EC261 Compensation: What You're Owed and How to Claim in 2026

EC261 — formally EU Regulation 261/2004 — is the European law that entitles passengers to cash compensation when their flight is delayed by 3 or more hours, cancelled without adequate notice, or when they're denied boarding against their will.

It's one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the world. And one of the least-used, because most passengers simply don't know they can claim.

Here's everything you need to know.

EC261 Compensation Amounts (2026)

The amount you're owed under EC261 is based entirely on flight distance — not ticket price, not delay length (as long as it exceeds 3 hours), not your class of travel:

Flight Distance	EC261 Compensation
Under 1,500 km	€250 per passenger
1,500–3,500 km (intra-EU over 1,500 km)	€400 per passenger
Over 3,500 km	€600 per passenger

Reduction rule: Airlines can reduce the €400 and €600 amounts by 50% (to €200 and €300) if they offer re-routing that gets you to your destination within a certain time of your original arrival.

When EC261 Compensation Applies

You're entitled to claim EC261 compensation when:

Your flight arrived 3 or more hours late at its final destination
Your flight was cancelled and you weren't notified at least 14 days in advance
You were denied boarding due to overbooking or operational reasons
You missed a connection due to a delay on a previous leg of a through-ticket

Who is covered:

Any passenger on any flight departing from an EU/EEA airport (regardless of the airline's country)
Any passenger on an EU-based airline flying into the EU from anywhere in the world

This means Ryanair, easyJet, KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, TAP, Vueling, Wizz Air and others are all covered on European departures.

What Airlines Use to Reject Claims

Airlines will try to invoke extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying — claiming the delay was caused by severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security incidents, or other events "beyond their control."

The important thing to know: most extraordinary circumstances claims by airlines are wrong or exaggerated. Courts have consistently ruled that:

Technical faults are NOT extraordinary circumstances (Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia, C-549/07)
Staff shortages and crew scheduling are NOT extraordinary circumstances
Minor weather delays that did not actually prevent the flight from operating are NOT extraordinary circumstances

If an airline rejects your claim citing extraordinary circumstances, request the specific evidence. A vague reference to "technical issues" or "bad weather" is insufficient and you should escalate.

How to Claim EC261 Compensation

Step 1: Check eligibility

Was your arrival delay 3+ hours? (Or did they cancel with less than 14 days notice?)
Did your flight depart from an EU airport, or was it operated by an EU airline?
Was the flight within the last 3 years? (The statute of limitations varies by country: UK is 6 years, Germany is 3, France is 5)

Step 2: Gather your documents

Booking confirmation and boarding pass
Evidence of delay (flight tracking from FlightRadar24 or FlightAware)
Any communications from the airline

Step 3: File directly with the airline Start with a formal written complaint to the airline's customer service/claims department. Reference "EU Regulation 261/2004" explicitly. State the compensation amount you're owed.

Step 4: Escalate if rejected (or ignored) If the airline doesn't respond within 8 weeks or rejects without adequate justification:

File with your national enforcement body (CAA in the UK, DGCA/INAC in Portugal, Luftfahrt-Bundesamt in Germany)
Use a no-win-no-fee claims company (they take 20–35% but handle the escalation)
File through your country's small claims court for amounts under €2,000

EC261 Claims by Airline: What to Expect

Airlines vary significantly in how quickly they pay and how often they fight claims:

Airline	Typical Response	Rejection Rate
KLM	4–8 weeks	Low — usually pays valid claims
Lufthansa	6–10 weeks	Medium — often requests additional documents
Ryanair	6–12 weeks	High — frequently cites extraordinary circumstances
easyJet	8–12 weeks	High — known for voucher offers instead of cash
Wizz Air	8–16 weeks	Very high — frequently requires escalation
TAP Air Portugal	6–10 weeks	Medium-high — INAC escalation usually effective

The 3-Year Deadline

EC261 claims are subject to national statutes of limitations. In most EU countries this is 3 years from the date of the flight. In the UK it's 6 years.

Don't wait. If you had a disrupted flight in the last 3 years and never claimed, check your old booking confirmations now.

EC261 Compensation 2026: Claim €250–€600 for Delays & Cancellations