How to Claim EU261 Flight Compensation Step by Step — Up to €600
Every year, millions of passengers are owed flight compensation they never claim. EU Regulation 261/2004 entitles passengers to up to €600 per person when flights are delayed, cancelled or overbooked — but airlines count on passengers not knowing their rights. This guide gives you the exact step-by-step process, including scripts to use when airlines refuse.
How Much Can You Claim?
Flights under 1,500km (e.g. London–Paris)
Flights 1,500–3,500km (e.g. London–Dubai)
Flights over 3,500km (e.g. London–New York)
These amounts are per passenger. A family of 4 on a cancelled long-haul flight could claim €2,400 total. The compensation is on top of any refund you receive for the ticket.
Step-by-Step: How to Claim Yourself (Free)
Collect your evidence at the airport
Take photos of the departure board showing delay/cancellation. Keep all boarding passes, booking confirmations and any letters or vouchers the airline gives you. Ask a staff member for the official reason for the delay in writing if possible.
Check if your flight qualifies
Was it delayed 3+ hours? Cancelled? Overboarded? Did it depart from an EU airport or arrive at one on an EU carrier? If yes to any — you likely qualify. Use the free checker tools below.
Submit your claim directly to the airline
Email the airline's customer service with your booking reference, flight details and the exact regulation you are claiming under. Use the script below. Airlines have 8 weeks to respond under UK/EU law.
If refused — escalate to national enforcement body
In the UK: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). In EU countries: each country has a National Enforcement Body (NEB). These are free to use and airlines must respond to them.
If still refused — use a claims company (no win, no fee)
AirHelp and Compensair handle thousands of claims per day. They charge 25–35% commission only if they win. For €600, that means you still get €390–450 with zero effort.
Use This Email Script to Claim (Copy & Paste)
Subject: EU261 Compensation Claim — [Flight Number] — [Date]
When Airlines Refuse — What to Do
Airlines frequently reject valid claims or claim "extraordinary circumstances" (which must be genuinely outside their control — bad weather qualifies, technical faults usually do NOT). If your claim is rejected:
- Escalate to the National Enforcement Body in the country of departure
- In the UK — use the CAA or CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) — free
- Use a claims company like AirHelp or Compensair — they have legal teams who handle airline pushback
- Claims can be made up to 6 years after the flight (England/Wales), 5 years (Scotland), 3 years (most EU countries)
Use a Free Claims Checker Right Now
AirHelp
World's #1 flight compensation service. Helped over 15 million passengers. 25% commission only if successful.
Check My Claim Free →Compensair
Fast processing, strong legal team. No win no fee. Covers flights going back 3–6 years.
Start Free Check →UK Regulation 261 — Brexit Update
After Brexit, the UK implemented its own version of EU261 — UK261 — which mirrors the EU regulation almost exactly. If your flight departed from a UK airport or arrived at a UK airport on a UK carrier, you are covered under UK261 with the same compensation amounts (in GBP equivalent).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim if I booked through a travel agent or booking site?
Yes — the claim is against the airline, not the booking platform. Your contract is with the airline regardless of how you booked.
Can I claim on flights that happened years ago?
Yes — in England and Wales you have 6 years. In Scotland, 5 years. In most EU countries, 3 years. AirHelp and Compensair can handle old claims.
What if the airline has gone bust?
If the airline is insolvent, claims are much harder. You may need to register as a creditor in the administration process.
Check your flight compensation right now — it's free
Takes 2 minutes. No win, no fee. You could be owed up to €600.
✈ Check with AirHelp 🛡 Check with Compensair
