EU261 Flight Compensation: How to Claim Up to €600 for Delays & Cancellations

Your flight was delayed 4 hours. The airline offered you a €10 meal voucher and a half-hearted apology. What they didn't tell you is that under EU Regulation 261/2004, you may be owed up to €600 in cash compensation — on top of any refund.

ChargeCrush has a 94% success rate on EU261 claims. This guide explains exactly what qualifies, how much you're owed, and how to write the claim letter that actually gets results.

Does EU261 Apply to Your Flight?

EU261 applies to you if any of the following are true:

• Your flight departed from an EU airport (regardless of airline)
• Your flight arrived at an EU airport on an EU-based carrier
• You were flying on a UK carrier post-Brexit (UK261 mirrors EU261 exactly)

It covers delays of 3+ hours at arrival, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, and denied boarding due to overbooking.

How Much Are You Owed? The EU261 Compensation Table

Compensation can be halved if the airline offers you a rerouting that arrives within 2–4 hours of your original arrival time (depending on distance).

What About "Extraordinary Circumstances"?

Airlines love to claim "extraordinary circumstances" (weather, political instability, strikes) to dodge payment. However, the courts have consistently ruled that many airline claims of extraordinary circumstances don't hold up:

• Technical faults — NOT extraordinary (it's your job to maintain your planes)
• Staff shortages — NOT extraordinary
• Air traffic control strikes — IS extraordinary
• Severe weather — IS extraordinary (but must be specific to your flight, not general)
• Security threats — IS extraordinary

If the airline cites technical issues, push back hard. This is their most commonly abused excuse.

Step-by-Step: How to Write Your EU261 Claim Letter

Send your claim directly to the airline's customer relations department (not general customer service). Your letter must include:

1. Your flight details: flight number, date, departure and arrival airports
2. The issue: exact delay duration (hours and minutes at destination) or cancellation date
3. Legal reference: "EU Regulation EC 261/2004, Article 7" and the specific amount you're claiming
4. Your demand: cash payment (not vouchers — you have the right to cash)
5. Deadline: 14 days to respond before you escalate to the NEB

What to Do If the Airline Rejects Your Claim

Airlines reject legitimate claims hoping passengers give up. Here's your escalation path:

1. National Enforcement Body (NEB)

Each EU country has a designated National Enforcement Body to handle EU261 disputes. In the UK, it's the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). File a complaint — it's free and airlines are legally required to respond.

2. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Most EU airlines are registered with an ADR scheme. The ADR adjudicator will assess your claim independently, and the process is binding on the airline. Also free for passengers.

3. Small Claims Court

For claims under €5,000 in the EU (or £10,000 in the UK), small claims court is straightforward and filing fees are minimal. Many people win without a lawyer simply by presenting a clear timeline and citing EU261.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Your Claim

• Photograph the departure board showing your flight status
• Keep all boarding passes and booking confirmations
• Note exact times — when you were notified, when you boarded, when you landed
• Document any expenses caused by the delay (meals, hotel, transport) — you can claim these separately under EU261 Article 9
• If overbooked, never voluntarily give up your seat without getting the compensation amount in writing first

The Bottom Line

EU261 is one of the strongest passenger rights laws in the world. Airlines count on you not knowing your rights or giving up when they push back. A formal, legally-precise claim letter changes the calculation — airlines settle quickly when they know you understand the regulation.

ChargeCrush generates EU261 claim letters that cite the exact articles, include the correct compensation calculation, and use language airlines recognize as serious. That's why the success rate is 94%.