EU261: your rights to compensation, refunds and care.
EU Regulation 261/2004 is the core European air passenger rights law. It sets fixed compensation for long delays, cancellations and denied boarding, plus a right to care and to a refund. Here is how it works.
Checked by the FlightCompensations editorial team
Last updated 1 July 2026 · Editorial & corrections policy
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Key takeaways
- EU261 covers all departures from the EU/EEA on any airline, and arrivals into the EU/EEA on an EU/EEA airline.
- Fixed compensation of €250, €400 or €600 depends on flight distance, not ticket price.
- For delays, the 3-hour rule is measured by arrival at your final destination (the Sturgeon ruling, C-402/07).
- Care and assistance (meals, refreshments, and accommodation where needed) can apply even when cash compensation does not.
- Extraordinary circumstances outside the airline's control can remove compensation, but the airline must prove them.
- Limitation periods vary by member state, so it is worth checking sooner rather than later.
What qualifies — and what usually doesn't
May qualify for compensation
- Your flight departed an EU/EEA airport, or arrived in the EU/EEA on an EU/EEA carrier.
- You had a confirmed booking and checked in on time (usually where a check-in deadline applies).
- You experienced a qualifying disruption: a delay, cancellation or denied boarding.
- For delay compensation, you reached your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- For cancellation compensation, you were given less than 14 days' notice and were not re-routed within the allowed windows.
- The cause was within the airline's control rather than a genuinely extraordinary circumstance.
Usually excluded
- Disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances the airline could not have avoided (for example severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, or political instability).
- Delays of under 3 hours at the final destination.
- Flights with no qualifying EU/EEA connection (for example a non-EU airline flying between two non-EU airports).
- Cancellations notified at least 14 days in advance.
- Cases where you were offered re-routing close to your original times within the regulation's notice windows.
Rights by jurisdiction
For a delay, EU261 gives a right to care once waiting times pass set thresholds (2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance): meals and refreshments, two phone calls or emails, and accommodation plus transport if an overnight stay is needed.
Fixed compensation of €250 to €600 can apply where you arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late for a reason within the airline's control, following the Court of Justice ruling in Sturgeon (C-402/07).
If a delay reaches 5 hours you can also choose a refund instead of travelling, and a return flight to your first departure point where relevant.
Compensation amounts
EU261 compensation by flight distance
| Flight | Amount |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (and all intra-EU flights over 1,500 km) | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
For delays, long-haul flights (over 3,500 km) arriving 3 to 4 hours late may be reduced by 50% under Article 7(2). Amounts are per passenger and illustrative until eligibility is verified.
What to do
- 1Note your original scheduled and actual arrival times at the final destination.
- 2Ask the airline, in writing, for the reason for the disruption.
- 3Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation.
- 4Keep receipts for meals, refreshments and accommodation.
- 5Check your eligibility and start a claim.
Documents to keep
How to claim
- 1Enter your flight number and date to get a preliminary assessment.
- 2Add the journey details and any documents you have.
- 3We prepare and submit the claim to the airline and follow up.
- 4If compensation is recovered, you receive the airline's award and pay our fixed €39 fee.
Frequently asked questions
Which flights does EU261 cover?
Any flight departing an EU/EEA airport on any airline, and any flight arriving in the EU/EEA operated by an EU/EEA carrier. A non-EU airline flying between two non-EU countries is not covered.
How much compensation can I get under EU261?
€250, €400 or €600 per passenger depending on the flight distance. The amount is fixed by the regulation and does not depend on what you paid for your ticket.
Is the 3-hour rule about departure or arrival?
Arrival at your final destination. Following the Sturgeon ruling, a long delay qualifies for compensation when you reach your destination 3 or more hours late for a reason within the airline's control.
What are extraordinary circumstances?
Events outside the airline's control that it could not have avoided even with all reasonable measures, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or certain security risks. The airline must prove them, and care rights can still apply.
How far back can I claim under EU261?
It depends on the member state, as limitation periods vary across the EU. Because the deadline can differ from country to country, it is best to check as soon as you can.
Check if your flight qualifies
Free in about 15 seconds. You receive the airline's compensation and pay only our fixed €39 fee after success.
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