If you are flying to or from Europe, you may be covered by European passenger rules as well as US ones. Unlike US rules, they can pay fixed cash compensation for a long delay or a cancellation. Whether they apply depends on where you depart from and which airline you fly.
When EU261 applies
| Your flight | Covered? |
|---|---|
| Departing from an EU airport, on any airline | Yes |
| Arriving in the EU from outside, on an EU airline | Yes |
| Arriving in the EU from outside, on a non-EU airline (for example a US airline) | No |
So Paris to New York on any airline is covered. New York to Paris is covered on an EU airline, but not on a US airline. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland apply the same rules. The UK has its own almost identical version, with compensation in pounds.
What you can get
Cash compensation
If you arrive at your final destination three hours or more late, if your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or if you are denied boarding, you may be owed fixed compensation based on the distance of the flight:
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, and most flights within the EU | €400 |
| More than 3,500 km (most transatlantic flights) | €600 |
On flights over 3,500 km, the €600 can be halved if you arrive between three and four hours late.
Care while you wait
After a long enough delay, the airline must provide meals and refreshments, and a hotel and transport if you are stuck overnight. Unlike US airline commitments, this applies whatever caused the delay, including weather.
Rerouting or a refund
If your flight is cancelled, or delayed by five hours or more, you can choose between being rerouted and getting a refund.
The big exception: extraordinary circumstances
No cash compensation is due if the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks or strikes by people outside the airline. Ordinary technical problems with the aircraft generally do not count as extraordinary. Care (meals and hotels) is still owed even in extraordinary circumstances.
Connecting flights
If your journey is on a single booking and starts in the EU, compensation is based on how late you reach your final destination, including when you connect in the US. For example, Rome to Chicago via New York on one booking is assessed on your arrival time in Chicago.
How it compares with US rules
| EU261 | US rules | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash for long delays | Yes, unless extraordinary circumstances | No. See delay compensation in the US |
| Meals and hotels | Required, whatever the cause | Airline commitments, usually only for controllable delays |
| Refund for cancellation | Yes | Yes. See the DOT refund rule |
| Denied boarding | Fixed amounts by distance | Up to $2,150. See bumped from a flight |
On a covered flight to or from the US, both sets of rules can apply. The US refund and tarmac rules apply to flights at US airports; EU261 adds compensation and care.
How to claim
- Claim directly from the airline that operated the flight, using its EU261 claim form. Include your booking reference, flight details, and evidence of the delay or cancellation.
- If the airline refuses or does not reply, you can escalate to the national enforcement body in the country where the problem occurred, or use an approved dispute resolution scheme.
- Claims companies will do this for you, for a share of the compensation. You do not need one.
Time limits for claims vary by country, so claim promptly. Keep the same records you would for a US claim. See how to file a complaint for a checklist of evidence.
This guide is general information for US travelers, not legal advice. Rules and airline commitments change; check with your airline or the US Department of Transportation for your specific situation.