KLM compensation
Has your KLM flight been delayed, cancelled or overbooked? Then you may be entitled to financial compensation of up to €600. As a passenger on a European airline, you are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004, which entitles you to compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled, unless special or extraordinary circumstances apply.
Refundmore makes it easy to claim compensation from KLM. We quickly check if your flight fulfils the criteria and take care of the entire process - including contact with the airline and possible legal action.
Experiences with compensation from KLM
We've helped many passengers get compensation from KLM for delayed flights, cancellations and overbooked flights. You can find reviews of Refundmore on Trustpilot where passengers describe how they received financial compensation from airlines - including KLM.
About KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM was founded in 1919 and is today part of the Air France-KLM group. As the world's oldest airline, KLM has built up a large route network with destinations all over the world. KLM's main hub is in Amsterdam, but the company has many connections to and from Denmark.
Although KLM has a reputation for good service and stable operations, flight cancellations, delays and rebookings can still happen - affecting your travel plans and costing you time and money.
In 2024, over 242,000 flights were registered with KLM. Of these:
4,073 flights were cancelled
581 flights were delayed more than three hours
Fortunately, you have rights as a passenger - and you may be entitled to compensation if the reason for the delay or cancellation was not due to extraordinary circumstances.
What are your rights in case of cancelled or delayed KLM flights?
According to EU Regulation 261/2004, you are entitled to compensation if your KLM flight is more than three hours late on arrival or if your flight has been cancelled at short notice - unless special circumstances apply.
Rules for KLM cancellations
If your KLM flight has been cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure and you arrived more than 3 hours later than originally planned, you are generally entitled to compensation.
You are also always entitled to a refund or rebooking if the airline cancels the flight. If KLM does not make you aware of this, they are violating your rights as a passenger.
Rules for KLM delays
For flight delays of more than three hours at the time of arrival, you can generally claim compensation - unless the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather or political unrest.
For delays of five hours or more, the airline is obliged to give you the choice between a ticket refund or re-routing.
When am I entitled to compensation?
You are entitled to compensation from KLM if:
✅ Your flight was delayed by more than three hours on arrival
✅ Your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure
✅ The flight was overbooked and you were denied boarding
Extraordinary circumstances - when does compensation not apply?
Flight delays and cancellations do not always entitle you to compensation. Under EU law, airlines are exempt from liability if the delay or cancellation is caused by extraordinary circumstances that they could not have foreseen or avoided.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances:
Bad weather (e.g. storm, dense fog or lightning)
Political unrest, demonstrations, terrorist threats
Strike among airport staff
Closure of airspace or airport
Examples of situations where KLM is still obligated:
Technical problems with the aircraft
Staff shortages at KLM
Lack of rebooking or communication
Overbooking of the flight
Refundmore assesses your case thoroughly and we always investigate whether the delay could have been avoided. In many cases, the airline claims that there were extraordinary circumstances - even when this is not true.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions about KLM compensation
How long of a delay triggers compensation?
You are entitled to compensation if your arrival is delayed by more than three hours.
What do I do if my flight is cancelled?
If the flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, KLM is obliged to help you find a new flight that gets you there with the least possible delay compared to the original arrival. You may also be entitled to compensation.
Can I get compensation if I travelled with children?
Yes, as long as the child had their own flight ticket, the child is also covered by the rules.
How do I claim compensation from KLM?
You can contact KLM directly - but many passengers find it difficult to get answers. With Refundmore you don't have to bother - we take care of everything for you.
What if KLM rejects my claim?
We will investigate whether you have a case and can take it to court at no cost to you.
Do the rules also apply when travelling with stopovers?
Yes, as long as the journey is on a single booking, the rules apply to the entire flight - including all journeys with stopovers. Here, the delay is measured upon arrival at your final destination.
You can read more about the rules for stopovers here.
When does my entitlement to a refund start?
If you do not wish to travel due to a significant delay or cancellation, you are entitled to a refund of the entire ticket, including taxes and fees.