Passenger rights · 2026
EU261 (European Union)
Up to €600 per person for a delay of three hours or more, a cancellation or being bumped, on flights from the EU or to the EU on a European airline, unless the cause was extraordinary.
Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction
What you're owed
Up to €600 per person for a delay of three hours or more, a cancellation or being bumped, on flights from the EU or to the EU on a European airline, unless the cause was extraordinary.
- Flights up to 1,500 km
- €250
- Flights within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500–3,500 km
- €400
- Other flights over 3,500 km
- €600
- Rerouted and you arrive only a little late (2–4 hours, by distance)
- Half the amount
Which flights: Every flight departing an airport in the EU (plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), on any airline; and flights arriving there from outside on an EU airline. A United flight from Paris to New York is covered; a United flight from New York to Paris isn't, but an Air France one is.
Status in 2026: In force. A reform was provisionally agreed on June 15, 2026; reports say it keeps the three-hour trigger and the €250–€600 amounts. It still needs final approval and would apply about a year after publication, so today's rules apply to your flight now.
When you're owed compensation
- •Your flight arrives three or more hours late at its final destination (the EU's top court treats long delays like cancellations).
- •Your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, unless you're offered a reroute close to the original times.
- •You're denied boarding against your will because the flight is overbooked.
- •The cause was within the airline's control. Bad weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks and strikes by outside staff are "extraordinary circumstances"; most technical faults and the airline's own staff strikes aren't.
Care while you wait
Whatever the cause, the airline must provide meals and refreshments during a long delay, a hotel and transfers if you're stuck overnight, and a way to make calls. After a five-hour delay you can give up the trip and get a refund.
How to claim
- •Claim from the airline that operated the flight, in writing, with your booking reference and what happened.
- •If it refuses or doesn't answer, go to the national enforcement body in the country where it happened, or an approved dispute resolution scheme.
- •Time limits are set by each country's law and range from about one to six years, so claim promptly.
- •Claim companies take a cut (often 25–35%); you can claim yourself for free.
FAQ
Flights up to 1,500 km: €250; Flights within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500–3,500 km: €400; Other flights over 3,500 km: €600; Rerouted and you arrive only a little late (2–4 hours, by distance): Half the amount.
Other passenger rights rules
Sources
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. The official text and enforcement bodies have the final word.
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
- European Union (Your Europe): air passenger rights
- DLA Piper: agreement reached on EC261 reform (June 2026)
- European Parliament: plenary session, October II 2026
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