EC Regulation 261/2004 — European Union

Your rights as a passenger,
explained without fine print

European law protects you when something goes wrong with your flight. Here we explain what you can demand, when and why.

What is EC Regulation 261/2004?

It is a European Union law that obliges airlines to compensate you financially when there is a significant delay, a cancellation or you are denied boarding. It has been in force since 2005 and protects millions of passengers every year.

Most importantly: this is not a favour the airline does for you. It is a legal right. If the conditions are met, the law obliges them to pay you. In practice they may try to refuse, but without a valid and extraordinary reason they have no legal basis to do so.

When does this law protect me?

Your flight departed from any airport in the EU (with any airline)

Your flight arrived in the EU with a European airline (Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair, etc.)

The flight was from Norway, Iceland or Switzerland — it also applies

You had a confirmed booking and arrived at the airport on time

The flight departed from outside the EU with a non-European airline (e.g. Delta JFK→MAD — does not apply)

You were travelling free with points or employee passes

How much compensation am I entitled to?

The amount depends on the distance of your flight, not the ticket price.

Short flights

Less than 1,500 km

Madrid → Barcelona, Paris → London

€250

Medium flights

1,500 – 3,500 km

Madrid → London, Madrid → Istanbul

€400

Long flights

More than 3,500 km

Madrid → New York, Madrid → Buenos Aires

€600

* On flights over 3,500 km, if the airline put you on an alternative flight and you arrived less than 4 hours late, they can reduce your compensation by half (€300).

The three most common cases

Delay

You are entitled to compensation if you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late. What matters is when you land, not when the plane takes off.

Example: Your flight was scheduled to arrive at 18:00 and arrived at 21:30. Three and a half hours late → you are entitled to compensation.

Cancellation

If your flight was cancelled less than 14 days in advance, you are entitled to compensation. The airline must also offer you the choice between a refund or an alternative flight.

Note: If you were notified more than 14 days in advance, the airline does not have to pay compensation. But they must refund the ticket price if you do not want the alternative flight.

Overbooking (denied boarding)

Airlines sell more tickets than seats available. If you arrive at the airport with your booking and are denied boarding, you are entitled to the highest compensation, plus immediate assistance.

Important: If you voluntarily agree to give up your seat in exchange for something, negotiate well before signing. Once you accept, they may not give you more.

Common airline excuses

And whether they are valid or not.

"It was due to bad weather"

Sometimes

Only valid if it was extreme and unforeseeable weather AND the airline took all possible measures. Common strong winds or frequent fog are usually not enough.

"We offered you an alternative flight"

It depends

If you arrived less than 2-4 hours late (depending on distance), they may reduce your compensation by half. If you arrived later, you still have the right to the full amount.

"You already accepted a voucher"

Not always

Accepting a voucher does not automatically cancel your right to monetary compensation. Unless you signed explicitly waiving it, you can still claim the difference.

"It was a technical problem with the plane"

Rarely

Technical problems are the airline's responsibility. They can only be exempt if it was a hidden and unforeseeable fault — something extremely difficult to prove.

"A strike paralysed the flight"

Depends on who struck

If the strike is by the airline's own employees, it is not an exemption. If it is an external strike (air traffic control, airport), it may be.

Ver casos reales de estas excusas →

Beyond compensation

The airline also has other obligations while you wait.

Food and drink

If you wait more than 2h (short flight) or 3-4h (long), they must give you meal vouchers or bring food to the gate.

Communications

Two free calls, emails or faxes. You can demand this at the counter.

Hotel if overnight

If the delay leaves you stranded overnight, they must pay for the hotel and transport there.

Ticket refund

If the flight is cancelled and you don't want the alternative flight, they refund the full ticket price within 7 days.

Do you have an affected flight?

Tell us what happened and in 2 minutes we'll tell you whether you might have a case, how much you could claim and your real probability.

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Your rights as a passenger,explained without fine print