EU261 Flight Compensation
Delays, cancellations, denied boarding. These are all unfortunate realities that can sometimes occur when we travel. What can make those situations sting a bit less? Money, of course! Who doesn't love some cold hard cash in exchange for an inconvenience? While of course we hope to arrive to our destination unscathed and on time, it can happen. EU261 flight compensation can provide you with cash compensation for eligible itineraries. These compensations are not automatic, however and you have to request them. Knowing about and if EU261 applies to your itinerary can turn your delay into payday. In this guide we will discuss when and how to claim this compensation, if issues arise with your itinerary.
RELATED: Like Getting Paid To Travel! My Experience Filing An EU261 Claim With Lufthansa
What Is EU261 Flight Delay Compensation?
EU261 is a law in Europe that was rolled out back in 2005. It put into place protections and set parameters for compensation for travelers should they get delayed, denied boarding or left stranded by a flight cancellation. This was put into place for European Union (EU) airlines, but it also requires any airline flying out of, or within, the EU to abide by it. Flights from outside the EU to the EU only require European Union airlines to abide by the law. So that means if you are flying a US airline home you are covered but you are not on the way to Europe. Here is a link to the full law.
Where does EU261 Apply Geographically?
If you have a flight that experiences delays or cancellations, and it involves Europe, consider if EU261 compensation applies to your itinerary. The first piece of information to consider is whether or not your itinerary & airline are eligible. Since this is a European Union regulation, it applies to flights that involve travel to or from the European Union. Further, in some instances it depends on whether the operating airline is domiciled in a member state of the 27 European Union countries, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and Overseas Territories of France (Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Polynesia, French Guiana, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin). For example, Lufthansa is a German company. Germany is part of the EU, therefore Lufthansa is an EU airline. Refer to the below chart to determine if your itinerary and operating airline qualify your itinerary for EU261 protections.
| Location of Flight: | Compensation Applies To: |
|---|---|
| Flight operated within the EU | Both EU or non-EU airlines |
| Flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU | Only EU airlines |
| Flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country | Both EU or non-EU airlines |
A Quick Note on UK261
Most of us are probably aware that the UK left the European Union in 2020. Because of this, the UK no longer participates in EU261. The good news however, is that the UK quickly published UK261 regulations that closely mirror EU261 compensation. So generally speaking, the same rules apply to flights to / from the UK, just are dubbed ‘UK261'.
Covered Reasons for EU261 Compensation
Another important idea to keep in mind is if the reason for your delay is a covered reason. Simply put, if the reason for the delay or cancellation is beyond the reasonable control of the airline they are not liable to compensate. For example, weather issues, acts of terrorism, and certain worker strikes would all be considered beyond the reasonable control of the airline.
Compensation Amounts
The compensation you receive depends on how long you were delayed, as well as the distance of your flight. For cancelled flights, the cancellation must occur less than 14 days prior to scheduled departure as there is still plenty of time to re-book yourself if the cancellation occurs before that. Refer to the below chart for compensation amounts:
| Distance Of Flight | Over 3 Hours | Over 4 Hours | Cancelled Flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| All flights 1,500km or less | €250 | €250 | €250 |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500km | €400 | €400 | €400 |
| Non Internal EU Flights 1,500km – 3,500km | €400 | €400 | €400 |
| Non Internal EU Flights 3,500km+ | €300 | €600 | €600 |
Receiving Your EU261 Compensation
Unfortunately, while the EU261 regulations require airlines to compensate for qualified flights, they do not require it to be automatic. This means that you, as the passenger, are required to file a claim and potentially deal with a bit of pushback, as well. Often times, the airlines will try to get you to settle for a travel voucher that they know will be less expensive for them in the long run.
Below is a list of common airlines forms in order to request EU261 compensation. Often these are generic forms that are not specific to EU261. In your request, be as specific as possible to what you are requesting and explain your case.
| Airline | Airline |
|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Air France |
| Austrian Airlines | American Airlines |
| British Airways | Brussels Airlines |
| Delta | EasyJet |
| Iberia | Lufthansa |
| Ryan Air | Swiss Airlines |
| Turkish Airlines | United Airlines |
EU261 Flight Delay Compensation: ToP Thoughts
Delays, cancellations, and denied boarding stink. There is no getting around that. However, if you are being compensated for that inconvenience, it can make the airlines apology a bit more palatable. EU261 is mandated compensation by the European Union. Those mandated compensation requirements only apply to certain flights and certain airlines, however. And the compensation only applies if the airline is at fault for the delay. When that is the case, it is critical to know about EU261 compensation and how to file your claim so that you don't miss out. Further, pushing back on offers to settle outside of EU261 can help you maximize your compensation.
Have you had to file for EU261 compensation? Let us know the results over in the ToP Facebook Group!
