EU Flight Claims

If your flight arrives late at its destination, you could be entitled to up to €600 in compensation—no matter what you paid for your ticket. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, the rules are clear: your compensation depends solely on how far you flew and how late you arrived, not on how much you spent, your ticket class, or even whether it was a budget airline or a full-service flagship.

Compensation Amounts: What You Can Really Get

EU261 sets fixed sums based on both flight distance and delay duration. Here’s exactly what the law provides:

Flight Distance	Delay at Arrival	Compensation (€)
Up to 1,500 km	3+ hours	€250
1,500–3,500 km (incl. all intra-EU flights)	3+ hours	€400
Over 3,500 km	3+ hours	€600

• All passengers on the booking are eligible for the full amount.
• It doesn’t matter if you booked a discount ticket, used airline miles, or travelled economy or business—everyone qualifies equally if delayed.

How Compensation Is Calculated—Not What You Expect!

Compensation is always calculated by arrival time at your final destination, not departure time. Many travelers are surprised: if the airline makes up for a late takeoff and arrives less than 3 hours late, you don’t qualify for compensation. The official “arrival time” is the moment the aircraft door opens and passengers are allowed to disembark.

For multi-leg journeys, it’s the final arrival time that counts.

• Missed connections booked on one ticket are also covered, as long as the final arrival time is delayed by at least 3 hours.

What If the Airline Offers Re-routing?

If the airline offers an alternative flight (rerouting) and you opt to take it, your compensation may be reduced by 50% if you arrive at your destination only slightly late according to set thresholds. This typically applies for delays under 4 hours on long-haul flights, for example. But in most cases of substantial delay, the full value is paid out.

Is It Really That Simple?

Almost! Although the rules are straightforward, airlines sometimes argue that the delay was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” (like severe weather, air traffic control strikes, or security risks), in which case compensation may be refused. Routine technical problems, crew shortages, or airline staff strikes do not count as extraordinary circumstances—passengers are still owed compensation in these cases.

How to Claim: Step-by-Step

1. Document Your Delay: Save your boarding passes, ticket receipts, and get written confirmation of the delay from the airline if possible.
2. Check Your Eligibility: Use online calculators or legal claim services to verify if you qualify under EU261.
3. Submit Your Claim: Contact the airline directly with all supporting documents, using explicit reference to EU Regulation 261/2004, and specify the compensation amount you believe you’re owed.
4. Don’t Settle for Less: Airlines may offer vouchers or travel credit—you can refuse these and request cash instead.
5. Seek Help if Needed: If the airline is unresponsive or denies your claim without valid reason, escalate to a national enforcement body or use a professional flight claim service.

Don’t Miss Out: Billions Go Unclaimed

EU passengers are eligible for over €2 billion in compensation every year, yet most people never claim what’s rightfully theirs. Whether your ticket was €30 or €1,300, don’t leave your money on the table—check your eligibility and claim today!

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Ready to see what you’re owed? Euflightclaims.com offers free links to compensation pages. Click now to secure your compensation under EU261!

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