Flight compensation in France: how to escalate a refused claim.
France applies EU261 and gives passengers two escalation routes when an airline refuses to pay: a complaint to the civil aviation authority and free mediation through the travel industry's ombudsman. France also has a generous limitation period — and one recurring complication: air traffic control strikes.
Checked by the FlightCompensations editorial team
Last updated 17 August 2026 · Editorial & corrections policy
Direct answer
Key takeaways
- The DGAC is France's designated EU261 enforcement body — it takes passenger complaints and supervises airlines, but does not award your compensation directly.
- The Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage (MTV) offers free mediation once the airline has refused your claim or left it unanswered for around two months.
- France's limitation period is generous: contractual claims are generally subject to 5-year prescription, though you should still act promptly.
- ATC strikes — common in France — are strikes by a third party, not the airline, and are usually extraordinary circumstances: no cash compensation, but care, rerouting and refund rights still apply.
- A strike by the airline's own staff is different and can still give rise to compensation, following EU case law.
What qualifies — and what usually doesn't
May qualify for compensation
- Your flight departed a French airport on any airline, or arrived in France on an EU/EEA carrier.
- You have a qualifying EU261 disruption: a 3+ hour delay at the final destination, a short-notice cancellation, or denied boarding.
- You claimed from the airline in writing and it refused, underpaid or failed to respond.
- You are within the French limitation period — generally 5 years for contractual claims.
- For MTV mediation: the airline participates in the scheme and the internal complaint route has been exhausted.
Usually excluded
- Disruptions the airline proves were caused by extraordinary circumstances — including, in most cases, French ATC strikes.
- Claims brought after the applicable prescription period has expired.
- Flights with no French or EU261 connection (for example a non-EU airline between two non-EU airports).
- Complaints sent to the MTV before the airline has had a reasonable chance to answer your claim.
Rights by jurisdiction
The Direction générale de l'Aviation civile (DGAC) is the national body designated to enforce EU261 in France. You can file a complaint when an airline breaches the regulation, and the DGAC can investigate and sanction carriers.
Like other national enforcement bodies, the DGAC does not decide your individual payout — its complaint route builds pressure and a record, but for the money itself you will use mediation or the courts.
What to do
- 1Send the airline a written claim and keep proof of the date.
- 2Ask the airline, in writing, for the precise cause — 'strike' alone is not enough; whose strike matters.
- 3If refused or ignored for around two months, refer the dispute to the MTV (free) and consider a DGAC complaint.
- 4Remember the deadline: generally 5 years, but evidence fades — act early.
- 5Or let us run the whole process for you — check your flight in a few seconds.
Documents to keep
How to claim
- 1Check your flight — we assess eligibility under EU261, including whether a strike was really extraordinary.
- 2We prepare and submit the claim to the airline and handle its response.
- 3If a valid claim is refused, we escalate to the enforcement body or mediation, or recommend the court route.
- 4No win, no fee: you only pay our fixed €39 success fee when compensation is recovered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get compensation for a French ATC strike?
Usually not — ATC strikes are third-party action and are generally treated as extraordinary circumstances, so the fixed cash compensation does not apply. But the airline still owes you rerouting or a refund and care during the wait, and it must prove the strike actually caused your disruption.
What if it was the airline's own crew on strike?
That is different. Following EU case law, strikes by the airline's own staff are often not extraordinary circumstances, so compensation can still be due. This is why it matters to get the airline's stated cause in writing rather than accepting a generic 'strike' refusal.
How long do I have to claim in France?
French law generally allows 5 years for contractual claims — one of the longer windows in Europe. The exact application can depend on the circumstances of your case, so treat 5 years as the outer limit and claim as early as you can while evidence is fresh.
Is MTV mediation binding?
No. The Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage issues a reasoned proposal that both sides are free to accept or decline. In practice it resolves many disputes without court; if you decline, you keep the right to sue.
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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