Both flights on my round trip to Dublin were delayed for a total of three hours – am I entitled to any compensation?

Are there any rules on compensation for combined delays on a round trip?

My round trip from London Gatwick to Dublin Airport with Ryanair was delayed by a combined total of three hours if you take into account delays on the inbound flight from Dublin and the outbound flight to London on the return.

I’ve noticed over the past few months my departing and return flights never take off on time as scheduled – they are always delayed by at least an hour each and sometimes more, which can amount to a total of three hours in delays for the round trip.

Fed up: Delays on both flights of a return trip can add up to a total of three hours of waiting

Smaller delays like this for the flight on the way out of the UK and back in add up but passengers are not given any reason apart from ‘a delay with the inbound plane before your flight has meant your flight is delayed’.

Sometimes on a later flight in to London I will be left stranded as the last train has departed by the time we touch down on the tarmac leaving no other option but to shell out for a taxi home. Via email

Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: Whether or not you receive compensation for a flight that was delayed depends on how long the delay was, the distance of the flight and the countries it’s travelling between.

You are entitled to get compensation if your flight arrives more than three hours late and it’s the airline’s fault – but this is for a single leg not for a combination of the inbound delay and the outbound delay, such as the one you experienced.

Charity Citizens Advice advises that for flights travelling a distance of less than 1,500km, which your flight to Dublin would have been (484km in fact), your arrival will need to have been delayed for two hours in order to receive any compensation.

Generally, there is nothing that you can do for an hour or a 90 minute delay, which your inbound flight was. Two hours is the minimum amount of time where airlines need to start looking after you.

Your outbound flight came close though, arriving one hour and 55 minutes later than it was supposed to.

If your flight is delayed by three hours for a flight travelling between 1,500km and 3,500km, or delayed by four hours for a flight travelling more than 3,500km your airline has to give you food and drink, access to phone calls and emails and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight – and journeys between the airport and the hotel.

The airline might give you vouchers to get these things at the airport. Ask someone who works for the airline if you’re not offered any help.

If they don’t give you help at the airport, keep receipts for expenses and try to claim from the airline later. Airlines only pay for ‘reasonable’ expenses – you are unlikely to get money back for alcohol, expensive meals or luxury hotels.

Jane Hawkes, an independent consumer champion, replies: ‘Flight compensation is applicable if the airline is at fault and the delay incurred for the flight means you arrive more than three hours late to your destination.

‘But it’s the arrival time that is important. You might be three hours and 15 minutes late leaving but if the the flight lands two hours 55 minutes late then compensation would not be payable.

‘The amount claimable per person is dependent on the distance of the flight and length of delay. Airlines are not obliged to offer compensation for delays less than two hours regardless of the reason.

‘They are obliged to keep passengers informed of what’s going on. If this is a frequent occurrence then choice of an alternate carrier may be the only option if available.’

If your flight has been delayed for three or more hours

Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: You’re entitled to compensation if your flight arrives more than three hours late and it’s the airline’s fault – for example, if they didn’t get enough bookings or there was a technical fault.

You are unlikely to get compensation if the delay was because of something outside the airline’s control, such as bad weather or a security risk.

The compensation you are entitled to depends on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay. You will need to claim from the airline to get compensation. 

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, replies: ‘It’s unacceptable that chaotic scenes at UK airports have become such a common occurrence at peak travel times, particularly flight delays with little explanation. 

‘This frustration is often compounded by some airlines failing to fulfil their legal obligations to pay compensation or refund or reroute passengers, including on rival carriers.

‘Flight delays and cancellations are especially unacceptable this year, when travellers have paid a lot of money for their flights.

‘What you’re entitled to when you face disruption is based per flight, depends on the distance of your flight, how long you’re delayed and the reason for the delay. For most shorter European flights, the airline is required to provide you with food and drink after two hours of delay.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk