Your air passenger rights in the EU
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protects travellers in case of long delays, cancellations and overbooking. Here are the key rules in plain language.
When does the regulation apply?
The regulation applies to all flights departing from the EU, whatever the airline. For flights from a non-EU country into the EU, it applies only if the flight is operated by an airline based in the EU. Norway, Iceland and Switzerland are treated like EU countries, as are territories such as the Canary Islands, Madeira and Réunion.
Since Brexit, flights from the United Kingdom fall under the British UK261 rules.
How much money are you entitled to?
The amount depends on the direct distance between your first departure airport and your final destination, not on the distance actually flown.
| Distance | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| over 1,500 km within the EU, and 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 |
| over 3,500 km (not within the EU) | €600 |
If the airline offers an alternative flight that arrives only a little later (within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance), it may cut the amount by half.
Delay
You are entitled to compensation if you reach your final destination at least 3 hours later than planned. This was decided by the European Court of Justice. What counts is the moment one of the aircraft doors is opened at the destination.
If a delay made you miss a connecting flight on the same booking, the delay at the final destination counts.
Cancellation
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to compensation unless the airline informed you in time:
- at least 14 days before departure, or
- 7 to 13 days before, with an alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours earlier and arriving less than 4 hours later, or
- less than 7 days before, with an alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour earlier and arriving less than 2 hours later.
A flight brought forward by more than one hour also counts as cancelled.
Regardless of compensation, you can choose between a refund of your ticket and an alternative flight.
Denied boarding
If you are not allowed to board against your will, for example due to overbooking, you are entitled to full compensation, provided you checked in on time. There is no claim if the airline has valid reasons, such as missing travel documents. If you volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for benefits, you receive those benefits instead of compensation.
Extraordinary circumstances
The airline does not have to pay compensation if the disruption was caused by circumstances it could not have avoided even with all reasonable measures. These may include extreme weather, air traffic control strikes or security risks.
According to the European Court of Justice, technical faults and strikes by the airline’s own staff usually do not count. The airline has to prove the circumstances.
Care at the airport
Regardless of compensation, the airline must look after you during long waits: meals and refreshments, two phone calls or emails and, if an overnight stay becomes necessary, a hotel and transport.
| Distance | Care from |
|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | 2-hour delay |
| over 1,500 km within the EU, and 1,500 to 3,500 km | 3-hour delay |
| all other flights | 4-hour delay |
From a 5-hour delay you can give up the flight and have your ticket price refunded.
Time limits
The regulation itself sets no time limit. The law of the country where you bring the claim applies. In Germany, the claim usually expires after three years, counted from the end of the year in which the flight took place.
The 2026 reform
In July 2026, the European Parliament and the EU member states adopted a reform. The 3-hour threshold and the amounts of €250, €400 and €600 remain. New elements include fixed deadlines for claims and for airline responses.
The new rules only apply 12 months and 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal, expected from 2027. Until then, the rules described here apply. We will update the check as soon as the date is known.