your Qatar Airways flight
Several sets of rules can apply to the same flight, but you generally can't be compensated twice for the same disruption.
Applies to: Its flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland (not flights arriving there).
- Compensation is owed when you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- No compensation is due if Qatar Airways proves the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, for example severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks.
- Most technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances under EU case law, even when the repair is needed for safety.
- On flights over 3,500 km arriving between 3 and 4 hours late, the airline may pay the reduced amount of €300.
- If the departure is delayed by 5 hours or more, you can choose not to travel and get a refund for the unused ticket (and a flight back to your origin if you are mid-journey).
| Flights of 1,500 km or less | €250 |
|---|---|
| Flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and flights over 1,500 km between two airports in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland | €400 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | €600 |
Care while you wait
- Meals and refreshments, and a means of communication, once the departure is delayed by 2 hours (flights of 1,500 km or less), 3 hours (the middle distance band) or 4 hours (other flights over 3,500 km).
- Hotel accommodation and transport to it if you have to stay overnight.
How to claim
- Claim directly from the airline that operated the flight, in writing. Keep your booking reference, boarding passes and receipts.
- If the airline refuses or does not reply, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the incident happened, or use an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.
- Time limits for court claims are set by national law and differ between countries.
Good to know
- Changes to Regulation 261/2004 have been under negotiation in the EU. At our last review, the rules shown here were the ones in force. Check the official source for updates.
- Distance is the great-circle distance between the first departure and final arrival airports.
Applies to: Its flights departing the UK (not flights arriving there).
- Compensation is owed when you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- No compensation is due if Qatar Airways proves the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, for example severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or security risks.
- Most technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances under EU case law, even when the repair is needed for safety.
- On flights over 3,500 km arriving between 3 and 4 hours late, the airline may pay the reduced amount of £260.
- If the departure is delayed by 5 hours or more, you can choose not to travel and get a refund for the unused ticket (and a flight back to your origin if you are mid-journey).
| Flights of 1,500 km or less | £220 |
|---|---|
| Flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and flights over 1,500 km within the UK | £350 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | £520 |
Care while you wait
- Meals and refreshments, and a means of communication, once the departure is delayed by 2 hours (flights of 1,500 km or less), 3 hours (the middle distance band) or 4 hours (other flights over 3,500 km).
- Hotel accommodation and transport to it if you have to stay overnight.
How to claim
- Claim from the airline first, in writing.
- If you're not satisfied with the final response, or the airline hasn't replied within 8 weeks, escalate to the airline's approved ADR scheme or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).
- Court claims in England and Wales are generally subject to a 6-year limitation period (5 years in Scotland).
Good to know
- Distance is the great-circle distance between the first departure and final arrival airports.
- Separate tickets (self-transfer) are assessed flight by flight.
Applies to: Its flights to, from and within Canada.
- Compensation is owed when the disruption is within the airline's control and not required for safety, and you were told about it 14 days or less before departure.
- Disruptions required for safety, or outside the airline's control (such as weather or air traffic control), do not attract compensation, though rebooking or refund rules still apply.
- Large carriers (2 million or more passengers a year worldwide) pay the higher amount; small carriers pay the lower one.
- For a delay of 3 hours or more, the airline must rebook you or refund the unused portion of the ticket if the alternative doesn't meet your needs.
| Arriving 3 to under 6 hours late | CA$400 (large airline) · CA$125 (small airline) |
|---|---|
| Arriving 6 to under 9 hours late | CA$700 (large airline) · CA$250 (small airline) |
| Arriving 9 or more hours late | CA$1,000 (large airline) · CA$500 (small airline) |
Care while you wait
- Food and drink, and access to communication, after a 2-hour wait for disruptions within the airline's control.
- Hotel accommodation if you have to wait overnight, for disruptions within the airline's control.
How to claim
- Send a written compensation request to the airline within one year of the delay or cancellation.
- The airline must pay or explain why it won't within 30 days of receiving your request.
- If you disagree with the response, file a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency.
Good to know
- Amendments to the APPR have been proposed. At our last review, the amounts shown here were in force.
- Whether a carrier is 'large' depends on its passenger numbers in the two preceding calendar years.
Applies to: Its flights to, from and within the United States (refunds, not compensation).
- There is no federal requirement for airlines to pay cash compensation for delays or cancellations. Some airlines promise meals, hotels or credits in their customer service plans.
- A domestic flight arriving 3 or more hours late, or an international flight arriving 6 or more hours late, counts as "significantly delayed". If you choose not to travel, you are owed a refund.
- Refunds must be prompt: within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payment methods.
Care while you wait
- Meals and hotels are set by each airline's own customer service plan, not by federal law.
How to claim
- Refunds for cancellations and significant changes should be automatic if you decline the alternative. If one doesn't arrive, request it from the airline or ticket agent that took your payment.
- If the airline doesn't resolve it, file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.
Good to know
- Parts of the DOT refund rules have been under administrative reconsideration. Check the DOT source for the current position.
- Airline vouchers offered instead of a refund are optional; you can insist on the refund.
Applies to: Its flights to, from or within Australia (no fixed compensation scheme).
- At our last review, Australia had no fixed-amount compensation scheme for delays or cancellations like the EU's.
- Under the Australian Consumer Law, services must be provided with due care and within a reasonable time. If a flight isn't provided, you may be entitled to a refund or other remedy, depending on the circumstances and the airline's conditions of carriage.
Care while you wait
- Meals and accommodation depend on the airline's own policies.
How to claim
- Contact the airline in writing and refer to its customer charter and conditions of carriage.
- If unresolved, contact your state or territory consumer protection agency, or the ACCC for information.
Good to know
- The Australian Government has announced reforms to aviation consumer protection. Check the ACCC for the current position.
What to do now
- Note the time you actually arrived at your final destination. The arrival delay is what counts for compensation.
- Ask Qatar Airways for the reason for the delay in writing. Whether compensation is owed often depends on it.
- Keep your booking confirmation, boarding passes, and receipts for meals or a hotel.
- Check your route with the flight compensation checker to see which of these rules apply and what they give you.
- Claim from Qatar Airways in writing, and keep a copy. The refund letter generator can draft the request.
- If the airline refuses or doesn't reply, escalate to the regulator or complaints body listed under the rules that apply.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation can I get for a delayed Qatar Airways flight?
It depends on the route and the distance. Under EU261 it's €250 to €600 per passenger, under UK261 £220 to £520, and under Canada's APPR up to CA$1,000 for large airlines. US rules give a refund if you choose not to travel, not compensation.
How late does a Qatar Airways flight have to be for compensation?
Under EU261, UK261 and Canada's APPR, compensation starts when you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late. Under US rules, a flight is significantly delayed at 3 hours (domestic) or 6 hours (international), which gives a refund if you don't travel.
Does Qatar Airways have to pay if the delay was caused by bad weather?
Usually not. Under EU261 and UK261, the airline doesn't pay compensation when it proves extraordinary circumstances it couldn't avoid, such as severe weather. Under the APPR, disruptions outside the airline's control don't attract compensation. Meals, and a hotel for an overnight wait, can still be owed under EU261 and UK261.
How long do I have to claim?
Under the APPR, send your request within one year. Under UK261, court claims in England and Wales are generally subject to a 6-year limit (5 years in Scotland). Under EU261, time limits are set by national law and differ between countries.
Official sources
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