Claim compensation
Check what you're owed and get a ready-to-send letter. You claim directly from the airline, with no agency fee, so you keep 100%.
Flight delay compensation in the EU: what you're owed
Under EU Regulation 261/2004 you can get €250, €400 or €600 per person when you arrive 3 hours or more late, when your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or when you're denied boarding.
It applies to every flight that leaves from an airport in the EU, and to flights into the EU on an EU airline. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland follow the same rules; the UK has its own version with the same amounts in pounds.
This page works out what you're owed and writes the claim letter for you. You send it to the airline yourself, so you keep the whole amount: claim agencies often keep 25 to 35 percent.
Questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight?
€250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and other flights up to 3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights. The delay counts at arrival and must be 3 hours or more.
When does the airline not have to pay?
When the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances it couldn't avoid, such as severe weather, an air traffic control strike or a security risk. A technical fault or a strike by the airline's own staff usually doesn't count.
What must the airline give me while I wait?
Meals and drinks after a few hours of waiting, and a hotel with transport if you have to stay the night, whatever the reason for the delay.
How long do I have to claim?
That depends on the country whose courts would hear the case; in many EU countries it's several years. Claim as soon as you can, while you still have your boarding pass and booking.
Do I need a claim agency?
No. Airlines must handle claims from passengers directly. If the airline refuses, you can go to the national enforcement body or a dispute service, often for free.
Read more Compensation by airline Check my flight The regulation on EUR-Lex