You are sitting in the departure lounge. The flight information board has been flashing “DELAYED” for three hours. Passengers around you are calling to rearrange plans while others queue at the service desk demanding answers. What most of them do not know is that if this flight has anything to do with Europe, they could be entitled to up to €600 in cash compensation. Not vouchers, not frequent flyer miles — actual money deposited into a bank account.
This guide covers exactly when you can claim, how much you will receive, how the process works, and why AirHelp is the most practical way to handle the entire thing.
EU261: Your Rights Are Written into EU Law
EU261 (officially “Regulation EC No 261/2004”) is one of the strongest passenger protection laws anywhere in the world. In force since 2004, it has helped millions of travelers recover compensation. Here is how it works in 2026.
Which Flights Are Covered
The scope is broader than most people realize:
- All flights departing from the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK — regardless of airline. If you fly Air China from Paris to Beijing, you are covered
- Flights to the EU operated by EU-registered airlines — for example, Lufthansa from New York to Frankfurt is covered, but Delta on the same route is not
- Post-Brexit UK: flights departing the UK remain protected under UK261 (rules nearly identical to EU261). Flights arriving in the UK must be operated by a UK airline to qualify
Situations That Qualify for Compensation
| Situation | Condition |
|---|---|
| Flight delay | Arrived at destination 3+ hours late |
| Flight cancellation | Airline gave less than 14 days notice |
| Denied boarding (overbooking) | Involuntary denial |
| Missed connection | First flight delay caused missed onward flight |
| Downgrade | Moved from business class to economy |
Situations That Do NOT Qualify
Airlines lean heavily on the “extraordinary circumstances” defense:
- Extreme weather: blizzards, volcanic ash, thunderstorms closing the airport — no compensation
- Air traffic control restrictions: no compensation
- Security threats or terrorism: no compensation
- Airport strikes (non-airline staff): usually no compensation
- Airline staff strikes: under a 2026 European Court ruling, these now qualify for compensation in most cases — a major win for passengers
- Bird strikes: depends on whether the airline can prove it took reasonable preventive measures
The key test: if the delay or cancellation was within the airline’s control or prevention (mechanical failure, crew scheduling, operational decisions), compensation is owed. If it was external force majeure, it usually is not. Airlines routinely classify controllable issues as “extraordinary circumstances” — and that is exactly why services like AirHelp exist.
Compensation Amounts: Based on Flight Distance
EU261 compensation is fixed and has nothing to do with your ticket price. Even a €30 budget airline ticket can yield a €600 payout:
| Flight Distance | Amount | Example Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul ≤1,500 km | €250 | Paris→London, Rome→Barcelona |
| Medium-haul 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | Amsterdam→Istanbul, London→Athens |
| Long-haul >3,500 km (within EU) | €400 | Lisbon→Helsinki |
| Long-haul >3,500 km (non-EU destination) | €600 | Frankfurt→Beijing, Paris→New York |
Important details:
- “Delay” is measured by arrival time, not departure time. A flight that leaves 3.5 hours late but lands only 2 hours 50 minutes late does not meet the threshold
- Long-haul flights (>3,500 km) delayed 3–4 hours may receive a reduced amount of €300
- If the airline provides a replacement flight after cancellation, compensation is calculated based on the difference between the replacement arrival time and the original schedule
Real Compensation Examples
Example 1: Frankfurt to Shanghai (approximately 8,800 km), flight arrives 4.5 hours late. Compensation = €600.
Example 2: Paris to London (approximately 350 km), flight cancelled, airline rebooks you 5 hours later. Compensation = €250.
Example 3: Madrid to Istanbul (approximately 2,700 km), flight arrives 3 hours and 10 minutes late. Compensation = €400.
Example 4: You paid €800 for Frankfurt to Beijing in business class but were downgraded to economy. Compensation = 75% of ticket price = €600.
How AirHelp Works: No Win, No Fee
AirHelp is the world’s largest flight compensation platform. Founded in 2013, it has processed claims for over 16 million passengers. The business model is straightforward: free assessment, free submission, free follow-up — they only charge a fee after you receive your compensation.
The Claim Process (4 Steps)
Step 1: Free Eligibility Check (30 seconds)
Enter your flight number and date on AirHelp’s website. The system pulls flight data (delay duration, cause) and tells you within 30 seconds whether you have a valid claim. This step is completely free and does not require registration.
Step 2: Submit Your Claim (5 minutes)
If eligible, the system walks you through entering personal details (name, address, bank account) and uploading a photo of your boarding pass or booking confirmation email. The entire process takes about 5 minutes on the app or website.
Step 3: AirHelp Handles Everything (2–8 weeks)
AirHelp’s legal team submits a formal claim to the airline on your behalf. If the airline refuses, AirHelp escalates — filing complaints with national aviation authorities or initiating legal proceedings directly. You do not need to do anything; progress updates arrive by email.
Step 4: Receive Your Compensation
The payout goes directly to the bank account you provided. AirHelp deducts its service fee (35% on the standard plan, 25% for AirHelp Plus members) and the remainder is yours.
Fee Structure
| Plan | Service Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (free to register) | 35% of compensation | Occasional European travelers |
| AirHelp Plus (€24.99/year) | 25% of compensation | Frequent European business travelers |
| Self-claim | Free | Travelers with time and language skills |
Quick math: a long-haul claim paying €600 minus the 35% standard fee (€210) leaves you with €390. The Plus plan takes 25% (€150), leaving €450. Compare that to 3–12 months of back-and-forth emails with the airline’s rejection department, and the fee makes sense for most people.
Self-Claim vs. AirHelp: A Realistic Comparison
You can absolutely file a claim directly with the airline at zero cost. But here is the reality:
Pain points of self-claiming:
- Airline customer service systems are designed to exhaust your patience — auto-replies, department transfers, requests for documents you already sent
- Average processing time is 3–12 months; some airlines simply ignore emails
- Airlines frequently cite “weather” as a blanket excuse, and most travelers lack the data to challenge it
- Escalating to regulatory bodies or courts requires understanding local legal procedures
- The claim window is 3 years from the flight date (6 years in the UK), but success rates drop with time
AirHelp advantages:
- Automatically pulls flight delay data — you do not need to provide delay certificates
- Legal team knows every airline’s rejection playbook and how to counter it
- Partner law firms in multiple EU countries can sue locally when needed
- You spend 5 minutes submitting, then do nothing until the money arrives
- No win, no fee — AirHelp absorbs all legal costs
Platform Comparison
| Platform | Fee | Airlines Covered | Speed | Litigation | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirHelp | 35% (Plus 25%) | 900+ | 2–8 weeks | Yes (multi-country) | 17 including Chinese |
| ClaimCompass | 35% | Major European | 4–12 weeks | Yes (Portugal) | English, Portuguese |
| EUClaim | 25% | Major European | 6–16 weeks | Yes (Netherlands) | English, Dutch |
| Flightright | 25–30% + €14 | Major European | 4–10 weeks | Yes (Germany) | English, German |
| Self-claim | Free | Any | 3–12 months | DIY | Depends on airline |
AirHelp’s core advantages are coverage breadth (900+ airlines), relatively fast processing, and multi-country legal teams. It also offers a Chinese-language interface, which is useful for travelers from China.
Claim Timeline: When to Submit
- Day of flight: best time. Save your boarding pass, photograph the delay notice screen
- 1–3 months after: still excellent, flight data is fully available
- 6–12 months after: fine, though some evidence may be harder to locate
- 1–3 years after: approaching the statute of limitations — submit as soon as possible
- Beyond 3 years: expired in most EU countries (UK allows up to 6 years)
Tip: build a habit of checking every European flight on AirHelp after you travel. AirHelp data shows that 87% of eligible passengers never file a claim.
Beyond Delay Compensation: Other Covered Situations
Lost or Delayed Baggage
- Baggage missing for over 21 days is classified as lost — airlines must pay up to approximately €1,300 (Montreal Convention)
- Reasonable expenses for necessities (clothing, toiletries) during a baggage delay can be reimbursed
- Always file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) at the airport — this document is required for any claim
Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
- Involuntarily bumped from your flight? This is the most clear-cut EU261 claim
- Compensation amounts follow the same distance-based scale (€250–€600)
- Vouchers and upgrade certificates offered by the airline do not replace your right to cash compensation unless you explicitly agree in writing
- The airline must also provide: a replacement flight or full refund + meals/accommodation if an overnight wait is required
Cabin Downgrade
- Moved from business to economy? The airline must refund 30–75% of the ticket price
- Short-haul: 30% refund. Medium-haul: 50%. Long-haul: 75%
FAQ
Q: My flight departed from outside the EU heading to Europe and was delayed. Can I claim?
It depends on the airline. If the flight was operated by an EU-registered carrier (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, etc.) with a destination in the EU, you can claim. If it was operated by a non-EU airline (United, Emirates, etc.), EU261 does not apply. However, any flight departing from the EU is covered regardless of airline.
Q: My connecting flight caused me to miss the next leg. How does that work?
If you booked a single itinerary (same booking reference), the first segment’s delay causing you to miss the connection counts. Compensation is based on the straight-line distance from origin to final destination. If you booked two separate tickets, you can only claim for the delayed segment individually.
Q: The airline says it was “weather-related” but the weather was fine. What can I do?
This is the most common rejection tactic. Airlines frequently cite “weather” as a blanket excuse when the actual cause was a mechanical issue or crew scheduling problem. AirHelp cross-references detailed flight delay data with meteorological records for that day and route. If the weather excuse does not hold up, they will challenge it.
Q: Do budget airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet) have to pay compensation?
Absolutely. EU261 applies equally to all airlines regardless of ticket price. Budget carriers actually have higher delay and cancellation rates, making them the most frequently claimed category on AirHelp. Ryanair was once notorious for refusing claims but now cooperates much better after losing numerous court cases.
Q: How long does it take to receive the money?
From submission to payout, AirHelp typically takes 2–8 weeks. Straightforward cases where the airline agrees quickly can resolve in 2–4 weeks. If legal proceedings are required, it may take 2–6 months. AirHelp sends email updates throughout the process.
Q: My flight was delayed over 3 years ago. Is it too late?
It depends on the country’s statute of limitations. Most EU countries allow 3 years, but some differ (UK: 6 years, Belgium: 1 year). The clock starts from the date of the flight. If you are approaching the 3-year mark, submit immediately on AirHelp.
Q: What support is the airline required to provide during a delay?
Under EU261, when a flight is delayed 2+ hours (short-haul) or 3+ hours (long-haul), the airline must provide: free meals and drinks, two free phone calls or emails, and hotel accommodation plus airport transfers if an overnight stay is necessary. If the airline does not offer these proactively, go to the service desk and request them — these entitlements are separate from delay compensation and can be claimed in addition.
Q: Does AirHelp support languages other than English?
AirHelp’s website and app support 17 languages, including English, Chinese (Simplified), German, French, and Spanish. The actual claim communications with airlines are primarily conducted in English and the airline’s local language.
Before your next European trip, add AirHelp to your travel toolkit. Whether you fly occasionally or frequently, knowing this right exists is already worth the price of admission.
Check if your flight qualifies for compensation on AirHelp →