Your right to compensation under EU 261/2004
Regulation EU 261/2004 is the law that protects passengers when something goes wrong on flights inside the European Union. If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you’re bumped because of overbooking, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The rules cover every flight departing from the EU and every flight into the EU operated by an EU-based airline.
Aer Lingus compensation for a delayed flight
If you flew with Aer Lingus and your delayed flight arrived three hours or more late, you’re entitled to compensation. The catch: the delay has to be down to the airline, not extraordinary circumstances. If bad weather, a strike or a security issue caused it, no compensation is payable.
Aer Lingus compensation for a cancelled flight
If Aer Lingus cancels your flight and tells you less than 14 days before departure, you’re entitled to compensation. The amount depends on the flight distance and how long the rerouting flight makes you wait.
How much compensation am I entitled to?
| Flight distance | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. Dublin – London) | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. Dublin – Antalya) | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. Dublin – New York) | €600 |
These are the maximum amounts. The actual payout can be lower depending on the circumstances.
When you’re not entitled
There are situations where compensation doesn’t apply:
- The flight was cancelled because of extraordinary circumstances such as a natural disaster or terrorist threat.
- You were told about the cancellation more than 14 days before departure.
- The delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside the airline’s control.
If you were refused boarding because of overbooking, you’re entitled to denied-boarding compensation — the amounts match the cancellation table.
How to claim compensation from Aer Lingus
Getting compensation can be a slog and needs some legal know-how. Two options:
- Apply directly on the Aer Lingus website. You’ll need all the flight details and you’ll have to follow their process, which can be slow and tangled.
- Or check your claim with Refundio — our team runs the whole process for you, from filing to payout. In some cases we pay you upfront before the airline pays us.
What if the airline refuses to pay?
If Aer Lingus refuses, don’t give up. Start a free claim with Refundio — we handle the communication with the airline, the negotiation, and legal action if it comes to that. No win, no fee — if we don’t recover the money, you don’t pay a cent.
If you also missed a connecting flight because of an Aer Lingus delay, see our page on missed-connection compensation.