Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation

All Turkish Airlines flights departing from the European Union are subject to EC Regulation 261 of 2004. If a flight departing from the E.U. is delayed or cancelled, or you’re involuntarily denied boarding, you may be entitled to Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation. As long as the reasons for the delay are within the airline’s control, you could be eligible for up to €600 as compensation, but you’ll have to file a claim to receive it. 

The EU261 regulation is guaranteed to protect your rights if:

• You’re travelling within (or from) the European Union, and 
• You reached your final destination more than 3 hours late (i.e., behind schedule), and
• Your flight was not delayed due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control, and
• You were not offered a replacement flight scheduled to arrive around the same/similar time as your original flight

Even Flights departing from non-E.U. airports are covered

Although Turkish Airlines is not a European carrier, it offers similar rights to passengers as E.U. carriers for flights that depart from non-E.U. airports under legislation known as SHY-Passenger. So even if your flight does not depart from the E.U., you may be entitled to compensation in case of flight cancellations, delays exceeding 3 hours, and involuntarily boarding denials. 

Depending on the reasons for the flight delay, cancellation, or boarding denial, you have the right to a refund, rerouting, and basic care, incl. meals, accommodations, and much more. 

Below is a snapshot of the Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation, boarding denial compensation, and flight cancellation compensation.

• The flightdelay compensation will depend on the length of the journey and the duration of the delay. If your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more due to reasons within Turkish Airlines’ control, the flight delay compensation:
  • For domestic flights ranges from the equivalent in Turkish Lira of EUR 50 – 100, depending on the length of the delay at arrival (less than or more than 2 hours).
  • For international flights ranges from the equivalent in Turkish Lira of €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance (up to 1,500 km, 1,500 – 3,500 km, more than 3,500 km).

Note: You will not be entitled to any compensation if Turkish Airlines offers you a replacement flight that is scheduled to land at a very similar time compared to your original flight or if your flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control.

• If your flight is delayed by more than 2 hours, you are entitled to free basic care, such as:
  • Access to communication 
  • Refreshments and meals
  • Hotel accommodation (if required)
  • Ground transportation (airport-hotel-airport) 
• Turkish Airlines denied boarding compensation: If you were involuntarily denied boarding despite Turkish Airlines checking in on time, you will be entitled to boarding denial compensation in addition to being provided with a comparable seat to your destination on the next available flight at no extra charge. The boarding denial compensation for international flights ranges from €125 to €600, depending on the flight distance and delay at arrival compared to your original flight.
• Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation: If you were notified of your Turkish Airlines flight cancellation less than 2 weeks before departure and your new flight’s arrival and departure times are significantly different from your original flight’s times, you will be entitled to the following compensation:
  • The equivalent in Turkish Lira of up to €250 for flight distances of up to 1,500 km
  • The equivalent in Turkish Lira of up to €400 for flight distances between 1,500 – 3,500 km
  • The equivalent in Turkish Lira of up to €600 for flight distances exceeding 3,500 km
• Right to reimbursement or route change: If your flight is delayed or cancelled, or you were denied boarding, you are entitled to:
  • A full refund of your fare within 7 days (in addition to your compensation) plus transportation to your point of origin if the onward journey doesn’t make any sense, or 
  • Take a rerouted flight (at no extra cost) to your final destination at the earliest opportunity under similar conditions, or 
  • Travel to your final destination at a suitable date (at no extra cost) under similar transportation conditions, subject to seat availability 
• To receive compensation, you’ll need to contact Turkish Airlines customer service. 
• The compensation will be paid in cash, by electronic transfer, bank check/payment order, or through travel vouchers and/or other services if you agree.
• Exceptions: No compensation will be issued for flight delays and cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as weather conditions, security risks, natural disasters, airport strikes, bird strikes, runway closures, medical emergencies, political instability, social unrest, etc.

What is Turkish Airlines Delayed Flight Compensation? 

The Turkish Airlines delayed flight compensation per EU261 Regulations/SHY-Passenger legislation will depend on the flight distance and the length of the delay.

• For domestic flights within Turkey, the flight delay compensation will be equal to the Turkish Lira equivalent* of:
  • EUR 50 for delays of under 2 hours 
  • EUR 100 for delays exceeding 2 hours
• For international flights, the flight delay compensation will be the Turkish Lira equivalent* of:
  • EUR 125 for flights of up to 1,500 km delayed by less than 2 hours 
  • EUR 250 for flights of up to 1,500 km delayed by more than 2 hours 
  • EUR 200 for flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km delayed by less than 3 hours
  • EUR 400 for flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km delayed by more than 3 hours
  • EUR 300 for flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km delayed by less than 4 hours
  • EUR 600 for flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km delayed by more than 4 hours

* On the day of purchase

What Should I Do in Case of Turkish Flight Delays/Cancellations?

• If your flight is delayed:
  • Be sure to note down the original departure time, the date when you were notified, and any other information you were provided.
  • If your flight delay is 2 hours or more and you’re at the airport, you are entitled to basic care, such as refreshments/meals, communication access, hotel accommodation (if required), and ground transportation to the hotel and back, depending on the length of the delay. If you’re not provided with any of these, contact Turkish Airlines Customer Care and ask.
  • After reaching your destination, contact Customer Care to receive additional compensation if your flight delay exceeded 3 hours, as you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation.
  • If your flight delay is 5 hours or more, you are entitled to:
    • Free snacks/meals and refreshments.
    • Free communication, i.e., 2 phone calls, emails, or faxes.
    • Take the next available rerouted flight.
    • Obtain a full refund if you don’t wish to travel.
    • Free hotel accommodation and ground transport in case of an overnight delay.
• If your flight is cancelled:
  • Note down your flight details, when you were notified, and any other information you were provided. 
  • If the flight cancellation occurred before you reached the airport, you have the option to Turkish rebook your flight online or through Customer Care. 
  • If the flight cancellation took place when you were at the airport, work with Customer Care to get you on the next flight available. If you’re entitled to basic care, it will be offered to you at this stage. 
  • If your flight lands more than 3 hours after its scheduled arrival time, enquire from Customer Care about the reason for the flight delay, as you may be entitled to receive up to €600 in compensation.

How do I know if I qualify for a Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation?

If you want to know whether you qualify for a flight delay compensation on Turkish Airlines, your flight must meet the following conditions:

• Your flight arrived more than 3 hours after its scheduled arrival time. 
• No extraordinary circumstances should have resulted in the flight delay, such as:
  • Airport union/personnel strikes
  • Air traffic control issues 
  • Runway closures 
  • Social or political unrest
  • Bird strikes
  • Poor weather 
  • Medical emergencies
• You were not offered an alternative flight planned to arrive around the same/similar time as your original flight

How do I know if I qualify for Turkish Airlines flight cancellation compensation?

If your Turkish Airlines flight falls under the EC261 Regulations/SHY-Passenger Legislation, you can claim compensation for a cancelled flight if you were informed of it less than 2 weeks before departure. However, if you were notified of the cancellation 14 or more days before departure, you will not be entitled to any compensation.

You will be eligible for compensation if you were notified:

• 7 – 13 days before departure and your replacement flight arrived at your final destination more than 4 hours later.
• Less than 7 days before departure and your replacement flight arrived at your final destination more than 2 hours late.

How to File a Turkish Airlines Flight Delay Compensation Claim

If you wish to file a Turkish Airlines flight delay compensation claim (or reimbursement claim), contact Turkish Airlines by phone or directly at the airport. Remember, compensations are not issued automatically, so you will need to contact Turkish Airlines to make a claim.

Alternatively, contact XCover to get started. 

Turkish Airlines Boarding Denial Compensation

If you are involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking, you are entitled to: 

• Be transported on the next available flight to your destination at no extra charge, and 
• A boarding denial compensation of:
  • EUR 50 for domestic Turkey flights arriving within 2 hours of the original flight
  • EUR 100 for domestic Turkey flights arriving more than 2 hours after the original flight
  • EUR 125 for international flights 1,500 km or less arriving within 2 hours of the original flight
  • EUR 250 for international flights of 1,500 km or less arriving more than 2 hours after the original flight
  • EUR 200 for international flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km arriving within 3 hours of the original flight 
  • EUR 400 for international flights between 1,500 – 3,500 km arriving more than 3 hours after the original flight 
  • EUR 300 for international flights exceeding 3,500 km arriving within 4 hours after the original flight 
  • EUR 600 for international flights exceeding 3,500 arriving more than 4 hours after the original flight

Frequently Asked Questions