Most Passengers Leave Money on the Table
Airlines owe delayed passengers significant compensation under EU 261, US DOT rules, and similar regulations worldwide — but airlines do not advertise this. Industry research suggests fewer than 3% of eligible passengers actually claim what they are owed. This guide fixes that.
Step 1: Determine if You Are Eligible
Not every delay qualifies for compensation. Three factors control it:
Where your flight departed from:
- EU 261 (the strongest law): Applies if your flight departed from any EU airport, OR arrived at an EU airport on an EU-based airline. This catches most transatlantic flights on European carriers.
- US DOT rules: Apply to US domestic flights and international flights on US carriers. Weaker than EU 261 — US law does not mandate cash compensation for delays, only for involuntary denied boarding.
- UK, Canada, other regions: Have their own rules loosely modeled on EU 261.
How long you were delayed (EU 261):
- 3+ hours late on arrival = compensation starts
- Cancellation with less than 14 days notice = full compensation
- Short-haul (under 1,500 km), 2+ hours = partial threshold applies
Why you were delayed:
"Extraordinary circumstances" — severe weather, ATC strikes, security alerts — can void the compensation requirement. However, technical faults (which airlines frequently label "extraordinary") are typically not considered extraordinary under EU case law.
Step 2: Document Everything at the Airport
Before leaving the gate area, collect:
- Written confirmation of the delay from airline staff (you are entitled to this under EU 261 — ask the gate agent directly)
- Screenshot of the departure board showing actual vs. scheduled departure time
- Photo of your boarding pass — keep the paper version if you have one
- Names of airline staff you interact with
- All emails and SMS messages from the airline
If the delay causes extra out-of-pocket costs (hotel, meals, taxis), keep every receipt. EU 261's "right of care" clause requires the airline to cover reasonable waiting expenses.
Step 3: Calculate What You Are Owed
Use the AeroLogic Flight Compensation Calculator to instantly check your estimated compensation. EU 261 sets fixed amounts based on route distance:
| Route Distance | Compensation (per passenger) |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
These amounts can be reduced by 50% if the airline offers re-routing that gets you within 2–4 hours of the original arrival.
Step 4: File the Claim Directly With the Airline
Start with the airline's official compensation form (usually buried under "Customer Service" or "Complaints"). Key tactics:
- Reference EU 261/2004 explicitly — this signals you know your rights
- State the exact compensation amount you are claiming (not just "compensation")
- Set a 14-day deadline for their response
- Send via email so you have a timestamped record
Template opening:
*"Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, I am claiming statutory compensation for flight [number] on [date], which arrived at [destination] approximately [X hours] late."*
Step 5: Escalate if the Airline Refuses
Airlines reject legitimate claims frequently, counting on passengers to give up. Do not.
Option A — National Enforcement Body: Each EU country has one. Filing is free. In Germany: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. UK: Civil Aviation Authority. Ireland: Commission for Aviation Regulation.
Option B — ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution): Most EU airlines are registered with an ADR scheme. Free for passengers, binding on the airline.
Option C — No-Win-No-Fee Claims Companies: AirHelp, Flightright, ClaimCompass handle your claim for 25–35% of the payout. Worth considering if you want zero effort — but Options A/B are free.
Option D — Small Claims Court: Particularly effective in the UK (MCOL platform). Airlines settle frequently rather than deal with paperwork.
Common Airline Rejection Excuses (and How to Counter Them)
| Airline Says | The Reality |
|---|---|
| "This was extraordinary circumstances" | Demand specific evidence. Technical faults rarely qualify under EU case law |
| "The delay was under 3 hours" | Check gate-to-gate block time, not runway-to-runway wheels-up/down |
| "Your connection was outside the EU" | If flight 1 originated in the EU on an EU carrier, EU 261 may still cover the whole journey |
| "Our policy only covers X" | EU 261 is a regulation, not a policy. It overrides internal airline rules |
Claim Deadlines by Country
- UK: 6 years · France: 5 years · Germany: 3 years · Netherlands: 2 years
Claim early — evidence is easier to gather shortly after the flight.
Use the flight compensation calculator to estimate your entitlement and verify eligibility before filing.