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We help you enforce your passenger rights
Has your flight been delayed, cancelled, or were you bumped? In these cases, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline. Flights from (and in many cases to) Europe are protected by EU regulation EC 261/2004.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through discovering your passenger rights and the situations where the airline must compensate you — and how to claim.
EC 261 provides that, under certain circumstances, airlines must compensate passengers in case of delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights.
EC 261 applies to all passengers on flights covered by the regulation, regardless of nationality.
| Itinerary | EU Air Carrier | Non-EU Air Carrier |
|---|---|---|
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Typical EC 261 compensation amounts by distance:
You can claim under EC 261 if:
If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to up to €600. The amount depends on distance and delay length:
| Flight distance | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| All flights under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €250 per person |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €400 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights 1,500 - 3,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to €400 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | Up to €600 per person |
Under EC 261, you could be entitled if:
Get compensation for delays and cancellations — No win, no fee.
If your flight is covered by EC 261 and you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you may be owed up to €600 if:
If one leg is delayed/canceled and you arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation. Your right depends on the total delay of your journey, not individual legs.
Under EC 261, you could be eligible if:
Airline staff strikes are generally within the airline’s control, while airport/third-party strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances.
If your luggage is delayed, lost, or damaged, you could be owed compensation. For international flights, the Montreal Convention typically applies.
You could get up to around €1,900 (1,519 SDR). Airlines may pay more at their option.
The Warsaw Convention may apply in rare cases where international flights are not covered by the Montreal Convention.
We evaluate airlines based on:
Highest-rated airlines worldwide (AirHelp Score 2025):
| Airline | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brussels Airlines | Belgium | 8.12/10 |
| 2. Qatar Airways | Qatar | 8.11/10 |
| 3. United Airlines | United States | 8.04/10 |
You can claim by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on specialists. Here’s a simple checklist:
We’ll handle communication with the airline. No win, no fee.