Everything you need to know about your passenger rights under European law โ in plain English.
๐ What is EU Regulation 261/2004?
EU Regulation 261/2004 is a European law that protects air passengers when their flights are significantly delayed, cancelled, or when they are denied boarding. It applies to flights within and departing from EU member states.
The regulation was introduced by the European Commission to ensure that airlines treat passengers fairly. It is one of the strongest passenger rights laws in the world.
โ Key Point
This regulation gives you a legal right to claim compensation โ airlines cannot refuse valid claims without a legally recognised reason.
โ๏ธ Which Flights Are Covered?
EU261 applies to flights that meet either of these criteria:
โ Covered: Any flight departing from an EU airport (any airline) ยท EU-based airline flights arriving into the EU
โ Not Covered: Non-EU airline flights arriving into the EU (e.g. Emirates London โ Dubai is covered; Dubai โ London is not)
EU countries include all 27 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland.
๐ฐ Compensation Amounts
The amount is set by EU law and depends on flight distance, not the ticket price:
Flight Distance
Delay
Compensation
Under 1,500 km
3+ hours
โฌ250
1,500โ3,500 km (intra-EU)
3+ hours
โฌ400
Over 3,500 km (non-EU)
3โ4 hours
โฌ300
Over 3,500 km (non-EU)
4+ hours
โฌ600
โ ๏ธ These amounts are per passenger. A family of 4 could claim โฌ1,600โโฌ2,400.
โ๏ธ "Extraordinary Circumstances" Explained
Airlines often use "extraordinary circumstances" to avoid paying. This defence only applies to genuinely unforeseeable events outside the airline's control.
โ Genuine (no compensation): Severe weather ยท Political instability ยท Security threats ยท ATC strikes affecting the specific flight ยท Hidden manufacturing defects
In most EU countries, up to 3 years. Some countries like the UK allow 6 years. The clock starts from the date of the disrupted flight.
Do I get compensation if I got a refund or rebooking? โพ
Yes! A refund or alternative flight does not remove your right to cash compensation under EU261. These are separate entitlements.
What if I was on a package holiday? โพ
EU261 still applies to the flight component. You can claim flight compensation separately from any package holiday claims.
Is my connecting flight covered? โพ
Yes, if you missed a connecting flight due to an airline-caused delay, you can claim for the total delay at your final destination โ provided both flights were on the same booking.
What if the airline has gone bankrupt? โพ
Claims are more complex and typically submitted to the administrator. Contact us for advice on your specific situation.