Flight cancelled? Claim up to 600€ in Compensation under EU Law
You may be legally entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004, depending on if the cancellation was made 14 days or less prior to the departure. And also can have the ticket refunded or replaced without costs.
Flight cancellation rights
Passenger Rights in the European Union are ruled by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004. This EC 261/2004 Regulation establishes common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers who experience flight problems. Other laws, regulations and Court judgements expanded or clarified those rights. Each EU country might have his own laws but they cannot exclude or even reduce the Consumer Rights provided by EC 261/2004 Regulation.
Compensation Rules
Passengers of cancelled flights are eligible for compensation if it was cancelled less than 14 days prior to departure.
They also have the right to reimbursement of the ticket price corresponding to the part of the journey that was not journeyed, as well as the part already journeyed if the purpose of the flight is no longer possible.
No compensation is due if the airline provides free rerouting (not necessarily by air) and the passenger arrives to his destination less than 3 hours late.
If your flight is within the EU and is operated either by an EU or a non-EU airline; – If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline; – If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline; – If you have not already received benefits for that flight problem under a similar law of a non-EU country.
Besides EU countries, Swiss, Norway and Iceland also adhered to this regulation. Other countries have similar regulations (Canada, Brazil, Turkey and others) but they are not covered by our services. All passengers have these rights, even those that are not EU citizens and/or live outside the EU.
You can claim compensation provided that the cancellation was not caused by “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the airline’s control. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include: – Air traffic management decisions; – Political instability; – Adverse weather conditions; – Security risks; – Strike action, if outside the airline personel.
Examples of issues that give you compensation
Flight operational issues
Cancellation due to a problem related to the crew's planning (i.e. illness or overtime), documents, cargo or fuel loading, etc.
Flight technical issues
The most frequent argument that airlines provide - something is broken on the plane and needs to be repaired. Includes de-icing and accidents like bird or stairs strike, blown tire, etc.
Flight rotation issues
The airline cancelled the flight due to previous delays or cancellations that hindered the normal operation of aircraft.
Strikes
Problems due to strikes inside the airline.
How much can you claim?
The amount of flight claim compensation you receive depends on the distance of your flight and can be €250, €400, or €600. You can also claim for care expenses with food, transport and accommodation as well as a refund of the alternative flight.
250€
Up to 1500 km
400€
From 1500 km to 3500 km
600€
More than 3500 km
How to claim Flight Cancellation Compensation Step-by-Step
Claiming your flight cancellation compensation with AireClaim is quick and simple:
1. Complete your flight compensation form
- Enter your departure airport and final destination.
- Indicate if you had connecting flights.
2. Add your disruption details
- Select the type of disruption (delay, cancellation, missed connection).
- Enter the scheduled and actual arrival times.
3. Provide the reason for the disruption (if known)
4. Review and submit
- We’ll analyse your case, contact the airline, and handle all the paperwork at no upfront cost.
Our process covers all types of air travel disruptions from cancellations to flight delays and missed flights — ensuring you get the compensation you’re entitled to.
You can start your claim now using our secure online form:
FAQs About Flight Cancellation Compensation
Sometimes it depends on whether the weather conditions meet the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” under EU 261.
Our team will analyse your specific case and help you understand if you still qualify for flight compensation, even when the airline blames the delay on bad weather.
You can still claim your flight delay compensation if:
- The initial delay caused you to miss your connecting flight.
- Your final arrival at the destination was more than 3 hours late.
- Both flights were part of the same booking.
Learn more about our full process for missed connection compensation.
Yes, your citizenship does not impact your rights as an air passenger.