Flight delays and Milan airports: what travelers should know about EU compensation

June 16, 2026 — If you are flying to Milan, it is worth knowing what the European Union is updating its air passenger rights rules. The most important point for travelers is easy to understand: the three-hour delay rule remains the main reference for compensation in many cases.

This matters if you are flying to Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio. A delayed flight can affect your hotel check-in, train connection, car rental, business meeting, private transfer or onward trip to Lake Como, Turin, Verona, Venice, Florence or Switzerland.

The new agreement is useful, but it is not the same as saying that every new rule is already in force today. The European Parliament and the Council still need to formally approve it. After adoption and publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, the revised rules will apply after 12 months.

Flight delays: the three hours count at arrival

The key detail is not when your flight leaves, but when you actually arrive. If you reach your final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, you may have the right to compensation.

This means you should always check the real arrival time, not only the departure delay. A flight can leave very late but recover part of the time in the air. It can also leave with a smaller delay and arrive much later because of traffic, airport congestion or other operational problems.

For travelers, the practical rule is simple: check your scheduled arrival time, then compare it with the time the aircraft actually arrived at the final destination.

How much compensation can you receive?

The amount depends on the distance of the flight. It does not depend on how much you paid for the ticket.

Even a low-cost ticket may give you the right to compensation if the conditions are met.

Type of flight	Compensation
Flights of less than 1,500 km	€250
Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km	€400
Flights above 3,500 km	€600

For many flights to Milan from other European cities, the most common cases are the first two categories. Long-haul flights to Milan Malpensa may fall into the highest category, depending on the route.

The exact answer always depends on the flight, the airline operating the route, the length of the delay and the reason for the disruption.

What is changing with the new EU agreement

The European Commission announced a political agreement on revised air passenger rights. The goal is to make the rules clearer and easier to use for passengers, airlines and authorities.

For travelers, the most useful changes are these:

• airlines will have to give clearer information about passenger rights;
• airlines will have to explain how to claim compensation within 96 hours after a disruption;
• the rules on extraordinary circumstances will become clearer;
• ticket prices and hand luggage costs should become easier to compare;
• passengers who miss the outbound flight should not automatically lose the right to use the return flight;
• passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities should receive better protection.

This is important because many passengers do not claim compensation simply because the process is confusing. They do not know which form to use, where to send the request or what the airline is required to explain.

What to do at the airport if your flight is delayed

If your flight to Milan is delayed, do not throw anything away. You do not need to become an expert in EU law while you are waiting at the airport. You just need proof.

1. Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation.
2. Take screenshots of airline messages, app notifications and airport departure boards.
3. Keep receipts for meals, drinks, hotel stays or transfers paid during the delay.
4. Write down the actual arrival time at your final destination.
5. Ask the airline for written information about the reason for the delay.
6. File the first claim directly with the airline, using the official form or procedure indicated by the carrier.

If the airline does not provide assistance and you have to pay for necessary and reasonable expenses, such as food or accommodation during a long wait, your receipts may help when asking for reimbursement.

Why this matters when flying to Milan

In Milan, the flight is often only the first part of the trip.

Many travelers land at the airport and then continue by train, bus, taxi, private transfer or rental car. Others arrive for a trade fair, a concert, a fashion event, a football match, a business appointment or a connection to another city.

A late arrival can create problems very quickly. You may miss the last train, arrive after hotel reception hours, lose your car rental booking or need to pay for a more expensive taxi.

Compensation can help later, but it does not solve the immediate problem when you are at the airport with luggage and no easy connection.

That is why it is better not to plan tight connections right after landing.

Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo: check your next connection

Milan has three airports commonly used by travelers visiting the city.

Milan Malpensa is the main intercontinental airport. It is located northwest of Milan and receives many long-haul flights, as well as several European routes.

Read also: Getting from Malpensa Airport to Milan Center

Milan Linate is closer to the city center and can be very convenient for domestic and European flights.

Read also: Best Ways to Get from Linate Airport to Milan City Center

Bergamo Orio al Serio is not in Milan, but many travelers use it when visiting Milan, especially on low-cost routes.

This makes planning important. If you land at Malpensa, you may still need a train or bus to reach Milan. If you land at Bergamo, the transfer takes longer and can depend on traffic. If you land at Linate, the airport is closer, but a late arrival can still affect your hotel check-in or next appointment.

Before booking, check not only the ticket price, but also the arrival time and the transfer options available after landing.

This is especially important if you arrive late at night, travel with children, carry several bags or plan to continue to another city on the same day.

Hand luggage and ticket prices: more transparency

The new EU agreement also includes fare transparency and hand luggage.

This is very practical for travelers booking low-cost flights to Milan. Sometimes the price shown at the beginning of the booking process is not the final price. The total can increase when you add a cabin trolley, seat selection, priority boarding or other services.

The revised rules aim to make it easier to compare fares and hand baggage rules across airlines and booking platforms. Airlines will still be free to decide their own prices, but passengers should receive clearer information before buying.

For now, the safest advice is simple: before paying, check exactly what the fare includes.

A small personal item is not always the same as a cabin trolley.

No-show policy: what changes for return flights

Another important change is the ban on no-show policies for return flights.

This means that if you do not take the outbound flight, the airline should not deny you boarding on the return flight only for that reason. The airline also should not charge an extra fee just to let you board the return flight.

This can be useful in real travel situations. For example, you may miss the first flight because of a train delay, a health problem or another unexpected issue, but still want to use the return flight.

Under the revised rules, the return flight should not be automatically lost just because you missed the outbound journey.

Passengers with reduced mobility

The revised rules also improve protection for passengers with reduced mobility or disabilities.

The European Commission says these passengers should receive better support during travel disruptions. Essential mobility equipment should also be better protected.

This is not a small detail. If a wheelchair or other mobility equipment is damaged, the passenger may lose independence during the trip.

The official information also says that people with reduced mobility or disabilities can receive the full cost of their mobility equipment if it is damaged.

Before flying to Milan: practical advice

Compensation is useful, but good planning is still the best protection.

Before booking a flight to Milan, check the arrival time, the airport and the last connections to your final destination. If you need a train, car rental, hotel check-in or private transfer, leave enough time between one step and the next.

This is even more important during busy periods in Milan, such as Milan Design Week, Fashion Week, major concerts, football matches and trade fairs.

During these dates, hotels and transfers can be more expensive. Last-minute changes may also be harder to manage.

The practical lesson is simple: know your rights, keep your documents and avoid planning connections that are too tight.

Where to check before filing a claim

Before relying on forums or incomplete information, start with official sources.

The European Commission has published information about the new political agreement on revised air passenger rights.

The Your Europe air passenger rights guide explains the current EU rules.

ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, provides information for passengers traveling from or to Italy.

The airline that operated the flight should be the first place where you file a claim. Use the airline’s official form or complaint procedure.

If the airline does not answer properly or refuses the request without a clear reason, you can then check the national enforcement authority for the country involved.

For travelers flying to Milan, the best approach is practical: check your flight status, keep your documents, save your receipts and ask the airline for clear instructions.