Flight delayed 3+ hours? You're entitled to €250-€600 compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004. Learn your rights, check eligibility, and claim what you're owed.
Enter your flight details to see your estimated EU261 compensation amount
Check if you qualify for €250-€600 compensation
EU Regulation 261/2004 (commonly called EU261 or EC261) is European Union legislation that establishes passenger rights for flight disruptions. Enacted in 2004 and strengthened over the years through court rulings, it covers over 500 million passengers annually and has paid out more than €600 million per year in compensation.
The regulation applies to flights departing from any EU airport (regardless of airline) or arriving at an EU airport on an EU-registered airline. This means a US citizen flying from Frankfurt to New York on United Airlines is protected, as is a passenger flying Paris to London on any carrier.
Key protection for flight delays: If your flight arrives 3+ hours late at your final destination (4+ hours for flights over 3,500km), you're entitled to financial compensation of €250-€600 per passenger, plus mandatory care and assistance during the delay.
EU261 is considered the world's strongest passenger rights law. Unlike US regulations that rely on voluntary airline policies, EU261 makes compensation legally mandatory and enforceable through national aviation authorities and courts.
Check all 5 requirements to qualify for EU261 compensation
EU261 compensation is based on ARRIVAL delay, not departure delay. Even if your flight departs on time, if it arrives 3+ hours late due to slow flying, holding patterns, or diversion, you're eligible for compensation.
Example: Flight departs 1 hour late, but flies slowly and arrives 4 hours late = €250-€600 compensation. The arrival delay is what counts.
Compensation amount depends on flight distance and delay duration
| Flight Distance | Examples | Min Delay Required | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | Paris-London, Berlin-Rome, Amsterdam-Barcelona, Frankfurt-Vienna | 3+ hours | €250 |
| 1,500 - 3,500 km | London-Athens, Frankfurt-Istanbul, Paris-Moscow, Madrid-Tel Aviv | 3+ hours | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (within EU) | Lisbon-Madeira, Paris-La Réunion (French territory) | 3+ hours | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (outside EU) | London-New York, Paris-Dubai, Frankfurt-Singapore, Amsterdam-Beijing | 4+ hours | €600 |
Distance is measured "as the crow flies" (great circle distance) between departure and arrival airports, not the actual flight path. Airlines cannot reduce compensation by flying longer routes.
For connecting flights on a single booking, distance is measured from first departure to final destination, not individual legs. Example: Frankfurt→London→New York on one ticket = long-haul distance (€600), even though first leg is short.
If you're unsure of your flight distance, use free tools like GreatCircleMapper.com or check FlightRadar24 historical data.
Each passenger on the booking is entitled to individual compensation. If you traveled with family (2 adults, 2 children) and flight was delayed 3+ hours on a 2,000km route, total compensation = €400 × 4 = €1,600.
Children and infants with paid seats qualify for full compensation. Lap infants (under 2 without own seat) typically do not qualify unless they paid a percentage of adult fare.
You can claim on behalf of other passengers if you have their authorization. Many families designate one person to submit all claims together.
European passengers have significantly stronger rights than US passengers
| Aspect | United States (DOT) | European Union (EU261) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory Cash Compensation | No - voluntary airline policies only | Yes - €250-€600 legally required | EU |
| Covered Delay Duration | No specific requirement | 3+ hours arrival delay (4+ for long-haul) | EU |
| Automatic Refund Rights | Yes - for 3+ hour domestic, 6+ hour international delays (2024 DOT rule) | Yes - passenger choice of refund or rebooking | Both |
| Right to Care (meals, hotel) | Voluntary - only controllable delays | Mandatory for 2+ hour delays | EU |
| Time to Claim | Varies by airline policy | 2-6 years (varies by country) | EU |
| Weather Exemption | Yes - no compensation for weather | Yes - but narrowly defined | EU |
If you're a US citizen, you're still protected by EU261 when flying on covered routes. EU261 applies to all passengers regardless of nationality - only the flight route and airline matter.
Step-by-step process to get your €250-€600 compensation
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
[Date]
[Airline Name]
[Airline Claims Department Address]
Re: EU261 Compensation Claim - Flight [Flight Number] on [Date]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to claim compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 for a significant flight delay.
Flight Details:
- Flight number: [e.g., LH456]
- Date: [e.g., December 15, 2024]
- Route: [e.g., Frankfurt (FRA) to London Heathrow (LHR)]
- Booking reference: [e.g., ABC123]
- Scheduled departure: [e.g., 10:00]
- Actual departure: [e.g., 12:30]
- Scheduled arrival: [e.g., 10:45]
- Actual arrival: [e.g., 14:20]
- Arrival delay: [e.g., 3 hours 35 minutes]
Under Article 7 of EU261, I am entitled to €[250/400/600] compensation per passenger. The total claim for [X] passenger(s) is €[Total Amount].
Please transfer the compensation to my bank account within 14 days. If you deny this claim, please provide detailed reasoning under Article 14 of EU261.
Attached: Boarding pass, booking confirmation, delay evidence
Yours faithfully,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
Pro Tip: Send via email AND registered mail for proof of delivery. Keep copies of all communications. Airlines are legally required to respond within 6 weeks (4 weeks as of 2025 update).
Airlines can deny compensation only in specific situations beyond their control
Airlines can legally deny compensation for these reasons
You're still entitled to compensation for these
Airlines frequently misuse the "extraordinary circumstances" excuse to avoid paying compensation. If an airline denies your claim citing extraordinary circumstances, challenge it.
Key Legal Principle: Even if extraordinary circumstances exist, airline must prove they took "all reasonable measures" to minimize delay. If they could have positioned spare aircraft or crew but didn't, you're still entitled to compensation.
EU261 treats connecting flights as a single journey if booked together
Route: New York → Frankfurt → Athens (single booking)
Issue: First flight delayed, missed connection, arrived 4 hours late in Athens
Distance: NY to Athens = 4,800 miles (over 3,500km)
Result: €600 compensation per passenger
Route: London → Paris → Rome (single booking)
Issue: Second flight delayed due to technical issue, arrived 3.5 hours late in Rome
Distance: London to Rome = 1,450km
Result: €250 (under 1,500km) or €400 if over 1,500km with connection
Route: London → Paris (Ticket 1) + Paris → Rome (Ticket 2, separate booking)
Issue: Missed connection due to first flight delay
Result: No EU261 compensation because separate tickets
Note: May claim for first flight separately if delayed 3+ hours
If you miss a connecting flight and the airline rebooks you on alternative flights, you're still entitled to compensation if your final arrival is 3+ hours late compared to your original booking.
How long you have to file an EU261 claim varies by country - choose the jurisdiction that benefits you most
years from flight date
Longest time limit in Europe. UK courts consistently uphold EU261/UK261 claims. Even post-Brexit, UK261 mirrors EU261 exactly.
years from flight date
Strong passenger protection record. French courts favor passengers. Good option for Air France, EasyJet, and other French carriers.
years from flight date
Popular tourist destination with strong EU261 enforcement. Spanish authorities actively pursue airlines that deny valid claims.
years from flight date
Strict but fair enforcement. German courts require solid evidence. Good for Lufthansa, Eurowings claims. Shorter time limit.
years from flight date
Shortest time limit in major EU countries. Italian courts can be slow. Consider other jurisdictions if possible.
years from flight date
Short time limit but efficient courts. Dutch authorities enforce EU261 strictly. Good for KLM claims if within timeframe.
You can file your EU261 claim in any jurisdiction where you could bring a case. This typically includes:
Example: If you flew London → Frankfurt on Lufthansa in 2022, you could file in UK (6 years), Germany (3 years), or potentially other jurisdictions. Since we're now in 2025, the German deadline (2022 + 3 = 2025) would be expiring, but UK deadline (2022 + 6 = 2028) is still valid. File in the UK for maximum time window.
Important: Most airlines will not voluntarily tell you about jurisdiction options. They'll cite their home country's time limit. If they say your claim is "time-barred," check other jurisdictions before giving up.
How different airlines handle compensation claims and strategies to increase your success rate
Strict EU261 compliance. Provides care after 2 hours. Fast claims processing (4-6 weeks). Rarely contests valid claims.
File directly through Lufthansa claims portal. Include all booking details. Response usually within 6 weeks.
Complies with EU261 and UK261. Automatic compensation for some delays. Online claim system available.
Use BA online portal. Check eligibility tool first. Appeals process available if initially denied.
High rejection rate for initial claims. Frequently cites 'extraordinary circumstances'. Often requires formal complaint to national aviation authority.
Document everything. Prepare for appeal. Consider using claim service. Expect 3-6 month process.
EU261 compliant. Reasonable claims processing. May require multiple follow-ups.
Submit via Air France/KLM claims form. Include all flight details and delay duration. Follow up every 2 weeks.
Generally fair compensation process. Online claims system. Responds within 6-8 weeks typically.
Use EasyJet Flight Compensation tool. Provide booking reference and flight details. Usually pays without dispute if eligible.
EU261 applies to EU-bound flights. May cite 'extraordinary circumstances' frequently. Longer processing times.
Submit claim in writing with all documentation. Be prepared to appeal. May require escalation to national authority.
Everything you need to know about EU261 flight delay compensation
Flight delay rights vary by jurisdiction. Our AI will analyze your specific flight route, identify applicable regulations (EU261, Montreal Convention, or carrier policies), and calculate your exact compensation amount. Start your claim now - it only takes 5 minutes.