Understanding EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261)
EU261 is the world's gold standard for passenger protections. If your flight departs from an EU airport (on any airline) or arrives at an EU airport on an EU-based carrier, you are legally entitled to cash compensation for delays exceeding 3 hours at final destination.
Compensation Tiers
- Short-haul (< 1,500 km): €250 compensation.
- Medium-haul (1,500 km – 3,500 km): €400 compensation.
- Long-haul (> 3,500 km): €600 compensation.
"Extraordinary Circumstances" Exemption
Airlines are exempt only if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances (volcanic ash, extreme weather, air traffic controller strikes). Standard technical malfunctions and crew scheduling shortages do NOT qualify as extraordinary circumstances.
Step-by-Step Claim Filing
- Keep all boarding passes, booking receipts, and photos of flight departure departure screens.
- Ask the gate agent for a written statement explaining the reason for delay.
- Submit a formal claim directly through the airline's customer relations portal before hiring third-party claim agencies that take a 30% cut.
