Iberia delay compensation
Compensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time. It is the arrival that counts, not the departure: a flight that leaves four hours late but makes up time and lands 2 hours 50 minutes late is not covered.
Which Iberia flights are covered
Iberia is registered in Spain, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Iberia is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
Worked examples on Iberia routes
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid (MAD) → Paris (CDG) | 1,064 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Madrid (MAD) → Barcelona (BCN) | 483 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Madrid (MAD) → Rome (FCO) | 1,330 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Madrid (MAD) → Amsterdam (AMS) | 1,461 km | EU261 | €250 |
What Iberia is likely to say — and the answer
“Extraordinary circumstances” with no detail — ask which circumstance, and for the evidence.
“A technical problem” — not an extraordinary circumstance, and settled by the Court of Justice.
“The inbound aircraft arrived late” — a knock-on delay only counts if the original cause was itself extraordinary.
A disputed arrival time — ask for their recorded on-blocks time and compare it with yours.
Specific to Iberia
Spain allows five years to bring a claim, and AESA — the Spanish aviation safety agency — is unusually willing to issue a formal opinion on individual passenger complaints. That opinion carries weight if the matter goes further.
Madrid is the main European hub for Latin America, so Iberia claims are frequently missed connections on long-haul itineraries where the €600 band applies.
Iberia and Iberia Express are different operating carriers. Check which one is on your booking before you address the letter.
Their first response is often a form letter. AESA’s complaint route is the practical next step.
Time limit: Iberia is based in Spain, where claims run for 5 years from the date of the flight. How that works
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Iberia delay appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Iberia’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Iberia delay: common questions
How much can I claim from Iberia for a delay?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Iberia’s routes.
My Iberia flight left more than three hours late but landed less than three hours late. Can I claim?
No. The test is how late you arrive at your final destination. If the flight made up time and landed under three hours late, the fixed compensation does not apply — though you may still have been owed meals and refreshments during the wait.
What reasons does Iberia give for refusing delay claims?
The most common are: Extraordinary circumstances with no detail; A technical problem; The inbound aircraft arrived late; A disputed arrival time. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Iberia delay claim?
Where Iberia is based, the limit is 5 years. You can usually also claim in the country your flight departed from or arrived in, which may give you longer.
Other Iberia claims
- Iberia: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Iberia: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Iberia: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Iberia: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.