When traveling, you should always be prepared for unexpected situations like flight delays and schedule changes. Especially when flying, events can occur that disrupt your entire travel plans. Delays, schedule adjustments, or technical issues are just some of the factors that can cause you to arrive later than planned.
In this post, we want to share our experiences from our flight to Cyprus, where we dealt with a combination of a schedule change and a flight delay.
What Exactly Happened?
Our original flight details were as follows:
- Departure: 9:10 AM from Berlin
- Arrival: 1:45 PM in Paphos, Cyprus
Our plan was to spend the afternoon at the beach in Ayia Napa after landing, relax, and then enjoy a nice dinner. However, a few days before the flight, we were informed about a schedule change. The new flight plan was:
- Departure: 11:30 AM
- Arrival: 4:00 PM
This was already a significant change, but we had come to terms with it. Yet, things got worse on the day of the flight: after boarding the plane, we had to wait for 1 hour and 20 minutes on the tarmac before the flight even began. Apparently, a co-pilot was missing. In the end, we didn’t land in Paphos until 5:30 PM, leaving most of the day lost.
Flight Delays and Schedule Changes: How Are They Calculated? 1 Hour or Over 3 Hours?
The situation was confusing: we were dealing with not just a flight delay but also a schedule change. But what does that mean exactly?
- Schedule Change: If the airline changes the flight schedule in advance and notifies you about it, this is referred to as a schedule change or rescheduling. This often happens a few days or weeks before departure.
- Flight Delay: This refers to the actual delay of the flight on the day of travel. Delays can be caused by various factors, such as technical issues, bad weather, or missing staff – as in our case.
Since our flight schedule was changed in advance, the delay applies to the new arrival time.
Flight Delay Compensation: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes – What Are Your Rights for Delays and Schedule Changes?
While we were waiting on the tarmac, we wondered: “Are we entitled to compensation?” A quick search revealed that the EU Passenger Rights Regulation 261/2004 clearly outlines when passengers are entitled to compensation.
Compensation for Flight Delays
According to the regulation, passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight arrives more than 3 hours late and no extraordinary circumstances (such as bad weather) are involved. In our case, however, the delay was only 1 hour and 30 minutes, based on the new arrival time. Therefore, no compensation was due.
Compensation for Schedule Changes
If the airline announces a schedule change at least 14 days before departure, passengers are not entitled to compensation. For shorter notice changes, different rules may apply depending on the situation.
Tip: If you’re unsure whether you’re entitled to compensation, you can easily check with Flightright*. They offer a free service to determine if you have a claim and help you assert it hassle-free.
Flight Delays and Schedule Changes: What We Learned
Although the frustration over lost time is understandable, this experience taught us to plan more flexibly and always allow for buffer times. It’s important to know the legal regulations to understand when you’re entitled to compensation and when you’re not.
Flight delays aren’t the only thing that can disrupt your travel plans. During our flight to Barcelona for a Costa Brava road trip, we also lost our suitcase. In this article, you can find out how we handled the situation and what you can do if your luggage is lost: Ryanair Lost Luggage: How We Got Our Suitcase Back.
The next time you fly, always plan for possible schedule changes or delays—especially if you’re planning to make active use of your arrival day.
Useful Travel Resources for Your Planning
Here are the most important providers we use and recommend for our travel bookings:
- Tours and Activities: We always research interesting activities on this site*. If we don’t find what we’re looking for, we also use this alternative*.
- Hotels: We book our accommodations through Booking.com*, which offers a vast selection and fair prices.
- Flights: For flight research, we usually use Skyscanner* to find the best deals.
- Rental Cars: For rental cars, we use this comparison site* to stay flexible and secure.
- For even more travel tips and recommendations, feel free to check out our YouTube channel!
