Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation: EU261 Guide 2026

A cancelled flight, a long delay or denied boarding: as an air passenger in the European Union, you have precise rights under EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — better known as EU261. In 2026 it still entitles you to a full ticket refund and, in many cases, flat-rate compensation of up to €600. Here is when you qualify, how to write the claim letter, and what to do if the airline says no.

Refund vs Compensation: Two Separate Rights

Travellers often confuse the two, yet EU261 can give you both at once:

• The refund is your ticket money back when the airline cancels your flight and you choose not to travel.
• The flat-rate compensation is a fixed payment on top of the refund or re-routing, owed unless the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

Cancelled Flight: Your Rights

If your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you the choice between:

• A full refund of the ticket within 7 days (by bank transfer, cheque or cash)
• Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity, or on a later date of your choice

On top of the refund or re-routing, you are entitled to flat-rate compensation (unless the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances), based on flight distance:

• €250 for flights under 1,500 km
• €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km

Delayed Flight: When Can You Claim Compensation?

For a delay at arrival, you can claim compensation if:

• The delay is 3 hours or more at arrival
• The flight departs from a European airport, OR arrives in the EU with an EU carrier
• The delay is not due to extraordinary circumstances (exceptional weather, an air traffic control strike outside the airline's control)

How to Write Your Claim Letter

A clear, factual letter gets processed faster than an angry one. Make sure yours contains:

• Your full name and booking reference
• The flight number and scheduled date of the flight
• What happened: cancellation, denied boarding, or the length of the delay at arrival
• The amount you are claiming: the ticket refund and/or the compensation band matching your flight distance (€250, €400 or €600)
• A deadline for the airline to reply, so your claim does not sit unanswered indefinitely
• The documents you attach: boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any proof of the delay or cancellation

Where to Send Your Claim

Always start with the airline itself, via its online claim form or by email. Keep your booking reference, your boarding pass and every piece of evidence of the disruption — you will need them again if you have to escalate.

Escalation: If the Airline Refuses or Ignores You

1. Contact the airline directly first, with your booking reference and supporting documents.
2. If it refuses or does not answer within 2 months: file a complaint with the national enforcement body of the country of departure. For flights departing from France, that is the DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile — the French civil aviation authority); every EU country has an equivalent body.
3. Last resort: mediation — in France, the tourism and travel mediator (MTV, Médiateur du Tourisme et du Voyage) — or the courts for persistent disputes.

Cancelling the Ticket Yourself: Refundable vs Non-Refundable

EU261 covers disruptions caused by the airline. If you want to cancel (and not because of anything the airline did), your rights depend on the fare conditions of your ticket. Low-cost fares are often non-refundable. Check whether you took out cancellation insurance when you bought the ticket.

Timeline and Practical Tips

• The refund of a cancelled ticket must reach you within 7 days.
• Escalate to the enforcement body only after a refusal or 2 months without an answer from the airline.
• Claim the exact band that matches your flight distance — a precise figure is harder to brush off than "appropriate compensation".
• Keep everything: booking reference, boarding pass, and any proof of the delay or cancellation.