EU261 Flight Compensation: Your Guide to Getting Paid for Travel Troubles

Picture this: You just enjoyed a week at Oktoberfest and now you’re waiting in the Munich airport for your flight home to New York. 

But the departure time keeps getting pushed back because of mechanical issues and you wonder if you’ll have to sleep in your lederhosen on the airport floor.

What if I told you that those travel headaches could actually put money back in your pocket?

Enter EU261 — the regulation that's about to become your new travel bestie.

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What Is EU261? Understanding Your Air Travel Rights

EU261 is a consumer protection regulation for travel in, from, and to Europe. It gives air travelers leverage when airlines fail to fulfill their services as expected. 

Passed in 2004, the rule is designed to protect you during travel disruptions. It applies to flights departing from airports in the European Union or flights on EU carriers. 

The rule applies to delays, cancelations, and denied boarding situations, giving you the power to claim compensation (money for the inconvenience) and services (meal vouchers, accommodations, etc.) when airlines mess up your travel plans.

This regulation is basically the financial superhero of the travel world. It says airlines can't just leave you hanging when your flight is delayed or canceled — and they'll pay for it, literally.

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Eligibility

The European Union consists of 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

But the rule also covers flights outside of those countries, specifically Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands.

Even though Denmark is included, the rule doesn’t cover the Faeroe Islands.

And since the UK is no longer part of the EU, they’ve adopted their own rule. It’s colloquially called “UK261” and offers the same protections as EU261. 

Which flights count?

So what flights are covered by EU261? 

It’s a little confusing, but to summarize: EU261 applies when flights are completely within the EU, along with flights departing the EU regardless of carrier and destination. 

But the rule only applies to flights entering the EU when it’s an EU carrier.

Flight plan	Flight is an EU carrier	Flight is a non-EU carrier
Flying from the EU to the EU	EU261 applies ✅	EU261 applies ✅
Flying from the EU to outside the EU	EU261 applies ✅	EU261 applies ✅
Flying from outside the EU to the EU	EU261 applies ✅	EU261 does NOT apply ❌
Flying from outside the EU to outside the EU	EU261 does NOT apply ❌	EU261 does NOT apply ❌

What You’re Entitled to When Your Flight Is Delayed

Not every travel hiccup qualifies, but many more do than you might think. 

If your flight delay or cancellation meets the criteria, you’re eligible for duty of care and compensation:

• The airline should provide food and drinks after a 2-hour delay.
• You’re owed financial compensation proportional to flight distance and delay length.
• Compensation ranges between €250 and €600.
• The airline should provide hotel accommodations if you’re delayed overnight.

What makes a qualifying delay

Flights fall under three categories based on distance:

• Tier 1 flights are 1,500 km or less
• Tier 2 flights are 1,500 km – 3,500 km
  • Intra-EU flights greater than 3,500 km are lumped into Tier 2. Flights to the French overseas territories fall under this category.
• Tier 3 flights are longer than 3,500 km

Compensation and duty of care are calculated based on the flight distance and kick in after a certain amount of time.

Flight distance	Duty of care kicks in after	Financial compensation kicks in after
Tier 1: 1,500 km or less (932 miles)	2+ hours delayed in departure airport	Arrival is 2+ hours after original arrival time
Tier 2: 1,500 km to 3,500 km (932 to 2,175 miles) and intra-EU flights longer than 1,500 km	3+ hours delayed in departure airport	Arrival is 3+ hours after original arrival time
Tier 3: Over 3,500 km (2,175+ miles)	4+ hours delayed in departure airport	Arrival is 4+ hours after original arrival time

Note that when these delays occur, you’re only eligible for compensation if the delay is caused by something that was within the airline’s control. 

Airlines are not responsible for delays caused by:

• Weather
• Safety and security concerns
• Air traffic control issues 
• Strikes

However, airlines are in control of:

• Crew delays
• Mechanical issues
• Fueling delays

What is duty of care?

Duty of care refers to the services you’re entitled to before you depart if you're delayed. 

Based on your flight length and delay, you are entitled to food and drink or meal vouchers, potentially a free hotel room and ground transportation, plus assistance making two free phone calls, emails, or faxes. (Remember — this was passed in 2004!)

These services are not to be confused with compensation, which is financial relief doled out separately based on different criteria: how late you actually arrive at your destination.

During a delay, make yourself known to the gate agent so you can receive these services. 

If, for some reason, the airline doesn’t provide a duty of care, keep your receipts! The airline should reimburse you for expenses that were “necessary, reasonable and appropriate,” according to an EU Commission. 

How much compensation do you get?

You’re also entitled to monetary relief based on how late your plane arrives at your destination. 

While duty of care (meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, etc.) kicks in before the flight has departed, passengers are only eligible for financial compensation after their flight has officially arrived (doors open) late, based on the table below.  

Just like duty of care, compensation depends on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay. 

Flight distance	Delay time for compensation	Compensation amount
Tier 1 (up to 1,500 km)	Arrives 2+ hours after original arrival time	€250 (~$262)
Tier 2 (1,500 km to 3,500 km) and intra-EU flights over 1,500 km	Arrives 3+ hours after original arrival time	€400 (~$420)
Tier 3 (over 3,500km)	Arrives 4+ hours after original arrival time	€600 (~$630)

Reduced compensation

If the airline provides rerouting that gets you to your final destination faster, the amount of compensation is reduced by half. 

Flight distance	Rerouting arrival time difference	Reduced compensation amount
Tier 1 (≤1,500 km)	Within 2 hours of original arrival time	€125 (~$132)
Tier 2 (1,500 km to 3,500 km)	Within 3 hours of original arrival time	€200 (~$210)
Tier 3 (>3,500 km)	Within 4 hours of original arrival time	€300 (~$315)

For example, if your Tier 2 flight is expected to leave 3 hours late, you should receive a meal voucher for the time you’re waiting to take off. 

However, if the flight makes up time in the air and arrives only 2 hours late, you’re only eligible for €200 in compensation, not €400.

What You’re Entitled to When Your Flight Is Canceled

Airlines can be sneaky when they don’t want to pay you, so the fine print really does matter. 

Here’s how EU261 applies if your flight has been canceled.

Duty of care and compensation for cancelations

If your flight is canceled and you’re at the airport, the airline is obligated under EU261 to rebook you “under comparable transport conditions” at the “earliest opportunity.” 

Or, if you decide a different day is better, they have to rebook you at your convenience.

If you’re stuck at a connecting airport and choose not to accept any rebookings from the airline (essentially ending your trip), the airline is on the hook for flying you back to your airport of origin along with refunding you for all your flights. 

The airline is obligated to provide a hotel room and ground transportation if they rebooked you for a flight the following day. 

They also need to provide you with food, refreshments, and those two free phone calls. Or faxes. Your call! (Literally.)

When was it canceled? 

If your flight was canceled more than 2 weeks before the date of travel, you’re not covered by EU261. 

However the airlines are required to give you alternatives, and they should just rebook you. 

If the airline rebooks you on an itinerary that is significantly different from the original, you are eligible for compensation. 

Here’s what “significantly different” means, based on how early you were given a new itinerary:

Flight cancellation timeline	Compensation eligibility
More than 2 weeks before travel	Not covered by EU261, and the airline should auto-rebook you
14 to 7 days before travel	Eligible for compensation if rebooked itinerary departs >2 hours earlier or arrives >4 hours later
Within 1 week of travel	Eligible for compensation if rebooked itinerary departs >1 hour earlier or arrives >2 hours later

While these guidelines are reasonable, you can see it’s quite complicated!

Downgrade refunds

If the airline rebooks you in a higher class than what you originally purchased, they cannot charge you any additional fees.

If the airline puts you in a lower class than what you booked, they have to refund you a portion of the original ticket price within 7 days:

• For flights of 1,500 km or less, they refund 30% of the ticket price.
• For intra-EU flights over 1,500 km (except to/from French overseas territories), they refund 50% of the ticket price.
• For all other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, they refund 50% of the ticket price.
• For flights over 3,500 km, including to/from French overseas territories, they refund 75% of the ticket price.

Step-by-Step Guide to Claiming Your EU261 Compensation

Don't let all this fine print intimidate you! 

If you qualify, you need to file a claim with the airline carrier you flew. And it’s important to do it ASAP after your flight interruption. 

1. Collect your evidence

First, you’ll need to collect all travel documents, including your boarding pass. You also need to write a letter to the airline stating what went wrong on your flight. 

This is why it’s helpful to proactively document delays as they happen — make note of things like the original departure time, when you were notified of the delay or cancellation, the rescheduled time, and how late you arrived at your destination. 

2. Contact the airline

After documenting the exact disruption, contact the airline directly with your claim. 

Most airlines have a form on their website for filing claims, like this one for Air France or this one from Lufthansa. 

If the airline takes its sweet time, be persistent! They don’t want to cash out, but they do have an obligation to their customers because of EU261. 

3. Hold your ground

If the airline pushes back at all, you can file a complaint with the relevant national authority. 

There are also third-party companies like FlightRight or AirHelp that you can use to help with the process. But they take a significant cut of the money, so be warned!

Tips for Maximizing Your EU261 Claim

To make sure you’re getting all the compensation you deserve, here are a few things to do:

• Check in on time and keep all documentation, including timestamps for delays. 
• Keep receipts for any food you purchase, along with hotel rooms if they didn’t book you one during an overnight delay. 
• If the only hotel available was expensive, take a screenshot to prove it was your only option.
• Don't accept initial low-ball offers from airlines. The fine print protects you!
• Know your rights before you fly and advocate for yourself during interruptions. Staying proactive will work in your favor!

FAQs About EU261

How does EU261 work with codeshare flights?

Responsibility for customer care falls on the airline flying the aircraft, so if you purchased a flight through Delta but it was operated by Air France, EU261 applies. 

However, if you bought a flight to Amsterdam from New York on the KLM website but it was operated by Delta, you would not have protection. 

But if that flight was leaving Amsterdam for New York, you would be protected by the rule since the flight is leaving the EU. 

What about Brexit and EU261?

Even though the UK is no longer part of the European Union, they have adopted their own version of EU261, colloquially called “UK261.” The exact same protections apply. 

TL;DR: What to Know for Your Next Europe Trip

EU261 is your secret weapon when your plans have been interrupted while traveling to, from, or within Europe. 

You could get cash compensation of up to €600 or, at the very least, free meal vouchers and/or overnight accommodations.

But your compensation depends on how far you’re flying and how long the delay was — so take notes in the moment!

Remember: When you file a claim, it's not about being difficult — it's about fair treatment!

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