Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Get compensation for delays, cancellations and overbooking
Has your flight to or from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport been delayed or cancelled at short notice? If so, under certain conditions you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004. This applies, for example, if your delayed flight arrives more than three hours late, if your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or if you are denied boarding due to overbooking.
On this page, you can find out when you can claim compensation for flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, how much compensation you may be entitled to, and what you need to do to secure your claim. You’ll also find practical information about the airport’s facilities and transport to and from Amsterdam city centre.
About Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA: AMS) is one of Europe’s largest and busiest airports and serves as the main hub for KLM and a wide range of other airlines. The airport is situated approximately 9 km south-west of Amsterdam city centre and is known for its efficient layout, with the airport organised as a single large terminal comprising several piers (gates), all connected via Schiphol Plaza.
Schiphol Plaza is the airport’s central hub, where you’ll find check-in, the train station, buses, taxis and access to all the terminal’s facilities. From here, there is direct access to the train station, which is situated directly beneath the terminal.
As a passenger, you may find that Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a complex airport with heavy air traffic, which can lead to long queues at security during peak periods. It is therefore always advisable to arrive early, especially if you have a connecting flight to catch.
Total number of departures | Number of flight cancellations | % of flight cancellations | Number of delays over 3 hours | % of delays over 3 hours | Total % of cancellations and delays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
241,130 | 3,544 | 1.47 | 951 | 0.39 | 1.86 |
Compared with Europe’s 50 largest airports, which had an average delay and cancellation rate of 1% in 2025, punctuality at Amsterdam Airport was significantly lower, with delays and cancellations accounting for 1.86%.
When can you claim compensation for flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol?
It is not the airport but the airline that is responsible for paying compensation. The EU Regulation applies to flights to or from the EU or the UK, and you can typically claim compensation in three situations:
1. Delayed flights
If your flight arrives at your final destination more than three hours late, you may be entitled to compensation. Delays of more than three hours may entitle you to compensation, whilst delays of more than two hours entitle you, as a minimum, to meals, refreshments and the opportunity to contact family, friends or work. For delays of five hours or more, you can choose to cancel your journey and receive a full refund of your ticket.
2. Cancelled flights
If your flight from Amsterdam Schiphol is cancelled and you are notified less than 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to compensation. In such cases, the airline must offer you either a full refund of your ticket or alternative transport to your destination. Cancellations less than 14 days before departure may also entitle you to compensation, whereas cancellations notified well in advance do not.
3. Denied boarding (overbooking)
Denied boarding can occur if a flight is overbooked, meaning the airline has sold more tickets than there are seats available. In such situations, airlines must first try to find volunteers who, in exchange for bonuses or rebooking, are willing to give up their seat. If this is unsuccessful and you are involuntarily denied boarding, you are entitled to compensation and alternative transport from the airline.
Remember to ask for a written explanation from the airline if you are denied boarding. This could be crucial to your claim for compensation.
How much compensation can you claim?
Passengers can claim up to €600 in compensation, depending on the flight distance and the length of the delay. The amount of compensation you are entitled to does not depend on what you paid for your ticket, but solely on the flight distance and how long your flight is delayed when you arrive at your final destination.
Overview of potential compensation:
Reason | Delayed arrival | Flights under 1.500 km | Flights 1.501 - 3.500 km | Flights over 3.500 km between EU-countries | Flights over 3.500 km to/from EU-countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cancelled* | 2 – 3 hours | £220 | £170 | £170 | £260 |
Cancelled /Delayed | 3 – 4 hours | £220 | £345 | £345 | £260 |
Cancelled/Delayed | More than 4 hours** | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
Overbooked | £220 | £345 | £345 | £520 |
* If the cancellation occurs less than 7 days before the scheduled departure. ** If the cancellation occurs between 14-7 days before the scheduled departure.
When is the airline not required to pay compensation?
Compensation only applies if the delay or cancellation is within the airline’s control. If the cause is instead due to an extraordinary circumstance, the airline is not obliged to pay. An extraordinary circumstance is a situation beyond the airline’s control which could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures taken. Examples include:
Bad weather
Political unrest or security risks
Strikes beyond the airline’s control (e.g. airport staff or air traffic control)
ATC restrictions
Technical problems with the aircraft, on the other hand, are generally considered to be within the airline’s control and therefore do not automatically exempt the airline from paying compensation. The same applies to problems with baggage handling or a shortage of crew, as these matters are normally deemed to fall within the airline’s responsibility.
Which airlines have the most cancellations and delays from Amsterdam Schiphol?
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is KLM’s main hub and is also served by, amongst others, Air France, Transavia, easyJet, Ryanair and SAS, as well as a wide range of other European and intercontinental airlines. All flights to and from Schiphol within the EU are, as a general rule, covered by EU Regulation 261/2004.
Below you can see statistics on cancellations and delays of more than three hours for the airlines that operated the most flights from Amsterdam Schiphol in 2025:
Airline | 🛫 Number of flights | 🚫 Number of flight cancellations | 🕑 Number of flight delays of over 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 131715 | 2656 | 190 |
easyJet UK | 17099 | 155 | 78 |
Transavia | 15669 | 6 | 56 |
Delta | 5580 | 89 | 67 |
Vueling | 5370 | 34 | 29 |
British Airways | 4515 | 57 | 12 |
Air France | 4340 | 84 | 16 |
TUI | 3897 | 0 | 20 |
Lufthansa | 3715 | 64 | 3 |
SAS | 3110 | 26 | 8 |
Air Baltic | 2419 | 10 | 11 |
Ryanair DAC | 1817 | 0 | 11 |
Turkish Airlines | 1722 | 3 | 6 |
Swiss Air | 1676 | 25 | 1 |
Qatar Airways | 1659 | 4 | 26 |
ITA Airways | 1645 | 4 | 3 |
United Air Lines | 1631 | 43 | 29 |
Austrian Airlines | 1554 | 10 | 0 |
Aer Lingus | 1539 | 6 | 6 |
Emirates | 1497 | 1 | 33 |
Missed connections and connecting flights via Schiphol
Amsterdam Schiphol serves as a hub for many international travellers, and it is therefore common for passengers to miss their connections due to delays. If you miss a connection, you can receive assistance from the airline, including rebooking onto an alternative flight, as well as meals and, if necessary, hotel accommodation if the delay requires you to stay overnight.
To be entitled to compensation for a missed connection, your flights must, as a general rule, be booked under a single booking. If you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late as a result of the missed connection, you may be entitled to compensation – even if the first flight itself was only slightly delayed.
Your rights to assistance in the event of delays and cancellations
Regardless of whether you are entitled to financial compensation, as a passenger you are always entitled to assistance from the airline in the event of delays and cancellations:
Meals and refreshments in the event of delays of more than two hours
The opportunity to contact family or work
Hotel accommodation if the delay requires an overnight stay
Transport between the airport and the hotel
Alternative transport or rebooking to your destination
Full refund of the ticket for delays of five hours or more
The airline must offer meals and hotel accommodation in the event of a delay without you having to ask for them. If this does not happen, you should pay for these yourself and subsequently claim a refund.
What should you do if your flight to or from Amsterdam Schiphol is delayed or cancelled?
Good documentation makes it considerably easier to receive your compensation. Follow these steps:
1. Keep relevant documents
Booking confirmation and flight ticket
Boarding pass (physical or digital)
Emails and text messages from the airline regarding the delay or cancellation
Photos of information boards at the airport
Details of an alternative flight or rebooking
2. Keep your receipts
If you pay for food, drink or hotel accommodation yourself as a result of the delay, you must keep all receipts. In many cases, you can be reimbursed for these expenses if the airline did not provide the necessary assistance itself. Read more about the rules on extra expenses here.
3. Note down times
Make a note of when you were informed of any delays, when you checked in, and when you actually arrived at your final destination. This information is crucial for your compensation claim.
4. Submit your claim in good time
Claims must be submitted within 3 years of the disruption (and soon only 9 months, under the new EU Regulation 261), depending on the country in which the claim is being processed. Therefore, do not wait too long to look into your case.
How we help you with your compensation claim
With us, the process is simple and risk-free for you:
Check your case in 2 minutes: Enter your flight details and get a quick answer on whether you’re eligible for compensation and how much.
We’ll handle the dialogue with the airline and, if necessary, take the case to court – at no cost to you if we don’t win.
The compensation will be paid to you as soon as the airline has paid up.
– it won’t cost you a thing
Practical information about Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Check-in, Schiphol Plaza and transport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is organised as a single large terminal, with Schiphol Plaza serving as the central hub for check-in, security and passport control, as well as access to the train station, buses and taxis. The airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, as well as numerous duty-free shops and restaurants.
Check-in and security
It is advisable to arrive at the airport early, as there can be long queues at security, particularly during peak times. Always check the check-in deadlines for your specific airline, as these may vary depending on your destination and class of travel.
Airport facilities
Schiphol is home to, amongst other things, a branch of the Rijksmuseum and an airport library, making it one of the few places in Europe offering cultural experiences directly within the transit area. The airport also offers shower and relaxation facilities, which can be a great help during long waits or delays. There is a 24-hour luggage storage facility at the airport.
Transport to and from Amsterdam city centre
Train: There is a train station directly beneath the terminal, and trains from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station take just 15–20 minutes. With up to nine trains per hour, the train is the fastest and most flexible transport option.
Bus: Bus 397 runs from the airport to the centre of Amsterdam, and the journey takes around 30 minutes.
Taxi: Taxis have designated pick-up points just outside the terminal, and the journey to the city centre typically takes 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.