Flight delay & cancellation compensation

Where you flew, what went wrong and how late you were in. You get which rules cover the flight (EU, UK, Canada, US), whether you are likely owed money, how much, and a claim letter to send.

1. The flight

Departure airport is inArrival airport is inAirline is based in

For a trip with connections on one ticket, use the first departure and the final arrival. Use where the airline that flew you is based (Air France is EU, British Airways is UK, Air Canada is Canada).

What happened

Flight distance (km)Hours late at your final destination

Reason the airline gave (or your best guess)

2. What applies

EU261 (EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland)

Possible

Enter the flight distance: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger.

Enter how late you reached your final destination: compensation starts at 3 hours late.

Refund and care: Whatever the outcome, a cancelled flight (or a delay over 5 hours where you no longer wish to travel) entitles you to a refund of the unused ticket within 7 days, or a re-route at the earliest opportunity, plus meals, refreshments and hotel where you have to wait.

Time limit: Set by each country's own time limit for civil claims (from about 2 to 6 years): check the country whose courts would hear it.

If the airline says no: The national enforcement body of the country where the flight left (or landed, for EU airlines).

Norway and Iceland apply the rules through the EEA; Switzerland through its air transport agreement with the EU (check for very recent changes).

A reform that would raise the delay threshold (proposed: 4 hours up to 3,500 km and 6 hours beyond) has been in the EU legislative process; the 3-hour rule from the Court of Justice (Sturgeon) is what airlines and courts apply unless that changes (check).

Source: Regulation (EC) 261/2004, arts. 5-9 (EUR-Lex), checked 30 Sep 2026

US DOT rules

No cash owed

US federal rules do not require cash compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. Airlines set their own promises (many publish them on the DOT customer service dashboard).

Refund and care: A refund applies for a 'significant delay' (3 hours or more on a domestic flight, 6 hours or more on an international one) if you decline the new flight and do not travel. Money must reach you within 7 business days on a card, 20 calendar days otherwise.

Time limit: No federal deadline for a refund request, but ask at once; file a DOT complaint after the airline has had a chance to respond.

If the airline says no: File a complaint with the US Department of Transportation.

US law does not require cash compensation for delays or cancellations. It requires a refund if you decline the alternative, and cash compensation only for involuntary denied boarding (bumping).

The denied-boarding caps are adjusted for inflation every few years: confirm the current figures on the DOT page (check).

Source: US DOT: automatic refund rule (14 CFR part 260) and denied boarding rule (14 CFR part 250), checked 30 Sep 2026check

This is a guide, not legal advice. “Likely eligible” is not a promise: the airline decides first and can dispute the cause.

3. Claim letter

Your nameYour address and emailAirlineFlight numberFrom (airport or city)To (airport or city)Booking referenceDate of the flight

Anything to add (optional): out-of-pocket costs, what the airline told youClaim under

Subject line: Compensation claim: flight [flight number] on [date], [from] to [to]

[your name]
[your address and email]

[today's date]

To: [airline], Customer Relations

Subject: Compensation claim: flight [flight number] on [date], [from] to [to]
Booking reference: [booking reference]

Dear Sir or Madam,

I was a passenger on flight [flight number] from [departure airport] to [arrival airport] on [date of flight]. The flight was delayed.

This is covered by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. My claim is based on Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, as interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Joined Cases C-402/07 and C-432/07 (Sturgeon), under which a delay of 3 hours or more at the final destination gives the same right to compensation as a cancellation.

I am claiming [amount] in compensation per passenger, payable in cash or by bank transfer rather than in vouchers.

If you believe extraordinary circumstances apply, please send me the specific cause, the supporting evidence, and the steps you took to avoid the disruption.

Please reply within 28 days. If I do not receive a satisfactory answer I will take the complaint to the body responsible for enforcing these rules and, if necessary, to court.

I attach my booking confirmation, boarding pass and any receipts.

Yours faithfully,
[your name]

Attach your booking confirmation, boarding pass and receipts. Fields you leave blank stay as [brackets] for you to fill in.