Flight delay compensation under EU261: who gets paid, how much, and how to claim
EU261 and UK261 explained for 2026 — €250 to €600 per passenger for delays over 3 hours, cancellations and denied boarding, plus how to file a claim that actually gets paid.
Under EU Regulation 261/2004 you are owed €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km when you arrive more than three hours late, your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or you are denied boarding. The rule covers any flight departing the EU, plus flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline, and claims can be filed up to three years later.
Who is covered
EU261 applies when:
- Your flight departs from any EU/EEA airport, on any airline, anywhere in the world; or
- Your flight arrives in the EU/EEA and is operated by an EU-licensed airline.
The UK mirrors the rule as UK261, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland apply it too, and Turkey, Brazil and Canada run comparable national schemes.
What triggers a payout
| Event | Compensation owed |
|---|---|
| Arrival more than 3 hours late | €250 – €600 |
| Cancellation with under 14 days' notice | €250 – €600 + refund or rerouting |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | €250 – €600, paid immediately |
| Missed connection on one booking | Based on final destination delay |
| Downgrade to a lower class | 30–75% of the ticket price refunded |
Compensation is per passenger, not per booking — a family of four on a delayed long-haul flight is owed up to €2,400.
What airlines will not pay for
"Extraordinary circumstances" exempt the airline: severe weather, air-traffic-control strikes, security threats, bird strikes and political instability. Crucially, these do not count as extraordinary:
- Technical faults and routine maintenance failures
- Airline staff strikes (confirmed by the EU Court of Justice)
- Crew scheduling problems or a late inbound aircraft
- Overbooking
Airlines lean heavily on the weather excuse. Check historical METAR data for the airport that day — if other flights departed normally, the excuse collapses.
Your right to care, separately from compensation
While you wait, the airline must provide food, drinks, two phone calls, and a hotel plus transfers for an overnight delay — after 2 hours (short-haul), 3 hours (medium) or 4 hours (long-haul). This applies even when the delay is extraordinary, and it is on top of any compensation. Keep every receipt.
How to claim
- Get written confirmation of the delay length and reason at the airport.
- Photograph the departure board and keep boarding passes.
- File directly with the airline in writing, citing Regulation 261/2004 and the exact flight.
- If ignored for 6 weeks or refused, escalate to the national enforcement body or use a claims company that works on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Roughly 4 in 5 eligible passengers never claim. The money is genuinely sitting there.
Frequently asked questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight?
€250 for flights under 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km, paid per passenger when you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late.
How long do I have to claim flight compensation?
Three years in most EU countries, six years in the UK, and as little as one year in some jurisdictions such as Poland or Belgium, so file as early as you can.
Can I claim if the delay was caused by weather?
No. Severe weather is an extraordinary circumstance and exempts the airline from compensation, though it still owes you meals, communication and a hotel if you are stranded overnight.
Do I get compensation if I booked with a cheap airline?
Yes. EU261 applies to every airline departing an EU airport, including Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Vueling. Ticket price does not change the amount owed.
Does a refund replace compensation?
No. A refund returns the ticket price for a flight you did not take; EU261 compensation is a separate penalty payment for the disruption itself, and you can be entitled to both.
Two things we never travel without: a medical policy that actually pays abroad, and a way to claim cash back when an airline ruins the plan.
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