Delayed flight compensation: 250, 400 or 600 euros, who qualifies and how to claim

A delayed flight that arrives three hours or more late usually entitles each passenger to compensation of 250, 400 or 600 euros. The amount depends on the flight distance. It is set by EU Regulation 261/2004. However, airlines can refuse to pay in extraordinary circumstances. Here is how to check whether you qualify and how to claim, including when you fly to or from France.

When does a delayed flight give a right to compensation?

The threshold is a delay of three hours on arrival at the final destination. The regulation originally only provided compensation for cancellations. However, in 2009 the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in the Sturgeon case that passengers arriving three hours late or more must be treated like those on a cancelled flight. The official EUR-Lex summary of the regulation reflects this principle.

So the arrival time counts, not the departure time. In practice, it is the moment when at least one aircraft door opens at arrival.

Which flights are covered?

all flights departing from an airport in the European Union, whatever the airline;
flights arriving in the European Union, provided the airline is European.

By contrast, a New York to Paris flight operated by a non-European airline is not covered. Other rules, such as those of the departure country or the Montreal Convention, may apply instead.

Aircraft wing during a delayed flight — The delay is measured on arrival, when the doors open. Photo: Blake Guidry / Unsplash

Delayed flight compensation: how much must the airline pay?

The fixed amount depends on the distance flown, not on the ticket price. As a result, a 40-euro ticket can still give a right to 250 euros.

250 euros for flights of 1,500 km or less;
400 euros for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km, and for other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km;
600 euros for other flights over 3,500 km.

For example, Paris to Nice falls into the first band. Paris to Athens falls into the second. A Paris to New York flight departing from France falls into the third. Compensation is due per passenger, including children with a paid ticket.

Can the airline refuse?

Yes, if it proves that the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances it could not have avoided. Examples include dangerous weather, an air traffic control strike or a security risk. On the other hand, European case law generally does not treat a routine technical fault or a strike by the airline’s own staff as extraordinary.

Departure board showing a delayed flight — Keep a record of your actual arrival time. Photo: Cuvii / Unsplash

What help must you get at the airport?

Regardless of compensation, the airline must also look after you while you wait. This right applies from a two-hour departure delay for short flights, three hours for medium flights and four hours for long flights.

meals and refreshments in proportion to the waiting time;
two phone calls or emails;
a hotel room and transport to it if departure is postponed to the next day.

If the delay reaches five hours and you decide not to travel, you can also get your ticket refunded. Therefore, keep all your meal and taxi receipts: the airline must reimburse them if it offered nothing.

How to claim delayed flight compensation

First, send a written claim to the airline with your boarding pass, booking and actual arrival time. Most airlines have an online form. Next, if you get no satisfactory answer within two months, you can refer the case free of charge to the French travel ombudsman, Médiation Tourisme et Voyage. Finally, France’s civil aviation authority, the DGAC, also receives passenger complaints.

You do not have to use a claims company, which often takes a large commission. If you are travelling on by rail, read our French guide to delayed train refunds.

Airliner in flight — The amount depends on flight distance, not ticket price. Photo: Nicolas J Leclercq / Unsplash

Are the rules about to change?

A revision of the regulation has been under discussion for years. In June 2026, the press reported a political agreement between the European Parliament and member states. However, the text must still be formally adopted and published before it applies. No date of entry into force has been set yet.

Consequently, the current rules still apply to every delayed flight today, including during the end of the French autumn half-term holidays and at Christmas.

Delayed flight compensation: key takeaways

Compensation is due from a three-hour delay on arrival.
It is worth 250, 400 or 600 euros per passenger depending on distance.
It is not due in extraordinary circumstances, such as dangerous weather.
The airline must also provide meals, calls and a hotel if needed.
Claim from the airline first, then from Médiation Tourisme et Voyage after two months without an answer.

Sources: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and EUR-Lex summary; CJEU, Sturgeon judgment of 19 November 2009; La Libre Belgique, 15 June 2026. Featured photo: Joseph Bobadilla / Unsplash. Lire cet article en français.