Flight delayed? What to do in the first 30 minutes

The board changes, your phone buzzes, and your flight now leaves later than planned. It is tempting to wait and see. But the first half hour after a delay is announced is often when a few simple steps save the most trouble later. This is a short checklist for that time. For the full picture after a delay, see our guide on what to do next.

Minutes 1 to 5: get the facts straight

• Read the airline's message in full, in the app or by email, not just the board. Note the new departure time, and whether the gate has changed.
• Check whether the new time is a firm time or a "next information" time. A "next information" time means the airline does not know yet, and the delay could grow or shrink.
• Take a screenshot of the delay notice. It records the time and the reason given, which is useful if you need it later.

If the airline has not said anything yet, it can help to look at the plane that is due to fly you. Our guide on where your plane is coming from shows how, and why a late incoming plane is often the first sign of a longer wait.

Minutes 5 to 10: check what the delay touches

A delay rarely affects only the flight itself. Think through the rest of your day:

• A connecting flight: work out whether you can still make it with the new time. If it looks tight, speak to the airline now rather than at the transfer desk later.
• Someone collecting you: tell them the new time. If they are driving, the expected landing time matters more than the departure time. Our airport pickup guide explains how to follow it.
• Hotel check-in, car hire or a train: many will hold a booking if you let them know you are running late.

Minutes 10 to 20: ask the right question

If the delay is long, or your plans are at risk, talk to the airline. Use its app or website chat as well as the desk, since queues at the desk can be long. Ask practical questions: can I be moved to an earlier flight, what happens to my connection, and is there any help with food or drink while I wait. Stay polite and short. The staff often have limited options, and a clear question gets a clearer answer.

If the airline offers meal vouchers or other help, take them and keep them. What is offered depends on the airline, the length of the delay and the rules where you fly.

Minutes 20 to 30: start your paper trail

• Keep receipts for anything you buy because of the delay, such as food, drinks or a phone charger.
• Note the key times: when the delay was first shown, when you boarded and when you landed.
• Save your booking reference and boarding pass. You will need both if you contact the airline later.

You may never need any of this. But if you do, it is much easier to collect as you go than to rebuild from memory a week later.

Then: stay near the gate and keep watching

Delays can shrink as well as grow. An airline may find another plane or make up time on the ground, and a flight can board sooner than the new time suggests. Stay within reach of the gate, keep your phone charged, and check the airline app every so often. Setting up alerts means you do not have to keep refreshing the board yourself.

What about compensation?

Whether anything is owed after a delay depends on where you flew, the airline, how late you arrived and why the flight was late. We do not give rulings on that. Your airline's own claim form is the place to start, and our airline support page lists official links for major airlines. If the airline does not resolve it, the official bodies for the EU, UK and US are listed below.