Flights from Copenhagen Airport are covered by EU passenger rights (Regulation EU261). If your flight arrives 3+ hours late, is cancelled on short notice, or you are denied boarding, you are often entitled to €250-600 in compensation - regardless of what your ticket cost. Here are the rules in short form.
Delay: you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more late.
Cancellation: the flight is cancelled with less than 14 days notice and the replacement flight delays you significantly.
Denied boarding: you are refused against your will, typically because the flight is overbooked.
How much can you get?
€250 - flights up to 1,500 km
€400 - flights of 1,500-3,500 km and all intra-EU flights over 1,500 km
€600 - flights over 3,500 km leaving the EU
The amount is per passenger and depends only on distance - not on the ticket price. From 2 hours of waiting you are also entitled to meals at the airport, and to a hotel for long overnight delays.
The exception: extraordinary circumstances
The airline does not have to pay if the disruption was outside its control: severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security threats, or strikes by e.g. airport staff. Technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff, however, generally do NOT count as extraordinary - even though airlines often claim they do.
How to claim your money
You can file the claim directly with the airline yourself - it is free, but airlines often stall or reject claims citing 'extraordinary circumstances'. The alternative is letting AirHelp run the case: they assess your claim for free and only charge a fee if they win (no win, no fee). In Denmark you can claim for flights up to 3 years back, so check your old trips too.
How delayed does my flight need to be for compensation?
At least 3 hours on arrival at your final destination. Arrival time is what counts - not when the plane took off. Already from 2 hours of delay you are entitled to food and drink at the airport.
Can I claim for old flights?
Yes. For flights from Denmark, claims can be made up to 3 years back. Dig out your old itinerary or boarding pass and check whether the flight qualified.
What if the airline rejects my claim?
Airlines often reject claims citing extraordinary circumstances, even when the excuse does not hold up legally. You can complain to the Danish Civil Aviation Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) or let a claim service like AirHelp take the case - they only charge if you get paid.
Advertising links: links to AirHelp on this page are affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but the site receives a commission if AirHelp wins your claim.