A delay that runs past midnight turns a flight problem into a place-to-sleep problem. What you are owed depends on where you are flying from and which airline you are on. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do this first
- Speak to the airline before you book anything. Use the desk, its app or its phone line, and ask what it will provide: a meal, a room, transport to and from it.
- Ask for it in writing, or note who said what. A name and a time help if you claim later.
- Keep every receipt. If you pay for food or a room yourself, you can claim reasonable costs back.
- Check your travel insurance and any card benefits. Some cover delays beyond a set number of hours.
Flights from the UK
For flights leaving a UK airport, and for flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline, the airline has a duty to look after you during a long delay. The UK Civil Aviation Authority says this means food and drink, a way to communicate, and, if you are delayed overnight, a hotel and transport to it.
- The duty starts after a delay of two hours on short flights, three on medium ones and four on long-haul.
- It applies even when the delay is not the airline's fault, such as extreme weather.
- Compensation is a separate matter and is generally not owed for causes outside the airline's control.
Flights in Australia
Australia has no fixed scheme like the UK's. Consumer group CHOICE describes it as lagging behind the rest of the world, and says airlines do not guarantee their timetables. Meals and a hotel are largely at the airline's discretion, and international flights have some remedies under the Montreal Convention, which airlines can avoid by showing they took reasonable measures. Always ask, and keep receipts.
Choosing a hotel
If the airline books you a room, you have little to decide. If you are looking after yourself, pick a hotel with a shuttle or walk that still works at that hour, because many stop running late at night. Check when the last bus runs and whether there is a 24-hour desk.
- Stays for a late arrival, with a way in at night.
- Stays for an overnight connection, when you are changing flights.
Our short lists show each hotel's walk or ride and what it costs, so you can choose in a few minutes.