EU 261 confirms that long delays, cancellations, missed connections and flight re-bookings cause great inconvenience to travellers, and as such affected passengers should be compensated! Happy days!
Who is eligible for EC Regulation 261/2004 compensation?
- Passengers who have a valid ticket and booking confirmation ✅
- Passengers who: start their trip at an EU airport or land in an EU airport, provided that the airline is headquartered in the EU ✅
It doesn’t matter if the passengers are:
- Using a low-cost airline
- Booked on a package holiday
- On a business trip or
- Children (on a paid ticket) or
- Flying on free or reduced tickets under customer loyalty or promotional programmes.
The EU Regulation does not apply to:
- Passengers travelling on a free or reduced-fare that is not available to the public either directly or indirectly. ❌
- Air passengers that did not check in on time. Unless notified otherwise, passengers should check-in at least 45 minutes before departure (unless their flight has been cancelled) ❌
You are entitled to compensation in the following cases:
- Delays: Your flight must have arrived at its destination 3 or more than 3 hours late
- Cancellations: If you have been informed of cancellation less than 14 days before departure
- Overbooking: The airline overbooked your flight and you will not find a seat on board, which is equivalent to denied boarding.
- Missed connecting flight: If the final destination is reached 3 or more than 3 hours later due to a missed connecting flight This also applies if the connecting flight was operated by another airline as long as your ticket is valid for both legs of the flight.
What compensation can I claim?
Compensation is dependant on the distance of the flight not on the ticket value! 💶
- Short distance flight delays – Below 1500km – Passengers are due €250 compensation
- Medium distance flight delays – Between 1500km and 3500km – Passengers are due €400 compensation
- Long-distance flight delays – Over 3500km – Passengers are due €600 compensation
How do I claim?
To make a claim head to your airline’s website and fill out the EU 261 compensation form here are a Irelands top airlines compensation forms 😊
