Flight delay in Poland: compensation 250-600 euro, new EU rules 2027
Short answer: Flights arriving 3+ hours late can bring 250, 400 or 600 euro unless extraordinary circumstances apply. Complain to the airline, then the ULC Passenger Rights Advocate.
If your flight from or to Poland is delayed or cancelled, you have rights under EU rules, and Poland has a free route for disputes. The rules are also about to change: a new EU regulation amending the air passenger rights law was published on 2 October 2026. This guide explains what applies today, based on the Polish Civil Aviation Authority's (ULC) passenger rights page and EU sources, all checked on 18 October 2026, and what changes later.
What applies today
According to the ULC passenger rights page, these rules come from Regulation (EC) 261/2004. For a delayed flight, the carrier must provide meals and drinks and two phone calls or emails when the expected delay at departure is:
- 2 hours or more for flights up to 1,500 km,
- 3 hours or more for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km,
- 4 hours or more for all other flights.
If the new departure time is at least one day after the original one, the carrier must also provide a hotel and transport between the airport and the hotel when you need to stay overnight. If the delay is at least 5 hours, you can choose a refund of the ticket price within 7 days, with a return flight to the first point of departure where relevant.
Compensation: 250, 400 or 600 euro
The ULC page notes a Court of Justice of the EU ruling of 19 November 2009 (cases C-402/07 and C-432/07). Under it, passengers who arrive at their final destination at least 3 hours late can claim compensation:
- 250 EUR for flights up to 1,500 km,
- 400 EUR for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km,
- 600 EUR for all other flights.
There is no compensation if the carrier proves the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided despite all reasonable measures. For some longer non-EU flights, compensation can be reduced by 50 percent when the arrival delay does not exceed 4 hours, according to the page.
For cancelled flights, the ULC page lists a choice between a refund within 7 days or rerouting, plus the same care and compensation, unless you were informed early enough or extraordinary circumstances apply.
How to claim and where to complain
Complain to the airline first. The ULC says that if the carrier, tour operator or ticket seller does not answer a complaint within 30 days, the complaint is treated as accepted. If you still have no answer or are not satisfied, you can ask the Passenger Rights Advocate at the ULC to help resolve the dispute out of court. You file the application on the advocate's site.
If you only want to report a carrier's violation without seeking compensation, you can notify the President of the ULC on paper, via ePUAP or with a trusted profile. The ULC says it does not intervene in individual passenger cases. For individual claims, you use the advocate or the ordinary courts.
* Photos: Warsaw Chopin Airport (cover) and a departure board at Chicago O'Hare (body), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
What changes: Regulation (EU) 2026/2202
EUR-Lex shows Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, adopted on 16 September 2026, published in the Official Journal on 2 October 2026. It amends Regulation 261/2004 and the air carrier liability regulation 2027/97. EUR-Lex lists 22 October 2026 as the date of effect. Law firm Burges Salmon and the Danish site Lovguiden, both secondary sources, say that most of the new provisions apply only from 23 October 2027. Until then, the current rules above remain the ones to use.
The European Parliament's press release of 7 July 2026 describes what the deal contains:
- Compensation after a delay of more than three hours stays, at 250, 400 and 600 euro by distance.
- Carriers may reduce compensation by 50 percent on the longest journeys if rerouting is offered or the arrival delay is no more than four hours.
- The list of extraordinary circumstances becomes an open list, including weather, strikes by airport or air navigation staff and natural disasters.
- Carriers must send clear claim instructions within four days of the end of a disrupted journey. Passengers get nine months to file, and carriers 30 days to pay or explain.
- Passengers can use the return flight of a two-way ticket even if they skipped the first leg, and may take one personal item on board at no extra cost.
- Companions of a child under 14, and of passengers with reduced mobility or pregnant women, must be seated next to them without extra charge.
Treat the details as the Parliament's summary. The legal text is the regulation itself, and its exact wording on each point is for the final application date.
What the sources do not say
The ULC page does not say whether the 9-month filing period in the new rules will replace limits set by Polish law, and we did not check the Polish limitation period for claims. The sources also do not describe separate conditions for foreign residents.
Frequently asked questions
How late must a flight be for compensation?
At least 3 hours late on arrival, according to the ULC page and the Parliament's summary of the new rules. Compensation does not apply if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
How much compensation can I get?
250, 400 or 600 euro, depending on the flight distance.
Do the new EU rules apply now?
Not yet. The regulation was published on 2 October 2026 and EUR-Lex lists 22 October 2026 as the date of effect, but secondary sources say most provisions apply from 23 October 2027.
Who do I complain to in Poland?
To the airline first. If you get no answer in 30 days or are not satisfied, ask the Passenger Rights Advocate at the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) for out-of-court help.
