Know your rights. Assess your claim correctly.

European passenger rights when flights go wrong

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protects passengers in certain cases of long delay, cancellation, denied boarding and missed connections. Route, operating airline, final destination and cause are decisive.

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Four central situations

Four key situations

Not every disruption automatically leads to compensation. The following categories show which facts are needed for a legal assessment.

Flight delay and arrival at the final destination

Flight delay

Compensation may be available when arrival is delayed by at least three hours. Arrival at the final destination on the booking is generally decisive.

Cancelled flight and alternative transport offered

Flight cancellation

Entitlement depends in part on when you were informed and what alternative transport was offered. Refund and compensation are separate rights.

Denied boarding despite a confirmed reservation

Denied boarding and overbooking

Passengers who report on time with a valid booking and are involuntarily denied boarding may be entitled to compensation, care and alternative transport.

Missed connection within a single booking

Missed connecting flight

With a single booking, delay at the final destination is often assessed. Separate tickets, self arranged transfers and third country routes require a different analysis.

Official sources and content review

Legal status 15 July 2026: current claim assessment remains based on Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 presently applicable and the case law. The Council of the EU gave final approval to the reform on 13 July 2026. The new act has not yet been published in the Official Journal and is not yet applicable. According to the Council, the updated rules enter into force 12 months and 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.

TOPICS AND DISRUPTIONS

Passenger rights by type of flight disruption

Choose the specific disruption. Each page explains eligibility, exceptions, evidence and the next useful step.

Flight delay

Arrival delay, the three hour threshold, distance and €250, €400 or €600.

Cancelled flight

Notice period, rerouting, ticket refund and possible compensation.

Strike

Pilots, cabin crew, airport or air traffic control and the actual sphere of control.

Technical problem

Ordinary technical faults, maintenance, replacement aircraft and exceptional cases.

Baggage problems

Delayed, lost or damaged baggage, reporting, deadlines and evidence.

Specific flight

Check your actual flight, not only the rules

The quick check combines route, disruption, delay and possible compensation in one preliminary assessment.

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