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What can you claim for a delayed flight or lost bag?

Pick what happened and your airline. The answer shows what to do first, what the airline owes and what travel policies pay.

What happened?
Which airline?

What to do first

  1. Ask the airline desk for meals or a hotel once the delay passes the times below.
  2. Ask the airline for a written report of the delay.
  3. Keep receipts for any costs the delay caused you.

What the airline must do at a UAE airport

Delay of 1 to 3 hours
Up to date information
Delay expected to be 3 to 8 hours
Information, free meals and refreshments, means of communication. A hotel if you miss a connection and the next likely one is after 8 hours
Delay of more than 8 hours
Hotel, meals, communication, transport to and from the hotel

The UAE rules set care, information and re-routing duties, and no cash compensation amount. GCAA Passenger Welfare Program. Source.

What Emirates offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection: one of three remedies selected by Emirates: another flight, re-routing, or involuntary refund.

  • It limits delay liability to 6,303 SDR where the Montreal Convention applies.
  • It names government actions, pandemics, bad weather, air traffic control delays and strikes as circumstances beyond its control, and says it has no liability for them except as its conditions set out.

Emirates conditions of carriage, Published 28 December 2024. Source.

What Etihad offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection on its flights: another service, re-routing within a reasonable period, or a refund.

  • Refunds requested on its website are paid within 30 days if eligible.
  • EU261 claims go to Etihad directly, and it allows 28 days.
  • When force majeure stops a flight, Etihad may, at its sole discretion and subject to law, give a refund, a travel credit or transport to an agreed alternate airport.
  • Where the Montreal Convention applies, it is liable for proven delay damage up to 6,303 SDR, unless it took all reasonably required measures or that was impossible.

Etihad conditions of carriage, As of 28 December 2024. Source.

What flydubai offers

Delay under 3 hours: no welfare. Over 3 hours: a refreshment voucher. If cancelled: the next available flight, or cancel for a full refund in the form of a voucher, unless applicable laws provide otherwise.

  • The voucher rule applies to cancellations and delays other than the examples it lists as beyond its control.
  • Where the law requires otherwise, the choice is your original form of payment or a voucher.

flydubai conditions of carriage, Effective 28 December 2024. Source.

What Air Arabia offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection: carry you at the earliest opportunity, re-route you, or give an involuntary refund. Air Arabia lists the refund as your choice.

  • Its force majeure definition includes war, hostilities and government actions.
  • Its conditions print a baggage limit of 1,288 SDR, the earlier ICAO figure. Ask it which limit it applies.

Air Arabia conditions of carriage, Undated. File links reference 15 December 2025. Source.

Can you get cash compensation under EU or UK rules?

Only if your flight is inside their scope. EU261: EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance, for denied boarding, cancellation, or reaching your final destination 3 hours or more late, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. UK261: GBP 220, 350 or 520, on the same basis.

Single-leg flightEU261UK261
From an EU airport to the UAE, any airlineYesNo
From a UK airport to the UAE, any airlineNoYes
From the UAE to an EU airport, on an EU airlineYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAENo
From the UAE to a UK airport, on a UK or EU airlineNoYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAE
From the UAE to an EU airport, on a UK airlineNoYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAE
From the UAE to the EU or UK, on a UAE airlineNoNo
From the UAE to anywhere elseNoNo

On the text of Article 3 of each regulation. EU261, UK261, Sturgeon.

The most an airline owes for a proven delay loss

6,303 SDR
Montreal Convention limit for delayCeilings on loss you can prove, not fixed payments. ICAO revised the limits from 28 December 2024. SDR values move, so no AED figure is given.

What travel policies pay

A policy benefit does not cancel what the airline owes you. These are delay benefits. For a cancelled trip, see cancelling your trip.

  • Salama. From a 4-hour delay. Plan Traveller up to USD 250 to 1,000 and Plan Pearl up to USD 125 to 500, by hours delayed, against original invoices. Excludes delays caused directly by a strike of airline or airport staff. Source.
  • GIG Gulf Travel Smart. From a 6-hour delay, USD 100 for the first completed 6 hours and USD 100 for each further 6 hours, up to USD 500. Source.
  • Liva. A departure delayed more than 6 hours by a strike, industrial action, bad weather or mechanical breakdown. USD 100 for each further 6 hours, up to the schedule amount. Source.
  • AIG Travel Guard. USD 50 an hour, up to USD 1,000 or USD 500 by plan, after a 4-hour excess, for equipment failure, bad weather, industrial action, natural disaster and strikes. Source.
  • Allianz Partners UAE. From a 4-hour delay, up to USD 100, 200 or 500 by plan, for expenses less any refunds. It does not pay expenses the airline is responsible for. Source.
  • Orient Easy Journey. For listed causes such as industrial action, bad weather or an aircraft grounded for a defect, with a letter from the airline. The document gives 3 hours in its summary tables and more than 6 hours in section 7. Source.
  • Daman Alami. A delayed departure on the outward journey from a strike, industrial action, bad weather, mechanical breakdown or technical fault. The amount and hours are in the policy schedule. Source.
  • Mastercard World cards MENA (card benefit). USD 300 for a delay of more than 4 hours, and USD 300 for a missed connection. Source.

What to do first

  1. Choose between another flight, re-routing or a refund, within the airline’s terms below.
  2. Check the airline’s terms before you accept a voucher or travel credit.
  3. Ask the airline for a written report of the cancellation and keep every receipt.

What the airline must do at a UAE airport

Cancellation
Told at the earliest practicable time, care as appropriate, carried on another flight as soon as practicable, with the option of a return flight to where you started or re-routing on another airline, subject to availability

The UAE rules set care, information and re-routing duties, and no cash compensation amount. GCAA Passenger Welfare Program. Source.

What Emirates offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection: one of three remedies selected by Emirates: another flight, re-routing, or involuntary refund.

  • It limits delay liability to 6,303 SDR where the Montreal Convention applies.
  • It names government actions, pandemics, bad weather, air traffic control delays and strikes as circumstances beyond its control, and says it has no liability for them except as its conditions set out.

Emirates conditions of carriage, Published 28 December 2024. Source.

What Etihad offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection on its flights: another service, re-routing within a reasonable period, or a refund.

  • Refunds requested on its website are paid within 30 days if eligible.
  • EU261 claims go to Etihad directly, and it allows 28 days.
  • When force majeure stops a flight, Etihad may, at its sole discretion and subject to law, give a refund, a travel credit or transport to an agreed alternate airport.
  • Where the Montreal Convention applies, it is liable for proven delay damage up to 6,303 SDR, unless it took all reasonably required measures or that was impossible.

Etihad conditions of carriage, As of 28 December 2024. Source.

What flydubai offers

Delay under 3 hours: no welfare. Over 3 hours: a refreshment voucher. If cancelled: the next available flight, or cancel for a full refund in the form of a voucher, unless applicable laws provide otherwise.

  • The voucher rule applies to cancellations and delays other than the examples it lists as beyond its control.
  • Where the law requires otherwise, the choice is your original form of payment or a voucher.

flydubai conditions of carriage, Effective 28 December 2024. Source.

What Air Arabia offers

On cancellation, failure to operate to schedule or a missed connection: carry you at the earliest opportunity, re-route you, or give an involuntary refund. Air Arabia lists the refund as your choice.

  • Its force majeure definition includes war, hostilities and government actions.
  • Its conditions print a baggage limit of 1,288 SDR, the earlier ICAO figure. Ask it which limit it applies.

Air Arabia conditions of carriage, Undated. File links reference 15 December 2025. Source.

Can you get cash compensation under EU or UK rules?

Only if your flight is inside their scope. EU261: EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance, for denied boarding, cancellation, or reaching your final destination 3 hours or more late, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. UK261: GBP 220, 350 or 520, on the same basis.

Single-leg flightEU261UK261
From an EU airport to the UAE, any airlineYesNo
From a UK airport to the UAE, any airlineNoYes
From the UAE to an EU airport, on an EU airlineYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAENo
From the UAE to a UK airport, on a UK or EU airlineNoYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAE
From the UAE to an EU airport, on a UK airlineNoYes, unless you received benefits and assistance in the UAE
From the UAE to the EU or UK, on a UAE airlineNoNo
From the UAE to anywhere elseNoNo

On the text of Article 3 of each regulation. EU261, UK261, Sturgeon.

What travel policies pay

A policy benefit does not cancel what the airline owes you. These are delay benefits. For a cancelled trip, see cancelling your trip.

  • Salama. From a 4-hour delay. Plan Traveller up to USD 250 to 1,000 and Plan Pearl up to USD 125 to 500, by hours delayed, against original invoices. Excludes delays caused directly by a strike of airline or airport staff. Source.
  • GIG Gulf Travel Smart. From a 6-hour delay, USD 100 for the first completed 6 hours and USD 100 for each further 6 hours, up to USD 500. Source.
  • Liva. A departure delayed more than 6 hours by a strike, industrial action, bad weather or mechanical breakdown. USD 100 for each further 6 hours, up to the schedule amount. Source.
  • AIG Travel Guard. USD 50 an hour, up to USD 1,000 or USD 500 by plan, after a 4-hour excess, for equipment failure, bad weather, industrial action, natural disaster and strikes. Source.
  • Allianz Partners UAE. From a 4-hour delay, up to USD 100, 200 or 500 by plan, for expenses less any refunds. It does not pay expenses the airline is responsible for. Source.
  • Orient Easy Journey. For listed causes such as industrial action, bad weather or an aircraft grounded for a defect, with a letter from the airline. The document gives 3 hours in its summary tables and more than 6 hours in section 7. Source.
  • Daman Alami. A delayed departure on the outward journey from a strike, industrial action, bad weather, mechanical breakdown or technical fault. The amount and hours are in the policy schedule. Source.
  • Mastercard World cards MENA (card benefit). USD 300 for a delay of more than 4 hours, and USD 300 for a missed connection. Source.

What to do first

  1. Tell the airline before you leave the baggage area and ask for a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
  2. Send written notice within 21 days of the bag being returned to you.
  3. Keep receipts for essentials you buy while you wait, and check your policy’s own notice deadline.

Your deadline with Emirates

21 days
Written notice to the airline21 days from being placed at your disposal
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Emirates conditions of carriage, Published 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Etihad

21 days
Written notice to the airline21 days from being placed at your disposal
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Etihad conditions of carriage, As of 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with flydubai

21 days
Written notice to the airline21 days from being placed at your disposal
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

flydubai conditions of carriage, Effective 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Air Arabia

21 days
Written notice to the airline21 days from being placed at your disposal
Most it pays for proven loss
1,288 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Air Arabia conditions of carriage, Undated. File links reference 15 December 2025. Source.

The Montreal Convention limit for bags

1,519 SDR
Lost, damaged or delayed checked baggageCeilings on loss you can prove, not fixed payments. ICAO revised the limits from 28 December 2024. SDR values move, so no AED figure is given.

What travel policies pay

  • Mastercard World cards MENA (card benefit). USD 300 if a checked bag is delayed or misdirected for more than 4 hours, but not in your city of permanent residence. Source.
  • Liva. Essentials after a delay of more than 6 hours on the outward international journey. Source.
  • Orient Easy Journey Outbound. Essentials on the outward journey after more than 3 hours from arrival. Get a PIR within 7 days and write to the airline within 21 days. Source.
  • AIG Travel Guard. Emergency clothing, medication and toiletries when the delay passes the excess at a destination outside your country of residence, bought within 4 days of arrival. Source.
  • Allianz Partners UAE. Essentials after a delay of at least 4 hours. Get a PIR within 7 days and write to the airline within 21 days. Source.
  • Salama. Essentials after a delay of more than 4 hours from the arrival of a flight on an IATA member airline, against original invoices. Source.
  • GIG Gulf Travel Smart. Essentials if a bag is not returned within 4 hours on the outward journey, with written confirmation from the airline. The product page says at least 12 hours. Source.
  • Daman Alami. Bags delayed or lost on flights back to where you live are excluded. Amounts are in the policy schedule. Source.

What to do first

  1. Tell the airline before you leave the baggage area and ask for a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
  2. Send written notice within 7 days of the date the bag should have arrived.
  3. List what was in the bag, with each item’s description, maker and age, and keep proof of purchase.

Your deadline with Emirates

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of the date it arrived or should have arrived
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Emirates conditions of carriage, Published 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Etihad

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of the date it should have arrived
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Etihad conditions of carriage, As of 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with flydubai

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of the date it should have arrived
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

flydubai conditions of carriage, Effective 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Air Arabia

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of the date it should have arrived
Most it pays for proven loss
1,288 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Air Arabia conditions of carriage, Undated. File links reference 15 December 2025. Source.

The Montreal Convention limit for bags

1,519 SDR
Lost, damaged or delayed checked baggageCeilings on loss you can prove, not fixed payments. ICAO revised the limits from 28 December 2024. SDR values move, so no AED figure is given.

What travel policies pay

Policies pay up to a total for lost or damaged bags, with a much lower limit for each item. The limits by insurer and plan are in lost, stolen or damaged baggage and the plan comparison.

What to do first

  1. Tell the airline before you leave the baggage area and ask for a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
  2. Send written notice within 7 days of getting the bag back.
  3. Keep the damaged bag so the airline can inspect it.

Your deadline with Emirates

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of receipt
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Emirates conditions of carriage, Published 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Etihad

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of receipt
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Etihad conditions of carriage, As of 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with flydubai

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of receipt
Most it pays for proven loss
1,519 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

flydubai conditions of carriage, Effective 28 December 2024. Source.

Your deadline with Air Arabia

7 days
Written notice to the airline7 days of receipt
Most it pays for proven loss
1,288 SDR per passenger, as its conditions print it
Court action
Within 2 years

Air Arabia conditions of carriage, Undated. File links reference 15 December 2025. Source.

The Montreal Convention limit for bags

1,519 SDR
Lost, damaged or delayed checked baggageCeilings on loss you can prove, not fixed payments. ICAO revised the limits from 28 December 2024. SDR values move, so no AED figure is given.

What travel policies pay

Policies pay up to a total for lost or damaged bags, with a much lower limit for each item. The limits by insurer and plan are in lost, stolen or damaged baggage and the plan comparison.

Sources

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