Is your airline's weather excuse legitimate?
Enter your flight details and find out if the actual weather conditions justified the delay or cancellation. Official airport METAR data.
Frequently asked questions
What is EU261 regulation?
European Regulation EC 261/2004 requires airlines to compensate passengers for significant delays (over 3 hours), cancellations, or denied boarding. Compensation ranges from €250 to €600 depending on the flight distance.
What is a METAR?
A METAR (METeorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized weather report issued every 30 minutes by airport weather stations. It is the official source used by pilots and air traffic controllers to assess flight conditions.
Can the airline use weather to deny compensation?
Weather is considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' under EU261 regulation. However, airlines often abuse this excuse. A simple nearby thunderstorm or moderate rain does not necessarily constitute an extraordinary circumstance justifying a denial of compensation.
Where does the weather data come from?
The METAR data comes from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet (IEM), which archives METAR reports from the NOAA/ASOS network. This is official, public, and free data — the same data used by civil aviation.
How long do I have to claim compensation?
In most European countries, you have between 2 and 6 years to claim EU261 compensation. In France, the deadline is 5 years. Check the specific deadline for your country.
Is the weather score 100% reliable?
The score is an indicator based on official weather data (METAR). It analyzes visibility, wind, weather phenomena, and cloud ceiling. However, other factors may come into play (en-route conditions, approach area weather). Use it as a first indicator to decide whether it's worth claiming.