How do I claim eu261 compensation for a delayed flight myself?
File a written EU261 claim yourself when your flight arrives more than three hours late. Compensation follows the distance flown, not the ticket price, so longer flights pay higher tiers. A long-haul delay past four hours reaches 600 euros. Don't accept the airline's desk voucher, and check old flights too.
How to do it
- Confirm your delay was over three hoursEU261 applies once your flight is delayed three or more hours. Note the exact number of hours you were delayed.
- Refuse the desk voucherDon't accept the voucher offered at the airport desk. The compensation you're owed is based on distance flown, not ticket price, and is often worth far more.
- Write a one-line claimSubmit a written claim with a single line: flight, date, hours delayed, and EU261. Keep it short and factual.
- Know your tier by distanceThe longer the flight, the higher the compensation tier. A long-haul flight delayed past four hours reaches 600 euros.
- Check your old flightsThe claim window runs in years, so review past flights tonight. Delayed flights from previous trips may still qualify.
Questions that come up
Why should I refuse the voucher the airline offers at the desk?
The desk voucher is usually worth much less than what you're owed. EU261 compensation follows the distance flown rather than what you paid for your ticket, so a longer flight pays a higher fixed tier, up to 600 euros for a long-haul delayed past four hours.
How far back can I claim for past flights?
The window runs in years, not days, so old delayed flights can still qualify. Check your previous trips, since flights you had forgotten about may still be within the claim period and eligible for compensation.
What exactly do I need to put in the claim?
One line covers it: your flight, the date, the number of hours you were delayed, and the reference EU261. A short written claim with those four details is enough to start the process yourself.
Full transcript
Flight three-plus hours late? Send a written EU261 claim yourself. Don't accept the desk voucher — the amount follows distance flown, not ticket price. Longer the flight, the higher the tier. One line: flight, date, hours delayed, EU261. Past four hours on a long-haul, the tier reaches six hundred euros. Check old flights tonight — the window runs in years.