EU261 Compensation: The Complete Guide

EU Regulation 261/2004 — commonly called EU261 — is a European law that sets minimum compensation and assistance rights for air passengers. It covers delays of 3 or more hours, flight cancellations, and involuntary denied boarding. It is one of the strongest passenger protection frameworks in the world.

After Brexit, the UK retained EU261 as UK261, which applies to flights departing UK airports and offers identical compensation amounts in British pounds. For US flights, see our US DOT rights guide.

US residents are fully covered when their itinerary meets EU261 criteria. Nationality does not matter — only the departure and arrival airport and the airline operating the flight.

EU261 coverage depends on where your flight departs from and which airline operates it — not your nationality or where you bought the ticket.

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  Covered: Paris (CDG) → New York (JFK) on Air France — EU departure on an EU carrier.

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  Covered: Amsterdam (AMS) → Chicago (ORD) on Delta — EU departure covers non-EU carriers departing from the EU.

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  Covered: London (LHR) → Los Angeles on British Airways — UK departure on a UK carrier (UK261 applies).

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  Not covered: New York (JFK) → Amsterdam (AMS) on Delta — non-EU carrier departing from outside the EU.

A Delta flight from JFK to Amsterdam is not covered by EU261 if it departs from New York — even though the destination is in the EU. The departure airport determines coverage for non-EU carriers.

Compensation under EU261 is based on flight distance, not your ticket price. Even a deeply discounted fare entitles you to the full fixed amount if your flight qualifies.

1. 1

   Flights up to 1,500 km → €250 per person

2. 2

   Flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km → €400 per person

3. 3

   Flights over 3,500 km → €600 per person

A transatlantic flight delayed more than 3 hours means €600 per person — roughly $650 at current exchange rates. For a family of four, that is over $2,600 the airline is required to pay.

For long-haul delays between 3 and 4 hours, the airline may reduce compensation by 50% if they successfully re-routed you and you arrived within 4 hours of your original scheduled time. Delays over 4 hours receive the full amount. Read the full EU261 rights breakdown for edge cases and the re-routing rules.

Airlines frequently deny EU261 claims by citing extraordinary circumstances. Under the regulation, an airline is exempt only if it can prove the disruption was caused by circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

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  Genuine extraordinary circumstances: Severe weather making flight unsafe, air traffic control strikes, security threats, political instability.

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  Not extraordinary: Routine mechanical problems, crew unavailability due to scheduling, aircraft swaps, IT outages caused by the airline.

Per EU Court of Justice rulings: an aircraft technical fault discovered during pre-flight checks is generally not an extraordinary circumstance. If an airline cites a vague "technical issue," push for written documentation of the specific fault and why it could not have been avoided.

Many claims initially rejected as extraordinary circumstances succeed on appeal. If an airline refuses your claim, ask for written documentation of the specific extraordinary circumstance. Vague references to weather or technical issues are often insufficient to defeat a claim.

Start by submitting a claim directly to the airline. Most have an online EU261 form. Include your full name, flight number, travel date, booking reference, and a description of the disruption.

1. 1

   Cite the regulation by name: "EU Regulation 261/2004" (or "UK261" for UK departures).

2. 2

   State the exact compensation amount based on your flight distance (€250, €400, or €600).

3. 3

   Request a written response within 14 days and keep a copy of your submission.

4. 4

   Allow 6 to 8 weeks before escalating.

If the airline rejects your claim or does not respond, escalate to the National Enforcement Body in the country of departure. In the UK, that is the Civil Aviation Authority. Both are free government bodies with authority to compel airlines to pay.

If you prefer to use a claims service, our AirHelp comparison breaks down what they charge and when it is worth it.

Each EU member state applies its own national limitation period. Do not assume your claim is too old before checking the departure country's limit.

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  6 years — England, Wales, and Ireland

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  5 years — France and Spain

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  3 years — Germany and Austria

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  2 years — Some other member states

A flight disrupted up to 6 years ago may still be claimable if it departed from England, Wales, or Ireland. Check your flight to find out.

In addition to cash compensation, EU261 requires airlines to provide duty of care assistance during significant delays. These rights are separate from — and in addition to — the standard compensation amounts.

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  2+ hour delay: Meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait; two free phone calls, emails, or faxes.

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  Overnight delay: Hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.

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  Cancellation or long delay: Right to choose between a full refund or re-routing on the next available flight.

Keep all receipts. If the airline fails to provide meals or accommodation and you pay out of pocket, include those costs in your claim — they are recoverable separately from the standard €250–€600 compensation. See also our full refund guide for how to handle the refund portion of a canceled flight.

If your disruption involved denied boarding, the same €250–€600 amounts apply plus the duty-of-care rights above. Read our denied boarding guide for the specific gate-level steps to protect your claim.