How far back can I claim?

In most EU countries the limitation period is 3 years (it varies — 2 years in Italy, up to 6 in the UK). Check your jurisdiction. Either way: contact the airline within 6 months of the flight to keep your options open.

Am I entitled to compensation if I was flying for business?

Yes. The compensation belongs to the passenger — the person who sat on the plane and was inconvenienced by the delay — not the company that paid for the ticket.

Do I get compensation for my child too?

Yes, if the child had a paid ticket (and a seat), they're entitled to the full amount, the same as an adult. Lap infants without their own ticket usually aren't entitled.

What if my ticket is part of a package holiday (charter)?

The Regulation applies to charter flights (Smartwings, LOT etc.) as part of a package holiday. You claim against the airline directly, not the tour operator.

Does EC 261/2004 apply to low-cost airlines?

Yes. Ryanair, Wizz Air, EasyJet and other EU-based low-cost carriers are subject to EC 261/2004 just like the legacy carriers. Ticket price and fare type don't matter.

How much does Refundio charge?

Refundio operates on a no win, no fee basis. The assessment is free. If we recover the compensation, we take 35 % (incl. VAT) of the amount paid out. If the case doesn't succeed, you pay nothing.

EC 261/2004 is the strongest passenger-rights tool in Europe — if people know about it

What is EC 261/2004 and who does it protect?

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 is the main piece of European law governing the rights of air passengers. It was created to push airlines to stick to their schedules and to compensate passengers properly when their plans are disrupted.

The Regulation doesn’t cover every flight. To be entitled to compensation, your flight has to meet one of these conditions:

Departure from the EU: the flight departs any EU airport (plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland). The airline doesn’t matter.
Arrival into the EU: the flight arrives at an EU airport and is operated by an airline based in the EU.

Examples:

London → Hurghada (Pegasus Airlines): YES (departure from EU)
Hurghada → London (Pegasus): NO (arrival into EU, but a non-EU carrier)
New York → Frankfurt (Lufthansa): YES (arrival into EU on an EU carrier)

Departure	Arrival	Airline	EC 261 entitlement
London	Munich	Lufthansa	Yes
London	Dubai	Emirates	Yes
Dubai	London	Lufthansa	Yes
Dubai	London	Emirates	No

The three (and a half) situations: delay, cancellation, denied boarding

Compensation isn’t automatic for every problem. It has to be one of these situations.

A) Delayed flight

Compensation is payable when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more late. Delay is counted by the moment the aircraft doors open after landing — neither the departure delay nor the runway touchdown is decisive.

B) Cancelled flight

If the airline cancels and informs you less than 14 days before departure, compensation applies. Earlier notice (e.g. a month ahead) entitles you only to a refund or rerouting.

C) Denied boarding

Airlines sell more tickets than seats. If everyone shows up and you don’t get a seat, compensation is immediate. Always ask for written confirmation of the overbooking.

D) Missed connection

If a delay on the first leg causes you to miss the connecting flight and you arrive at the final destination 3 hours or more late, the entitlement covers the whole journey. The condition: both legs must be on a single booking.

How much compensation am I entitled to?

Compensation doesn’t depend on the ticket price. Even on a €30 ticket you can be entitled to €250. The amount is set by flight distance.

Flight distance	Compensation	Typical routes
Up to 1,500 km	€250	London – Madrid, Rome – Vienna
1,500–3,500 km	€400	London – Hurghada, Rome – Antalya
Over 3,500 km	€600	London – Dubai, Frankfurt – New York

For long-haul flights (over 3,500 km) delayed by 3–4 hours, the airline may halve the compensation (to €300). The full €600 applies when the delay is over 4 hours.

Extraordinary circumstances: when the airline doesn’t have to pay

Compensation doesn’t apply if “force majeure” hits. The airline is released from paying financial compensation (the duty of care still stands).

No compensation (airline couldn’t have controlled it):

Airport closure due to snowstorm, fog or high winds
Air traffic control strike
Terrorist threat or airspace closure
Bird strike

Compensation payable (airline is responsible):

Routine technical faults — part of normal operations
Crew illness — the airline must have reserve staff
Strike by the airline’s own staff (pilots, cabin crew)

The most common excuse is “weather” — when in fact weather wasn’t the main cause. If your claim was rejected, let us check it.

Right to care: food and a hotel on the airline

Alongside financial compensation, you have a right to care while waiting for a delayed flight. This right applies always, even in a genuine extraordinary circumstance.

Free of charge:

Refreshments (food and drink proportionate to the wait)
Two phone calls or emails
Accommodation if departure is moved to the next day
Transport between airport and hotel

If the airline doesn’t provide it, buy what you need, keep the receipts, and claim it back. A warning: alcohol and luxury dinners are not reimbursed.

How to claim, step by step

On your own

Find the EC 261 form on the airline’s website (often hidden or missing entirely).
Fill it in and attach the tickets.
Wait — airlines typically take weeks to months.
If they reject, push back or go to the national civil aviation authority.

Through Refundio

Submit (2 minutes): enter the flight number and date in the form.
Analysis: our lawyers verify all the data on your flight (weather, previous rotations).
Recovery: we contact the airline. If they refuse, we go to court.
Payout: as soon as the money lands, we transfer it to your account. In some cases we pay upfront.

Refundio has helped more than 20,000 clients. Total compensation paid out exceeds €4 million. The success rate on accepted cases is 98 %. 4.8/5 on Trustpilot (900+ reviews).

Airline rejected the claim. What now?

Airlines reject up to 60–80 % of claims filed directly by passengers. A large share of those rejections are unjustified. If it happens to you, contact us — we’ll review the case for free, and if the entitlement is there, we’ll escalate it legally at our own cost.