The amount depends on distance and delay
The delay is measured at arrival at your final destination, not at departure. Amounts as of 22.10.2026:
| Flight | Late arrival | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | 3 hours or more | €250 |
| within the EU, over 1,500 km | 3 hours or more | €400 |
| other flights, 1,500-3,500 km | 3 hours or more | €400 |
| between the EU and a non-EU country, over 3,500 km | 3 to 4 hours | €300 |
| over 3,500 km, not within the EU | 4 hours or more | €600 |
If the airline rerouted you and you arrived within the set thresholds, compensation may be cut by 50%.
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Where it applies
- All flights departing from an EU airport, on any airline.
- Flights into the EU from outside, only when an EU airline operates them.
- Flights to and from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
- According to AirHelp, also the EU's outermost regions: the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Mayotte, French Guiana and Saint-Martin.
- Missed connections: if the trip began in the EU and you reached your final destination more than 3 hours late, compensation is possible even if a non-EU airline ran the connecting flight.
On flights from outside the EU, EU rules do not apply if you already received compensation, rerouting or assistance for the same trip under that country's law.
When the airline does not have to pay
Extraordinary circumstances
Air traffic control decisions, political instability, bad weather, security risks.
What does not count
Most technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff.
Who has to prove it
The airline. If it claims extraordinary circumstances, it must show they happened.
No guarantees
Even with the numbers right, the outcome depends on the cause and the airline's response.
Assistance while you wait
Compensation and airport assistance are separate: you are owed assistance even when there will be no money.
- Free drinks, meals and two calls or messages.
- On flights up to 1,500 km, meals are due from a 2-hour departure delay.
- A hotel and transfer if you need to stay overnight.
- If you got no help and paid yourself, keep the receipts to claim the money back.
Time limits: the regulation is silent, the country decides
The regulation sets no court deadline; national law does. Examples according to AirHelp, not taken from the laws themselves:
| Country | Time limit |
|---|---|
| France, Spain | 5 years |
| Germany | 3 years, ending on the last day of the third year |
| Austria, Norway | 3 years |
| Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland | 2 years |
| Poland | 1 year |
AirHelp says that in most cases you can claim up to three years after the disruption. If your flight was a while ago, check the limit for your country before you claim.
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How much does EU261 pay?
€250 up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500-3,500 km and longer flights within the EU, €300 or €600 for flights over 3,500 km between the EU and elsewhere.
How late do I have to be?
3 hours at your final destination. On flights over 3,500 km the full €600 applies from 4 hours.
Do they pay for bad weather?
No, bad weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance.
What about a technical fault?
Most technical faults are not extraordinary, but the airline will argue the cause.
What is the time limit?
The regulation sets none. According to AirHelp, it ranges from 1 year in Poland to 5 years in France and Spain.
AirHelp+ 11% off until 30.11.2026
Code AHTPO11 gives 11% off AirHelp+ Smart and Pro until 30.11.2026 inclusive. Under Travelpayouts terms the code is not valid in the USA. Members pay no fee on compensation if they claim within 60 days of the flight.
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Related
Data as of 22 October 2026. Prices and terms are set by the service; check them when booking.