EU261 Compensation: The Complete Guide
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — known as EU261 — is the strongest passenger-rights law in the world. If your flight was delayed, cancelled or overbooked, it may entitle you to fixed compensation of up to €600 per person, regardless of the ticket price.
Which flights are covered?
EU261 applies to every flight departing from an airport in the EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland — on any airline, including non-European ones.
It also covers flights arriving in the EU/EEA/Switzerland, but only when operated by an EU/EEA/Swiss carrier. A New York–Paris flight on Air France is covered; the same route on a US airline is not.
How much can you claim?
The amount is fixed by distance, not by ticket price: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km; €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km; €600 for flights over 3,500 km.
For delays, you must arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late. For cancellations with less than 14 days' notice and for denied boarding, compensation applies immediately — no delay threshold needed.
When does the airline NOT have to pay?
Airlines can refuse compensation only for 'extraordinary circumstances': severe weather, air-traffic-control strikes, political instability, security risks. They must prove they took all reasonable measures.
Important: technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff are usually NOT extraordinary — courts have repeatedly ruled that compensation is still due.
Deadlines and how to file
Time limits depend on the country: 3 years in Germany, 1 year in some others, up to 6 years in a few states. File as early as possible.
Send a written claim citing Regulation (EC) 261/2004 directly to the airline — via its claim form, email or registered post to the head office. Attach your booking confirmation and boarding pass. No reply within 14 days? Escalate to the National Enforcement Body of the departure country.