EC261 / EU261 Flight Rights

Delayed or cancelled flight?
Claim up to €600

Airlines owe you compensation for delays, cancellations and denied boarding under EU law. Most passengers never claim — AirHelp makes it simple. No win, no fee.

Use promo code AHTPO9 — valid until 30 April 2026

€600
Maximum per passenger
85%+
Claim success rate
6 years
How far back you can claim

When are you eligible?

EU law (EC261) protects you in these situations

⏱️

Delayed 3+ hours

Flight arrived at destination 3 or more hours late

Flight cancelled

Less than 14 days notice before your scheduled departure

🚫

Denied boarding

Bumped from an overbooked flight against your will

🔁

Missed connection

Delay caused you to miss a connecting flight

Key rule: The flight must have departed from an EU airport, or arrived in the EU on an EU/UK carrier. This covers millions of routes globally including flights to/from the US, Asia, Middle East and beyond.

How much can you claim?

Amount depends on flight distance, not ticket price

€250
Under 1,500 km
Short-haul European routes
London → Paris, Rome → Madrid
€400
1,500 – 3,500 km
Medium-haul routes
London → Cairo, Paris → Dubai
€600
Over 3,500 km
Long-haul international routes
London → New York, Paris → Bangkok

Compensation may be reduced by 50% for delays of 3–4 hours on medium/long-haul routes.

How it works

1

Check your flight

Enter your flight number and date — takes 2 minutes. AirHelp instantly tells you if you're eligible.

2

Submit your claim

Provide your booking details. AirHelp's team handles all communication with the airline.

3

Get paid

Receive up to €600 in compensation directly to your bank account. No win, no fee.

Check Your Flight Now

Free check · No win, no fee · Takes 2 minutes

AirHelp+

Protect every future flight

AirHelp+ is an annual subscription that covers all your flights. Automatic claim filing, lounge access, and legal support — for frequent flyers who want complete peace of mind.

  • Automatic claims on all your flights
  • Airport lounge access when delayed 1hr+
  • Legal support for rejected claims
  • Baggage delay & loss coverage
Explore AirHelp+
20.8%
commission on
AirHelp+ subscriptions

Common questions

How much flight delay compensation can I claim?
Under EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC261), you can claim €250 for flights under 1,500km, €400 for flights between 1,500–3,500km, and €600 for flights over 3,500km. The flight must have departed from or arrived in the EU and been delayed by 3+ hours.
How far back can I claim for flight delays?
You can typically claim for flights going back 3–6 years depending on the country. AirHelp can check flights dating back to 2005.
What if the airline says my delay was "extraordinary circumstances"?
Airlines frequently reject valid claims by citing extraordinary circumstances. AirHelp's legal team challenges these refusals and has an 85%+ success rate on disputed claims.
Does AirHelp charge a fee?
AirHelp works on a no-win, no-fee basis for standard claims. They take a percentage only when you receive your compensation. AirHelp+ is a subscription service that covers future flights.