Was your flight delayed?
You may be owed up to €600.

What Is Flight Compensation and Who Qualifies?

Flight compensation is a monetary right owed to passengers by airlines under the European Union's Regulation 261/2004 when they suffer a delay, cancellation or denied boarding. Depending on the distance flown, passengers are entitled to between €250 and €600.

Scope of EU Regulation 261

EC 261/2004 came into force in 2004 and remains one of the strongest passenger protection frameworks in the world. It covers:

• All flights departing an EU airport: regardless of which country the airline is from. A Turkish Airlines flight leaving Frankfurt is covered; the same airline leaving Istanbul is not.
• Flights into the EU on an EU carrier: Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Iberia, SAS and other EU airlines flying into the EU from anywhere in the world.
• Switzerland, Norway, Iceland: not EU members, but they have adopted the regulation.
• UK flights: after Brexit, an equivalent regime (UK261) applies.

Compensation Amounts and How They Are Calculated

EU 261 sets compensation by distance and delay length. It is entirely independent of the ticket price — you can be owed €600 on a €50 economy fare.

Short haul (up to 1,500 km) — €250

Examples: London–Paris, Berlin–Rome, Madrid–Lisbon. A delay of 3 hours or more triggers €250.

Medium haul (1,500–3,500 km) — €400

Examples: London–Athens, Paris–Moscow, Berlin–Istanbul. Delays of 3 hours or more pay €400.

Long haul (over 3,500 km) — €600

Examples: London–New York, Paris–Tokyo, Frankfurt–Singapore. A delay of 4 hours or more triggers €600. Within the EU the amount is capped at €400.

When Can You Claim?

1. Flight Delay Compensation

Your right arises when you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late. What matters is the arrival time, not the departure delay. The clock stops when the aircraft door opens.

2. Flight Cancellation Compensation

If the airline cancels less than 14 days before departure, compensation is due. Being offered a refund or a rerouting does not extinguish that right — a refund is a separate entitlement, while compensation exists to make up for lost time.

3. Denied Boarding (Overbooking)

If you hold a valid boarding pass but are refused carriage, you are owed compensation regardless of how long you were delayed. Airlines first ask for volunteers; if nobody comes forward, the last passenger to check in is usually bumped.

"Extraordinary Circumstances" That Can Block a Claim

Airlines can escape liability in some situations, but these exceptions are narrower than they claim:

• Severe weather: not ordinary rain or light snow, but storms or fog that effectively close the airport
• Air traffic control decisions: slot crises, airspace closures
• Political events: external strikes (not airline staff strikes), terrorist threats
• Security risks: bomb threats, unlawful interference

Important: technical faults are generally not extraordinary circumstances. Under Court of Justice case law, problems arising from routine maintenance do not defeat a claim. Airline staff strikes likewise still give rise to compensation.

Claiming for Older Flights: Time Limits

You can still claim for flights that happened years ago. The limitation period varies by country:

• United Kingdom: 6 years
• Germany: 3 years
• France: 5 years
• Spain, Italy: 2–5 years
• Netherlands, Belgium: 2 years

Which country's limitation period applies depends on the route and where the airline is based. Keep your old boarding passes and booking emails.

Why Use a Claim Company Instead of Going Direct?

Most passengers who write to the airline themselves see their claim rejected with a boilerplate "extraordinary circumstances" reply. Professional firms such as AirHelp, Skycop and Compensair offer:

• Legal expertise: they overturn rejections using Court of Justice case law
• No risk to you: no-win, no-fee
• Ability to litigate: they can sue if the airline still refuses
• Time saved: all correspondence and follow-up is handled for you
• High success rates: typically 95–98% of viable cases

Common Scenarios

I missed my connection — can I claim?

If both flights were on a single booking and the delay on the first leg made you arrive 3+ hours late at your final destination, yes. If the flights were booked separately, there is no protection.

Do charter flights qualify?

Yes. Charter flights sold as part of a package holiday fall under EU 261. Liability sits with the airline, not the tour operator.

Do low-cost carriers (Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet) pay compensation?

Yes. The regulation applies regardless of the fare paid. Low-cost airlines owe exactly the same amounts as full-service carriers.

In Short

If in the last 3–6 years you flew within Europe, or to or from Europe, and were delayed, cancelled or denied boarding, you may be owed between €250 and €600. FlightClaim has independently compared AirHelp, Skycop and Compensair for you. All three are licensed, experienced and charge nothing unless they win. Pick the one that fits your case from the comparison above and start your free claim.