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.
All airlines
All countries
No Win, No Fee
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.
All airlines
All countries
No Win, No Fee
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.
All airlines
All countries
No Win, No Fee
How Much Flight Compensation?
Distance | Compensation |
---|---|
All flights under 1,500 km | Up to $270 per person |
Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | Up to $430 per person |
Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km | Up to $430 per person |
Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | Up 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.
Recent delays and cancellations
Date | Flight number | Airline | Route | Status | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | ET233 | Ethiopian Airlines | ADD (ADD) Jimma (JIM) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | MU6533 | China Eastern Airlines | HFE (HFE) Lanzhou (LHW) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | ZN524 | NAYSA | NBO (NBO) Dar Es Salaam (DAR) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | NZ5322 | Air New Zealand | NSN (NSN) Wellington (WLG) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | SN2318 | Brussels Airlines | GOT (GOT) Brussels (BRU) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | IU353 | Sw Italia S.p.a. | BTH (BTH) Jakarta (CGK) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | ZN524 | NAYSA | NBO (NBO) Dar Es Salaam (DAR) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | CZ6480 | China Southern Airlines | HGH (HGH) Shenzhen (SZX) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | FN8227 | Fastjet Tanzania Ltd | HRE (HRE) Johannesburg (JNB) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
10/20/2024 | 6:20 PM | GF216 | Gulf Air | KWI (KWI) Bahrain (BAH) | Canceled | Check Compensation |
- Canceled
ET233
•Ethiopian Airlines
Addis Ababa
••Jimma
ADD
JIM
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
MU6533
•China Eastern Airlines
Hefei
••Lanzhou
HFE
LHW
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
ZN524
•NAYSA
Nairobi
••Dar Es Salaam
NBO
DAR
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
NZ5322
•Air New Zealand
Nelson
••Wellington
NSN
WLG
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
SN2318
•Brussels Airlines
Gothenburg
••Brussels
GOT
BRU
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
IU353
•Sw Italia S.p.a.
Batam
••Jakarta
BTH
CGK
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
ZN524
•NAYSA
Nairobi
••Dar Es Salaam
NBO
DAR
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
CZ6480
•China Southern Airlines
Hangzhou
••Shenzhen
HGH
SZX
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
FN8227
•Fastjet Tanzania Ltd
Harare
••Johannesburg
HRE
JNB
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
- Canceled
GF216
•Gulf Air
Kuwait
••Bahrain
KWI
BAH
Check Compensation10/20/2024
6:20 PM
2 hours delay
Airline Compensation For Delayed Flights
Airline Delay Compensation
Airline Passenger Bill Of Rights
Airline Refund
American Flight Delays
Cancelled Flight Hotel Compensation
Compensation Claim
Compensation Letter
EC 261
EC 261 Compensation
EU Airline Compensation
EU Flight Cancellation
Eu Flight Cancellation Compensation
EU Flight Delay
EU Flight Delay Compensation Form
EU Regulation Flight Delay
European Passenger Rights
Flight Cancellation Rights
Flight Delay Checker
Flight Delay Compensation Canada
Flight Delay Compensation Letter Template
Flight Delay Compensation United States
Flight Delay Compensation US
Flight Delay Compensation Weather
Flight Delay Insurance
Flight Delay Refund
Flight Delay Reimbursement
Flight Delayed Due To Maintenance
Flight Disruption
Flight Diverted Compensation
Flights Cancelled Due To Weather
Flyers Rights
Late Flights
Oversold Flight
Travel Insurance Flight Delay
US Flight Cancellations
US Flight Delays
What To Do When Flight Is Cancelled
AirHelp has been featured in: