Air Passenger Rights introduction: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004

Millions of air passengers travel each year, but a large number are not informed that there are air passenger rights to protect them while in transit. We would like you to get to know EC 261 – a regulation created in 2004 to protect the passengers.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 provides a legal basis for customer claims and makes airlines financially responsible for any inconvenience caused to their customers. This comprehensive legislation mainly covers the following three situations:

overbooked flight
canceled flight
delayed flight (3+ hours)

The amount of the passenger claim depends on the distance traveled and the length of the delay. In addition to a compensation of up to € 600, the legislation requires the airline to also:

inform you of your rights under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004;
refund you ticket money or rebook your flight;
provide (in the event of delay) food, drink, access to communications and accommodation (where applicable) in accordance with the following table:

Route details	Delay
All flights less than 1500 km	2+ hours
Flights within EU over 1500 km	3+ hours
EU flights to/from non-EU countries 1500-3500 km	3+ hours
EU flights to/from non-EU countries over 3500 km	4+ hours

Departure	Destination	EU airline	Non-EU airline
Within EU	Within EU	Covered	Covered
Within EU	Outside EU	Covered	Covered
Outside EU	Within EU	Covered	Not covered
Outside EU	Outside EU	Not covered	Not covered

* The regulation also includes: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Saint-Martin, Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands.

You can claim compensation for flight delays if:

You will arrive at your destination more than 3 hours later;
Your flight departed from the EU (all airlines) or landed in the EU (an EU airline);
the incident has occurred in the last 3 years;
the airline was at fault and delay not caused by extraordinary circumstances *.

You can claim compensation for a flight cancellation if:

Your booked flight did not leave the runway;
the canceled flight should have left from EU (all airlines) or landed in the EU (EU airline);
You were informed of your cancellation less than 14 days in advance;
the incident has occurred in the last 3 years;
the airline was at fault and cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances *.

You may be able to claim compensation for flight overbooking if:

You were not allowed on a booked flight (EU flight, flight departing from or arriving at a EU airport);
You did not voluntarily give up your seat for a voucher, coupon, etc .;
the incident has occurred in the last 3 years;
the airline was at fault and overbooking was not caused by extraordinary circumstances *.

Airlines are not required to pay compensation for inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond their control. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 refers to these exceptional circumstances, which are:

air sector strike;
political circumstances;
adverse weather conditions;
security risk.

See if your flight is eligible

Had a flight delay or other air travel problem in the last three years? Just provide us your flight details and we’ll let you know if you’re entitled to a compensation. It only takes a few minutes.

Submit claim