Flight delayed, cancelled or overbooked: your rights and how to claim

When the EU rules apply

• Flights within the EU, on any airline.
• Flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline.
• Flights leaving the EU, on any airline.
• The same rules cover Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. The UK has its own similar rules (UK261).

Compensation amounts

• Applies to denied boarding, cancellations and arriving 3 or more hours late, unless extraordinary circumstances caused it.
• If you are rerouted and reach your final destination only slightly later than planned (within 2, 3 or 4 hours, depending on flight distance), the airline may cut the amount by 50 percent.
• For cancellations, no compensation is due if you were told more than 14 days ahead, or were offered rerouting within set time limits.

The EU is discussing changes to these rules (for example a longer delay threshold). As of October 2026 the proposals have not become law, so the amounts above still apply. Check the official Your Europe page before you claim.

What the airline must give you while you wait

• Meals and refreshments, and two free calls or messages, after a delay of 2 hours (flights up to 1,500 km), 3 hours (longer EU flights and 1,500 to 3,500 km flights) or 4 hours (all other flights).
• Hotel and transport if you must stay overnight.
• A refund of the ticket, and a return flight if you have a connection, if the departure delay is 5 hours or more.
• If the airline gives you nothing, keep receipts and claim the reasonable costs back.

Denied boarding

If you checked in on time with a valid booking and documents and were denied boarding because of overbooking or operational reasons, you are generally entitled to compensation, a choice of refund or rerouting, and care. Rights can be lost if boarding was refused for health, safety or security reasons, or because your travel documents were missing.

How to claim, step by step

1. Collect proof: booking, boarding pass, the airline's messages, and photos of the departure board.
2. Write down the actual arrival time at your final destination.
3. Send your claim to the operating airline using its complaint form. The operating airline is the one responsible, which can be different from the seller of your ticket.
4. If there is no reply within 2 months, or you are not satisfied, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the problem happened. In many countries its opinion is not legally binding, so ask what powers it has.
5. You can also try alternative dispute resolution, the European Small Claims procedure or a court. A lawyer or consumer centre can tell you which route fits your case.
6. The European Consumer Centre can advise you for free.

Outside Europe

Other countries have their own passenger rules and complaint bodies. India's AirSewa portal lists a grievance service for flight problems. Look up the regulator for the country where the problem occurred, and always complain to the airline first so you have a written reply.