EU261: How to Claim Up to €600 for a Flight Delay or Cancellation

Which flights does EU261 cover?

EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to:

• All flights departing from an EU airport, regardless of which airline operates them.
• Flights arriving at an EU airport that are operated by an EU-based airline (e.g. Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet).

Non-EU airlines (like Air Canada, United, or Emirates) are only covered by EU261 on the outbound leg from the EU — not on the return. However, if you booked a codeshare or connecting itinerary, the regulations can still apply depending on the operating carrier.

The UK implemented equivalent rules post-Brexit (UK261), which mirrors EU261 almost exactly for flights from UK airports.

Compensation amounts under EU261

Compensation is based on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay at your final destination:

The compensation can be reduced by 50% if the airline offers you re-routing on an alternative flight that arrives within 2 hours (short routes) or 4 hours (long-haul) of your original scheduled arrival.

What counts as “extraordinary circumstances”?

Airlines love to cite “extraordinary circumstances” to avoid paying compensation. Under EU261, extraordinary circumstances are events that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include:

• Genuine severe weather (not light rain or typical winter conditions)
• Air traffic control strikes or airspace restrictions
• Security incidents affecting the airport
• Hidden manufacturing defects discovered unexpectedly

The following are NOT extraordinary circumstances:

• Crew scheduling issues or staff shortages
• Technical problems caused by poor maintenance
• Late aircraft arriving from a previous flight (“knock-on delays”)
• Overbooking
• IT system failures

The European Court of Justice has repeatedly ruled that airlines bear the burden of proving extraordinary circumstances — a vague reference to “technical issues” or “operational reasons” is not sufficient. If the airline claims extraordinary circumstances, ask them to provide documentary evidence of the specific event.

Right to care during a delay

Even if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances (meaning no cash compensation is owed), the airline must still provide a “right to care” — which is owed regardless of fault:

• 2+ hours delay: Meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time, and two telephone calls, emails, or faxes.
• 5+ hours delay: Full refund of the ticket if you decide not to travel, plus return transportation to your original point of departure.
• Overnight delay: Hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.

If the airline fails to provide care, you can claim reimbursement of your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses — keep every receipt.

How to claim EU261 compensation — step by step

1. Document the delay. Keep your boarding pass, take a photo of the departure board, and note the exact scheduled and actual departure/arrival times.
2. Submit a formal written complaint to the airline. Email the airline's customer relations department citing EU Regulation 261/2004 and the specific compensation amount you are claiming. Set a 14-day deadline for their response.
3. If they reject or ignore you, escalate. In most EU countries, there is a national enforcement body (NEB) that handles EU261 disputes. In Germany: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. In France: DGAC. In the UK: Civil Aviation Authority.
4. Consider an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. Many countries have approved ADR bodies (like CEDR in the UK or AviationADR) that provide binding decisions, often free of charge.

Claim limitation periods

EU261 does not set its own limitation period — this is governed by national law in each EU country:

• UK: 6 years (England, Wales); 5 years (Scotland)
• Germany: 3 years
• France: 5 years
• Ireland: 6 years
• Netherlands: 2 years

Don't delay — file your claim as soon as possible after the disruption.