EC 261 Compensation

The European Union established a regulation known as EC 261/2004 to protect passengers' rights in case of any inconvenience during air travel. It states that passengers are entitled to financial compensation from the airline if they are affected by long flight delays, short-notice cancellations, or are denied boarding. If you have been affected by one of these, you may be able to claim compensation thanks to EC 261/2004.

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Information about the EC 261 compensation

Passengers who have experienced a disruption to their flight can claim EC 261 compensation from the airline of the specific flight. To be eligible, the flight must have departed from the EU with any airline or landed in the EU while being operated by a European airline. According to the regulation EC 261/2004, airlines will be held financially accountable for flight delays that lasted longer than three hours, for cancellations with less than 14 days notice given, and for denying boarding to a passenger with a valid plane ticket.

However, these regulations may not apply in extraordinary circumstances such as an extreme change of weather, an unruly passenger, an act of terrorism, or an air traffic/airport strike. If your situation fits the criteria above, you may be able to claim up to $650 or a full or partial refund of your original ticket.

AirHelp is here to help you get compensation for flight delays and cancellations. Find out what you could be entitled to.

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About AirHelp

AirHelp is the world's largest air passenger rights organization, here to help air travelers secure compensation for delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

We make claiming compensation easy and stress-free. Whether you are unsure of your rights, lack the time, or simply want an expert to handle your entire claim for you, AirHelp can help you get what you are rightfully owed.

We operate on a no win, no fee basis, so you can check your compensation risk-free.


Claiming Compensation for Flight Delays and Cancellations

How do you know when you should claim compensation for a delayed or canceled flight? Though the law can be complicated, we're here to break it down for you:

Delayed flights: you may be able to claim compensation if your flight arrived 3 hours or more late.
Canceled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was canceled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.
Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

We should note that if extraordinary circumstances were involved, arirlines are under no obligation to pay compensation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include bad weather, travel restrictions, and air traffic control strikes. Though these situations cause delays and cancellations, the airline isn't at fault, so can't be expected to offer compensation.

Remember these are European flight regulations and so only apply to flights departing from an EU airport, or flights landing in the EU with a European airline. The table below makes it clear which flights are covered:

Claim up to $650 in compensation if your flight has been delayed, canceled, or overbooked within the last 3 years.

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How Much Flight Compensation?

DistanceCompensation
All flights under 1,500 kmUp to $270 per person
Internal EU flights over 1,500 kmUp to $430 per person
Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 kmUp to $430 per person
Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 kmUp to €600 per person

Table shows values in € as specified in EC 261

In some circumstances the compensation amount may differ from the standard amounts shown above. The easiest way to find out what you’re owed is to use our Compensation Calculator.


What to Do if Your Flight is Delayed or Canceled

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

  • Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.

  • Ask why the flight was delayed or canceled.

  • Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

  • If you had a canceled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.

  • Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.

  • Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to compensation.

Have AirHelp claim your compensation

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Recent delays and cancellations

Airline (e.g. Lufthansa)

Departure airport (e.g. Frankfurt or FRA)

Date

Flight number

Airline

Route

Status

02/16/2025

9:50 PM

WST203

Unknown

North Eleuthera (ELH)

Nassau (NAS)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:30 PM

YB2152

Borajet

Victoria (CA) (YWH)

Vancouver (CXH)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:21 PM

9K5091

Cape Air

Boston (BOS)

Nantucket (ACK)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:21 PM

9K5091

Cape Air

Boston (BOS)

Nantucket (ACK)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:20 PM

3H802

Air Inuit

Akulivik (AKV)

Ivujivik (YIK)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:20 PM

LF3403

Contour Airlines

Parkersburg/Marietta (PKB)

Beckley (BKW)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:15 PM

V0314

Conviasa

Los Roques (LRV)

Caracas (CCS)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:15 PM

UP374

Bahamasair

Nassau (NAS)

George Town (GGT)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:15 PM

EFY7805

A.P.G. Distribution Systems

Armenia (AXM)

Medellin (EOH)

CanceledCheck Compensation

02/16/2025

9:15 PM

8T261

Air Tindi Ltd

Yellowknife (YZF)

Fort Smith (CA) (YSM)

CanceledCheck Compensation
Your flight isn't here? Use our full compensation check and we'll look into it. Check your flight
  • WST203

    Unknown

    Canceled

    North Eleuthera

    Nassau

    ELH

    NAS

    02/16/2025

    9:50 PM

    Check Compensation
  • YB2152

    Borajet

    Canceled

    Victoria (CA)

    Vancouver

    YWH

    CXH

    02/16/2025

    9:30 PM

    Check Compensation
  • 9K5091

    Cape Air

    Canceled

    Boston

    Nantucket

    BOS

    ACK

    02/16/2025

    9:21 PM

    Check Compensation
  • 9K5091

    Cape Air

    Canceled

    Boston

    Nantucket

    BOS

    ACK

    02/16/2025

    9:21 PM

    Check Compensation
  • 3H802

    Air Inuit

    Canceled

    Akulivik

    Ivujivik

    AKV

    YIK

    02/16/2025

    9:20 PM

    Check Compensation
  • LF3403

    Contour Airlines

    Canceled

    Parkersburg/Marietta

    Beckley

    PKB

    BKW

    02/16/2025

    9:20 PM

    Check Compensation
  • V0314

    Conviasa

    Canceled

    Los Roques

    Caracas

    LRV

    CCS

    02/16/2025

    9:15 PM

    Check Compensation
  • UP374

    Bahamasair

    Canceled

    Nassau

    George Town

    NAS

    GGT

    02/16/2025

    9:15 PM

    Check Compensation
  • EFY7805

    A.P.G. Distribution Systems

    Canceled

    Armenia

    Medellin

    AXM

    EOH

    02/16/2025

    9:15 PM

    Check Compensation
  • 8T261

    Air Tindi Ltd

    Canceled

    Yellowknife

    Fort Smith (CA)

    YZF

    YSM

    02/16/2025

    9:15 PM

    Check Compensation
Your flight isn't here? Use our full compensation check and we'll look into it. Check your flight

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AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers’ rights.

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