Claim Your Rights with EU 261 Flight Compensation
The EU regulation 261/2004 is set up to establish robust passenger protection against the inconveniences caused by long flight delays or cancellations. Under the law, you may be eligible for up to €600 for a disrupted flight. Submit EU261 compensation claims and protect your rights with Skycop!
Recently Disrupted Flights – See If You Qualify
The table below includes flights with recent delays or cancellations. Locate your flight to check eligibility and let Skycop handle your claim.
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| Date | Flight | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
04.12.2026
09:50
|
KL1231
|
Amsterdam AMS
Gothenborg GOT
|
Cancelled | |
|
04.05.2026
19:45
|
BA2202
|
Cancun CUN
|
Cancelled | |
|
26.04.2026
11:50
|
LH1801
|
Cancelled | ||
|
25.04.2026
12:50
|
AI148
|
Delhi DEL
|
||
|
24.04.2026
15:00
|
FlyOne
5F5714
|
Prague PRG
Chisinau (New) RMO
|
Cancelled | |
|
24.04.2026
09:30
|
PC1164
|
London STN
Istanbul SAW
|
Cancelled | |
|
24.04.2026
06:00
|
LH1673
|
Cluj-napoca CLJ
|
Cancelled | |
|
19.04.2026
21:50
|
LH1672
|
Cluj-napoca CLJ
|
Cancelled |
Compensation for Delayed European Flights: How Is It Calculated?
The amount of EU261 compensation you are entitled to depends not on your ticket price, but on the duration of the flight delay and the distance you were travelling. Notably, the delay is calculated based on the time you reach your final destination; even if your flight departs late, it can still make up lost time in the air.
It’s also crucial to know that, according to the European Court of Justice, the arrival time is defined by the moment the aircraft lands at its final destination and at least one of its doors is opened. Keep this in mind to be more precise when making EU 261 compensation claims and to increase your chances of getting approved.
Please note that delays shorter than 3 hours do not qualify for financial compensation. However, if the waiting time lasts longer than 5 hours, you can claim a full refund for your ticket instead of flying.
What Is the Maximum EU Flight Compensation?
There is a common misconception that EU 261 applies only to flights within Europe, but that’s not the case. EU Regulation 261 covers all flights that depart from EU and UK airports, irrespective of the airline you choose. In addition, the law applies to all flights that arrive in the EU or UK, as long as they are operated by local aviation groups. Check out the table below to know what EU flight delay compensation you may get, depending on the route distance:
| Distance | Delay time less than 3 hours | Delay time 3 hours or more | Delay time over 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| All short-distance flights: 1,500 km or less | €0 | €250/£220 | €250/£220 |
| Internal flights (within the EU): over 1,500 km | €0 | €400/£350 | €400/£350 |
| International flights from 1,500 km to 3,500 km | €0 | €400/£350 | €400/£350 |
| International flights over 3,500 km | €0 | €600/£500 | €600/£500 |
EU 261 Compensation: Deadline for Filing a Claim
There is no uniform period for filing EU 261 compensation claims, and it does not depend on the citizenship of the passenger. Instead, the deadline is determined by the statute of limitations in the country where the airline’s headquarters are located or where the flight was operated. We have highlighted specific time limits for filing the EU 261 compensation form in the table below:
| Deadline | Country |
|---|---|
| No limitations | Malta |
| 10 years | Luxembourg |
| 6 years | Cyprus, Ireland, UK (except Scotland) |
| 5 years | France, Greece, Spain, Belgium |
| 3 years | Lithuania, Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic*, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany**, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden |
| 2 years | Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland |
| 1 year | Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia |
*Czech Republic: notify your carrier about the flight disruption within 6 months, and then your claim for EU delay compensation will remain active for 3 years.
**Germany: the limitation period expires on December 31 of the third year.
What Rights Do You Have in Case of Cancelled Flight?
When an EU 261-covered route is cancelled, you may be entitled to European flight cancellation compensation, a full ticket refund, and several other rights, provided you meet these eligibility requirements:
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the cancellation of your flight took place less than 2 weeks before the pre-scheduled departure date;
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the aircraft was intended to take off from an EU or UK airport, or was operated by a local carrier;
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it was the carrier's fault, not an extraordinary circumstance.
If you meet these conditions, you have such rights:
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a full refund of unused tickets;
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rebooking an alternative flight as early as possible;
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EU flight cancellation compensation of up to €600 (£520);
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beverages, food, lodging, transportation, etc.
Steps to Take if Your Flight Is Cancelled or Delayed
It’s crucial to be on top of your rights anytime it comes to submitting delay or EU flight cancellation compensation. So, if you find out that your flight is disturbed, take the following steps to ensure that your claim will have the best chance of success:
- Collect as much information as you can:
– check out the reason for flight delay or cancellation to know whether your EU261 compensation is claimable;
– save any messages you obtained about the flight;
– gather evidence that the flight was delayed or cancelled (take a photo of the departure board, screenshots of the relevant information on the carrier website, etc.);
– if the flight was delayed, note the arrival time at your final destination. - Keep all travel documents, including your boarding pass.
- Save your receipts in case the flight disruption results in any additional expenses.
- Take free meals and refreshments if the delay time exceeds two hours and do not hesitate to ask for accommodation in case of flight cancellation.
- Never sign any documents that will require you to waive your rights to EU flight compensation.
How to Claim EU Flight Compensation
The process of filing EU 261 compensation claims seems a bit tricky, which is why many travellers give up trying to obtain compensation from airlines at an early stage. Skycop is here to make things simple, so the information provided below will be useful to you.
Requirements for getting EU flight compensation:
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O1you have checked in for a flight on time;
the delay took place due to the fault of an airline;
flight disruption occurred no longer than 6 years ago (for UK-based airlines); -
O2you may qualify for European flight delay compensation even if you travel with a tour package or have a business trip;
-
O3the flight departed/landed in the EU or UK and the carrier is headquartered in one of the local countries.
Once you find out that you are entitled to EU261 compensation, you have to make your claim. There are two ways to handle this task:
Claim EU261 compensation on your own
Sometimes, airline operators send passengers all the information they need to get the reimbursement, including the qualifying amount and a link to an EU 261 compensation form. In this case, you need to prepare the required documentation (boarding pass, records of the disruption, and flight details) and go ahead to make your claim.
However, in most cases, you will need to look for the relevant resources on your own by contacting your carrier. Some airlines allow passengers to fill out the EU 261 compensation form online, while others provide guidelines on how to file a claim through email or mail. Regardless of the option, you will need to send a copy of your boarding pass, include the reason for flight disruption, and specify the amount you are claiming in accordance with EU261 terms.
The carrier may offer European flight delay compensation in the form of vouchers, but you are not obliged to accept them since EU 261 implies payments in cash, checks, or e-transfers.
Get professional help
Skycop can handle EU 261 compensation claims on your behalf on a “no-win, no-fee” basis. Our experts will stay by your side throughout the process and fight for your rights while dealing with carriers directly. You just need to fill out a quick compensation form, and we will do the rest for you. No hassle, no stress, and no financial risk.
Time limit to file flight claims
Although the time limits to submit European flight cancellation compensation differ in each EU country and the UK, it is still better to act promptly to ensure you do not miss out on the funds you deserve. There are cases where airlines intentionally delay the procedure, waiting for the validity period of a claim to expire. So, try to apply for EU 261 compensation as soon as possible, ideally within six months after the flight disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do I know if I am eligible for EU flight delay compensation?
Check out the criteria listed above the page or take advantage of the power of Skycop and find out your compensation eligibility right away by completing our short online form.
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What is the process for claiming EU 261 flight delay compensation?
Contact the airline operator to argue your case directly or use specialised online companies like Skycop to negotiate on your behalf and thus increase your chances of a successful result.
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How much compensation can I get for a delayed international flight?
You can usually claim up to €600 (£520) for a long-haul international flight (over 3,500 km) if you arrive more than four hours late at your destination. There are smaller payouts for shorter flights and flight delays of at least three hours.
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How long does it typically take to receive EU flight compensation?
Although there is no fixed timeframe in which an air carrier must respond to passenger claims, the process typically takes up to 4-6 weeks. However, it is common for operators to process claims for several months. If you fail to get a response for a while, you may need to lodge a complaint with the Civil Aviation Authority.
Successful Cases Against These Airlines and Others
Skycop has a strong track record of launching late flight compensation claims against major airline operators.
Help Provided at These Airports and More
Skycop provides support for passengers disrupted by overbooked flights, delays and cancellations at airports across Europe
Air Passenger Rights and Prоtectiоns
Yоur Airline Passenger Rights are prоtected. The regulatiоn prоvides cоmmоn rights оn flight cоmpensatiоn fоr passengers in the event оf mоre than 3 hоurs delay, cancellatiоn and оverbооking.