Have you ever been stuck at the airport, waiting for your delayed flight with no clear explanation? You’re not alone — delays are common and often frustrating. The good news is that in many cases you may be entitled to compensation, provided the delay was caused by the airline. But how can you determine the real reason for a flight delay?
The first step is to contact the airline directly and ask for an explanation.
However, that’s often not enough.
In many cases, you’ll need to dig a little deeper and conduct your own investigation to understand what truly caused the delay.
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Can You Discover the Real Reason for a Flight Delay?
Yes, it’s possible to find out the real reason for a flight delay.
In theory, it’s simple — you contact the airline and they explain what caused the disruption.
However, it becomes more complicated when you need this information to prove that you’re entitled to EU flight delay compensation. Airlines may be vague, uncooperative, or provide limited details.
If the airline’s initial response isn’t helpful, you may need to conduct your own investigation:
- Contact the airline again and request specific information
- Ask for evidence supporting their explanation (especially if you disagree)
- Compare their statement with other data sources (some may require payment)
- Check how other airlines operating at the same time and from the same airport handled their flights — did they also experience delays?
It’s important to understand that airlines are not required to give a full breakdown of every delay. However, they must be able to show that they took all reasonable measures to reduce the disruption. And if they claim the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances — meaning you’re not eligible for compensation — they must provide proof to support that claim.
Flight Delay Due to Bad Weather
One of the most common reason for a flight delay is bad weather.
If the airline claims your flight was delayed because of bad weather, don’t accept the explanation at face value. Start by checking whether severe weather actually affected the airport at that time. Then compare your airline’s actions with those of other carriers — were they able to depart from the same airport while your flight remained grounded?
A quick way to investigate is by checking how many other flights departed or arrived around the same time. Tools like Flightradar24 allow you to review departure and arrival logs, helping you see whether aircraft were successfully taking off and landing at both your departure airport and your destination.
LOT Compensation Claim Rejected? Here’s What to Do
It happens more often than you’d think.
Airlines sometimes try to avoid paying compensation and may provide incomplete or misleading explanations.
Always verify the information they give you — especially when they claim “extraordinary circumstances.” Airlines have been known to misclassify delays to avoid paying passengers, so never accept their first answer without checking it.
Also, keep in mind that technical problems, staffing shortages, and LOT crew strikes are not extraordinary circumstances, even if the airline claims that they are.
Read more:
- Your LOT Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?
- Flight Compensation Claim Rejected? How a Compensation Company Can Overturn It
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Let Flight Compensation Companies Handle Your Flight Compensation Claim
There’s always another option — you can let experts take over the process for you.
Flight compensation specialists can manage your claim, investigate the flight, and gather the necessary evidence on your behalf.
Our partners provide this service as well: submit your claim, and their team will handle the entire investigation.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Why Do Flights Get Delayed?
Flights are delayed for many reasons, with the most common being bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, technical issues, and crew shortages.
Weather is the leading cause of delays. Strong winds, thunderstorms, heavy rain, and snow can make takeoff or landing unsafe or reduce visibility, forcing airlines to wait until conditions improve.
Air traffic control can also slow things down. When airspace becomes too crowded or visibility is low, controllers must hold flights on the ground to manage traffic safely.
Technical problems with the aircraft are another frequent reason. These can range from minor sensor faults to more serious mechanical issues that require immediate attention. Every problem, big or small, must be addressed before departure.
Crew availability can also lead to delays. Flights cannot operate without the required number of qualified pilots and cabin crew. If staff are delayed or unavailable, the flight may be pushed back.
If your flight is delayed for 3+ hours due to airline-related issues such as mechanical problems or staffing shortages, you may be entitled to flight delay compensation. If it’s weather or air traffic control, compensation is not due.
It’s possible to find out the real reason for a flight delay. It may take some time and effort, but it’s possible.
Featured photo by Oscar Chan from Pexels