Turkish Airlines delay compensation: a plain guide

Turkish Airlines flies from a long list of UK airports to Istanbul, and from there to almost anywhere. Turkey isn't in the EU, and Turkish Airlines isn't a UK or EU airline, so the compensation rules only cover some of its flights. Here's which ones, how much, and what to do if it refuses.

Can I claim compensation from Turkish Airlines?

Only for flights that leave a UK or EU airport.

• Covered: Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh or any other UK airport to Istanbul, and Turkish Airlines flights leaving EU airports.
• Not covered: Istanbul to the UK or EU, and any journey that starts outside Europe.

The rules cover flights into the UK or EU only when a UK or EU airline runs them. Turkish Airlines is neither, so its flights home from Istanbul fall outside both UK261 and EC261.

For a covered flight, the usual conditions apply: you arrived at your final destination three hours or more late, or the flight was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding, and the cause was within the airline's control.

Why isn't my flight home from Istanbul covered?

Because the outward and return trips are separate journeys in law, even on one return ticket. The EU Court of Justice decided this in Emirates v Schenkel (2008). The ruling came before Brexit, so it's part of UK law too.

The return starts in Turkey, on an airline from outside Europe, so the rules don't reach it. If your flight from Heathrow to Istanbul was late, you may have a claim. If your flight back was late, usually not under these rules.

How much does Turkish Airlines have to pay?

The amount is fixed by distance.

Some examples, measured airport to airport:

• Heathrow to Istanbul, about 2,490 km: £350.
• Manchester to Istanbul, about 2,665 km: £350.
• Edinburgh to Istanbul, about 2,830 km: £350.

So a direct flight from the UK to Istanbul is usually £350 per passenger. Every passenger on the booking gets the full amount, including children with their own seat. A couple delayed four hours from Manchester to Istanbul would be owed 2 × £350 = £700.

What if I was connecting in Istanbul?

Many people fly Turkish Airlines to change in Istanbul for Asia, Africa or Australia. If the journey started in the UK or EU and was on one booking, it's treated as a single journey to your final destination, including the onward leg from Istanbul.

The EU Court of Justice confirmed this in Wegener v Royal Air Maroc (2018), where a non-EU airline flew both legs of a journey from Berlin via Casablanca, and the problem happened on the second leg. The passenger was covered. That case is part of UK law as well.

What counts is how late you reached your final destination (Folkerts v Air France, 2013). The amount is based on the straight-line distance from your first airport to your last.

An example. You book Heathrow to Bangkok via Istanbul on one Turkish Airlines ticket. The Heathrow flight is delayed by a technical fault, you miss your connection and land in Bangkok seven hours late. Heathrow to Bangkok is about 9,575 km: £520 per passenger.

The half-rate rule on long journeys

When the journey is over 3,500 km and you arrived between three and four hours late, the airline may pay half: £260 or €300. Four hours or more and the full amount is due.

The reverse journey, Bangkok to Heathrow via Istanbul, started outside Europe, so it isn't covered. See missed connecting flights for more.

How do I claim from Turkish Airlines?

You can claim yourself, for free. Or we send the claim for you from day one, with your booking details and a signed authority to act, and deal with every reply.

We'll need:

• the booking reference and names of everyone on it;
• boarding passes or e-tickets for every flight in the journey;
• photo ID, so the airline can match you to the booking.

How long does Turkish Airlines take to reply?

We allow Turkish Airlines 28 days to respond. If there's no reply, we chase. If it refuses and we disagree, we reply with the law and the evidence and set a deadline. See how long flight compensation takes.

What does Turkish Airlines say when it refuses?

"Your flight isn't covered." True for flights starting in Turkey. Not true for flights from the UK or EU, or journeys on one booking that started there.

"Extraordinary circumstances." Weather at Istanbul or restrictions in nearby airspace can be genuine. A technical fault, a crew shortage or a late aircraft from an earlier problem are not. The EU Court of Justice has read the defence narrowly since Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia (2008). See extraordinary circumstances explained.

"Your connection was missed because of the earlier delay." That's not a defence. On one booking, the delay at your final destination is what counts.

Turkish Airlines is a member of AviationADR, a dispute scheme approved by the Civil Aviation Authority. Its decisions bind the airline. If a claim we believe is valid is still refused, we can refer it at no cost to you. For flights from EU airports, complaints can also go to the enforcement body of the departure country.

How long do I have to claim?

For flights from the UK, six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland. For flights from EU countries, it depends on the country. See claiming for an old delay.

What is Turkish Airlines obliged to do on the day?

On a covered flight, the airline must provide meals and refreshments while you wait, and a hotel and transfers if you're stuck overnight, even when the cause is extraordinary. If you paid yourself, keep the receipts. See what the airline owes you during a delay.

You can see how we handle Turkish Airlines claims on our Turkish Airlines airline page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim for a delayed Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to London?

Usually not. Turkish Airlines isn't a UK or EU airline and the flight started outside Europe, so neither UK261 nor EC261 applies.

How much is a delayed London to Istanbul flight worth?

About 2,490 km from Heathrow, so £350 per passenger if you arrived three hours or more late and the cause was within the airline's control.

I missed my connection in Istanbul on the way out. Am I covered?

Yes, if the journey started in the UK or EU on one booking and you reached your final destination three hours or more late for a reason within the airline's control.

Is Turkish Airlines in a dispute scheme?

Yes. Turkish Airlines is a member of AviationADR, whose decisions are binding on the airline.