Flew to or from Europe? You may be owed up to €600 per person (EU261 for Americans)
European law pays fixed cash compensation for flight delays of 3+ hours, cancellations, and overbooking: €250, €400, or €600 per passenger, on top of any refund. Which flights qualify (including U.S. airlines departing Europe), how to claim for free, and when a no-win-no-fee service makes sense.
- EU Regulation 261/2004 pays fixed compensation per passenger when your flight arrives 3+ hours late, is canceled with less than 14 days' notice, or you're denied boarding: €250 (up to 1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km, or longer within the EU), €600 (over 3,500 km, which is every transatlantic flight).
- It applies to any flight departing an EU airport (even on American, United, or Delta) and to flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Iberia, TAP, Aer Lingus…). A United flight from Newark to Paris that's canceled: not covered. The same United flight from Paris to Newark: covered.
- The UK has an identical rule (UK261) with amounts in pounds: £220 / £350 / £520.
- It's in addition to any refund, and doesn't depend on your ticket price. A family of four on a delayed Rome–New York flight is owed €2,400.
- Claim for free directly with the airline; if they stall, file with the national enforcement body or use a no-win-no-fee service. You have years to claim (2 to 6 depending on the country).
Does your flight qualify?
Two questions:
- Where did the flight depart? If from an airport in the EU (plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland), it's covered no matter which airline. If from the UK, UK261 applies the same way.
- If it departed the U.S. and landed in Europe, was the operating airline European (EU or UK)? If yes, covered. If it was a U.S. airline, not covered.
Then, what happened:
- Delay: you arrived at your final destination 3 hours or more late (measured when the doors open). Connections on one ticket count toward the final destination, so a short first leg that makes you miss a connection still qualifies for the whole trip's distance.
- Cancellation: announced less than 14 days before departure, unless the replacement flight got you there close to the original times.
- Denied boarding: overbooked and you didn't volunteer.
Exception: "extraordinary circumstances" the airline couldn't avoid: severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security incidents, political unrest. Not extraordinary (you get paid): technical problems, crew shortages, the airline's own staff striking, the aircraft arriving late from a previous flight.
How much
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (Paris–Rome, London–Amsterdam) | €250 (£220) |
| 1,500–3,500 km, or any intra-EU flight over 1,500 km (Madrid–Athens, Dublin–Tel Aviv) | €400 (£350) |
| Over 3,500 km (any U.S.–Europe flight) | €600 (£520); halved to €300 if the delay was under 4 hours |
Per passenger, including children with a seat. Paid in cash or bank transfer; you can refuse vouchers.
On top of compensation, the airline owes you care: meals, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel with transfers if you're stuck overnight. Keep receipts if they don't provide it.
How to claim for free
- Gather: booking confirmation, boarding passes, the delay or cancellation notice, and the actual arrival time (FlightAware or Flightradar24 history works as evidence).
- Submit the airline's EU261 claim form (search "[airline] EU261 claim" or "compensation claim"). State: "I claim compensation under Article 7 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004 of €[600] per passenger for flight [number] on [date], which arrived [X hours] late. If you allege extraordinary circumstances, please provide documentary evidence." Include an IBAN or ask for a wire/PayPal; many airlines can pay to U.S. accounts or by check.
- Wait up to 6–8 weeks. Airlines often reject first with a form letter. Reply asking for the specific evidence of extraordinary circumstances.
- Escalate to the national enforcement body of the country where the flight departed (for flights into Europe on an EU airline, the arrival country). Each EU country has one; the airline must comply with a binding decision in many of them (Spain's AESA, Germany's SÖP, the UK's CAA-approved ADR schemes).
- Small claims in the European country is possible but impractical from the U.S., which is why many Americans use a claim company.
When a no-win-no-fee service makes sense
If the airline refused, the enforcement body is slow, or you don't want to deal with a foreign process, companies like AirHelp take the case, chase the airline, and go to court if needed. They keep 25–35% of the compensation and only if they win; you pay nothing if they lose. For a €600 claim you'd receive roughly €390–€450 without lifting a finger after the sign-up.
Time limits
Depends on the country where you sue: 2 years in Italy and Spain (some courts allow 5 in Spain), 3 years in Germany, 5 years in France, 6 years in the UK. Claim as soon as you can, but a delayed 2023 flight is usually still claimable.
FAQ
My connection through Frankfurt was missed because the first flight from Chicago was late (Lufthansa)
Covered: single booking on an EU airline arriving in the EU, and your arrival at the final destination was 3+ hours late. Compensation is based on the total distance: €600.
The airline gave me a €300 voucher
You can refuse it and demand cash. Vouchers require your written agreement.
Do I also get the refund under the U.S. DOT rule?
If the flight touched the U.S. and was canceled, yes, the refund of the unflown ticket is separate. Compensation is for the inconvenience; refund is for the ticket.
Does this cover baggage?
No. Baggage is under the Montreal Convention: see lost or delayed baggage.