Airline Compensation: How to Claim What You're Owed
Has your flight been delayed, cancelled, or were you bumped? In these cases, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline. Flights from (and in many cases to) Europe are protected by EU regulation EC 261/2004, which grants passengers the right to compensation from the airline in case of delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through discovering your passenger rights and the situations where the airline must compensate you. We’ll also show you how to claim and ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.
AT A glance
Key points about airline compensation
Airline delay, cancellation and overbooking: under EC 261, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600.
If you miss a connecting flight due to a delay or cancellation and arrive at your final destination 3+ hours late, you may be entitled to compensation under EC 261.
In case of baggage issues, you may be entitled to airline compensation under the Montreal Convention.
In the event of a flight disruption or baggage issue, you must file a compensation claim with the airline: AirHelp is here to help you receive what you’re entitled to.
When do airlines have to compensate you?
Your passenger rights under EC 261
Passenger rights in case of flight disruptions can be your best ally. EC 261 provides that, under certain circumstances, airlines must compensate passengers in case of delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights.
EC 261 applies not only to European citizens but to all passengers on flights covered by this regulation, regardless of nationality. All passengers departing from a European airport are covered under EC 261. In some circumstances, passengers flying into Europe from other worldwide destinations may be covered as well. If you’re unsure, here’s a simple chart to help:
| Itinerary | EU Air Carrier | Non-EU Air Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Use our calculator below to check if you're owed compensation from the airline.
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Check what you're entitled to
€250
up to 1,500 km
€400
1,500 - 3,500 km
€600
from 3,500 km
Airline delay compensation
You can claim airline delay compensation under EC 261 in the following circumstances:
You arrived at your destination more than 3 hours late
The delay was within the airline's control (not caused by extraordinary circumstances)
Your flight took off in the EU (flights arriving in the EU may also qualify)
You checked in for your flight on time
If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to compensation of up to €600. The amount depends on your flight distance and length of delay:
| Flight distance | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| All flights under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €250 per person |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €400 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €400 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | Up to €600 per person |
To learn more, check out our flight delay compensation guide.
Airline compensation for cancelled flights
Under the European Regulation EC 261, you could be entitled to airline compensation if:
You were notified less than 14 days before departure
The flight departs from an EU airport or is operated by an EU-based airline arriving at an EU destination.
Your replacement flight arrives over 3 hours later than your original booking
The reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control (e.g. operational circumstances, technical difficulties, or airline staff strikes).
The cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances, such as extreme weather, security issues, or external strikes beyond the airline’s control.
Check out our flight cancellation compensation guide for more information.
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Overbooking Compensation
When an airline overbooks, it may deny you boarding. If your flight is covered by EC 261, the airline may owe you up to €600 in compensation if:
You did not volunteer to surrender your seat in exchange for vouchers or other benefits.
You were not denied boarding for a reason under your control (for example, you showed up too late at the departure gate, or did not have the correct documentation).
Check out our overbooked flights guide for more information.
Airline compensation for missed connections
If your ticket includes a flight with multiple stopovers, delay or cancellation of one of the legs could result in missing a connecting flight or otherwise arriving at your final destination later than planned. Under EU rules, it’s the airline’s responsibility to offer you an alternative flight, but you may also be entitled to compensation:
If you miss a connection due to a delayed or cancelled flight and arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation.
Your right to compensation depends on the total delay of your journey, not the delay of individual legs.
Check out our airline compensation for missed connecting flights guide for more information.
Airline strike compensation
Under EC 261, you could be eligible for airline strike compensation if:
You had a flight disrupted by an airline staff strike.
As a consequence of the strike, your flight was either delayed by 3 hours or more, or cancelled less than 14 days before departure.
Your flight departed from an EU airport, or landed at an EU airport and was operated by a European airline.
You had a confirmed flight reservation.
If you took a replacement flight, your new arrival time was significantly different to your original flight.
Under EC 261, airlines are required to compensate passengers for flight disruptions that they are responsible for. While airline staff strikes are within the control of the airline, all other airport strikes are considered extraordinary circumstances.
Check out our strike compensation guide for more information.
Airline compensation for lost or delayed baggage
If your luggage is delayed, lost, or damaged, you could be owed compensation from the airline.
When it comes to international flights, the Montreal Convention typically applies. Should your baggage be delayed, lost, or destroyed, you could be able to get up to €1,900 under this treaty (1,519 SDRs, or Special Drawing Rights). At their option, airlines may pay more.
The Warsaw Convention may be applicable in the rare instances where international flights are not covered by the Montreal Convention.
AirHelp Score: the best airlines worldwide
AirHelp is here to assist you at every stage of your journey. Our mission is to get everyone the compensation they’re entitled to, but we’ve also decided to help you choose the airline best suited to your travel needs. Our AirHelp Score is a step in this direction: each year, we evaluate the world’s top airlines based on three criteria:
On-time performance
Customer service
Claim processing
According to our latest AirHelp Score 2025 assessment, the highest-rated airlines worldwide are:
| Airline | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brussels Airlines | Belgium | 8.12/10 |
| 2. Qatar Airways | Qatar | 8.11/10 |
| 3. United Airlines | United States | 8.04/10 |
To learn more, check out the full AirHelp Score and the methodology behind it.
How to claim airline compensation
You can claim compensation by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on the specialists at AirHelp. Whichever option you choose, here's how to proceed with your claim:
Checklist for making a claim
Hold onto your boarding pass and travel documents.
Gather proof (e.g. photos of departure boards or emails from the airline).
Check for compensation with our Free Eligibility Checker.
File your claim through AirHelp.
That's it! We’ll take it from here.
How AirHelp simplifies your airline claims
We understand that many air passengers do not have the time, experience or inclination to fight with airlines in order to make a delayed flight claim for the compensation they’re owed.
AirHelp is able to submit claims on passengers’ behalf:
We'll tell you quickly if we think you're eligible for compensation.
We'll handle all communication with the airline.
There's no risk, we only charge a fee when we're successful in getting your compensation.