EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 - Airline Cancellations, Delays and Passenger Rights

📌 1. When do EU passenger rights apply?

EU rules apply if:

• Your flight departs from an EU airport (all carriers), or
• Your flight arrives in the EU on an EU airline.
  They also apply to flights within the EEA (EU + Iceland, Norway, Switzerland).

💶 2. What rights do I have if a flight is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to:

a) Reimbursement or alternative transport

Choose one of the following:

• Full refund of the unused ticket (and return flight if relevant),
• Re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity,
• Re-routing at a later date of your choice under comparable conditions.

b) Compensation

You may also receive financial compensation unless:

• You were notified 14 days or more before departure, or
• The cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances (e.g., extreme weather, security risks).

c) Assistance / care

During waits for re-routing:

• Meals, refreshments,
• Accommodation + transport if overnight stay needed,
• Communication (2 calls/emails/texts).

🕑 3. What if my flight is delayed?

a) Right to care

If your departure is delayed:

• 2 + hours for short flights,
• 3 + hours for medium/long EU flights,
• 4 + hours for longer flights — airlines must offer care (meals, drinks, communications).

b) Right to refund

If delay at departure exceeds 5 hours, you can:

• Cancel your trip and receive a full refund for unused parts, plus return if applicable.

c) Compensation

If you arrive at your final destination with 3 + hours delay, you may be entitled to compensation (unless due to extraordinary circumstances).

💰 4. How much is compensation?

Under current EU Regulation 261/2004 (note: future rules may change pending EU updates):

• €250 — short flights (up to 1 500 km),
• €400 — medium flights (1 500–3 500 km),
• €600 — long flights (over 3 500 km).

Compensation may be reduced by 50% in some re-routing scenarios under the official rules.

💳 5. What's the difference between a refund and compensation?

• Refund: reimbursement of money you paid for unused parts of your ticket.
• Compensation: an additional payment for inconvenience when your journey is significantly disrupted.

You can often claim both (refund and compensation) when eligible.

🧳 6. Does this cover baggage issues?

Lost, delayed or damaged baggage is not covered by EU 261 — instead, the Montreal Convention applies to compensation for luggage problems.

🧑‍⚖️ 7. What if the airline refuses to comply?

You can:

• Contact the airline first in writing (keep documentation),
• Contact your national enforcement body (NEB) in the relevant EU country,
• Seek help from the European Consumer Centre.

✈️ 8. What about flights outside the EU?

• EU rights apply to flights arriving into the EU on EU carriers.
• Non-EU airlines flying into the EU only must comply on arrivals — not outbound from a non-EU origin.

🕐 9. Are there time limits for claiming?

There is no EU-wide limit for filing claims — it depends on national law in each Member State (often 2–5 years).