Check Your Flight Eligibility
EU261 compensation may apply when your flight is delayed by at least three hours, cancelled with short notice, or you are denied boarding. Eligibility depends on departure airport, airline, and whether extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption. Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, delay notice, and receipts, then submit a written claim to the airline with flight details, passenger names, and requested amount. Airlines usually respond within a few weeks, and you should keep copies of all correspondence.
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If the airline rejects or ignores your claim, escalate through the national enforcement body or an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme in the country where the incident occurred. You may also use a claims service, though fees reduce your payout. Compensation amounts are generally based on distance and delay length, with higher amounts for longer flights. Act promptly because limitation periods vary by country, and strong documentation improves your chances of receiving the payment you are owed.
Gather Booking and Delay Evidence
To claim EU261 compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight, first gather booking and delay evidence, including your ticket, boarding pass, airline messages, and proof of arrival time. Check whether your flight departed from or arrived in the EU on an EU carrier, then confirm the delay reached three hours or the cancellation was announced with limited notice. Extraordinary circumstances may reduce eligibility, but many routine disruptions still qualify for fixed amounts based on distance and delay length.
Next, submit a written claim directly to the airline with flight details, passenger names, and requested compensation, keeping copies of every message. If the carrier ignores you or rejects the claim unfairly, escalate through national enforcement bodies or an approved dispute resolution service. AI Flight Refunds at aiflightrefunds.com can help organize evidence, assess eligibility under EU261/2004, and pursue the amount you may be owed without unnecessary stress.
Submit Claim to Airline
To claim EU261 compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight, first confirm your journey qualifies. The rules generally cover flights departing the EU, plus flights arriving in the EU on an EU-based airline. A delay of three hours or more at arrival, a cancellation with less than fourteen days' notice, or denied boarding can trigger fixed compensation, usually €250, €400, or €600 depending on distance. Airlines may avoid payment only when extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes, caused the disruption. Keep your booking confirmation, boarding pass, receipts, and airline messages, because evidence matters.
Next, submit the claim directly to the operating airline through its online form, customer service email, or complaints process, clearly stating flight details, disruption, and amount requested. If the airline rejects or ignores your claim, escalate to the relevant national enforcement body, an approved dispute resolution scheme, or a court where the incident occurred. You may also use a specialist claims service, but compare fees before agreeing. Acting promptly, keeping records, and quoting EU261/2004 can improve your chances of a fair outcome.
Escalate to National Enforcement Body
To claim EU261 compensation, first confirm your flight was covered, delayed by at least three hours, or cancelled with short notice, and that the airline was responsible rather than extraordinary circumstances. Gather booking details, boarding passes, delay evidence, and correspondence, then submit a written claim directly to the airline through its official form or customer service channel. Be clear about the route, flight number, date, and requested amount, which can range up to €600 depending on distance and delay length.
If the airline rejects or ignores your claim, escalate through the national enforcement body in the country where the incident occurred or where the airline is based, and consider alternative dispute resolution or small claims court. Keep copies of every message and deadline, because persistence matters. Services such as AI Flight Refunds can help organize documents and pursue the claim, but you can also manage the process yourself with careful records and patience.
Use AI Flight Refunds Help
EU261 compensation can be claimed when a flight departing from the EU, or arriving in the EU on an EU carrier, is delayed by at least three hours, cancelled with short notice, or overbooked. Start by collecting your booking confirmation, boarding pass, delay evidence, and any airline messages. Then submit a written claim directly to the airline, clearly stating the flight details, disruption, and amount requested under EU261. Airlines often require patience, so keep records of every reply and deadline.
If the airline rejects your claim or ignores it, escalate through the national enforcement body, an alternative dispute resolution scheme, or a specialist claims service such as AI Flight Refunds. Compensation amounts depend on distance and delay length, ranging from €250 to €600, though exceptions apply for extraordinary circumstances. Acting promptly and documenting everything improves your chances of a successful EU261 claim.
EU261 Compensation by Distance and Delay
| Step | Delayed Flight Claim | Cancelled Flight Claim |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Save boarding pass and booking confirmation | Save cancellation notice and booking confirmation |
| 2 | Record the actual arrival delay of 3+ hours | Check rerouting or refund options offered |
| 3 | Submit a written claim to the operating airline | Submit a written claim with preferred remedy |
| 4 | Escalate to ADR or court if rejected | Escalate to ADR or court if rejected |