Flight delay or cancellation compensation claim (EU261 / UK261)
Last updated: October 2026 · Reviewed by the VolClaim editorial team (method, in French)
In short: if your flight was cancelled at short notice or you arrived 3 hours or more late, you may claim €250, €400 or €600 per passenger (UK261: £220, £350 or £520) from the airline, unless it proves extraordinary circumstances. Legal basis: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and UK261.
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 |
When can you claim?
Cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure without a suitable re-routing; arrival delay of 3 hours or more; denied boarding (overbooking). In every cancellation case you are also entitled to a refund or re-routing, plus meals, accommodation and transport while waiting.
When the airline can refuse
Extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided despite all reasonable measures: severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security risks. Ordinary technical problems or staff shortages generally do not qualify.
How to file a claim
The simplest way is to entrust your claim to VolClaim from the start. We check your eligibility for free, prepare the claim with the right documents, file it through the airline's official channel and follow it up until payment. All you need is your booking confirmation and boarding pass. In France the limitation period is generally 5 years; it varies by country.
Fee: 25% including VAT of compensation recovered out of court, charged only if you are compensated. If court action becomes necessary, our total fee is capped at 50% including VAT. It covers all procedural costs (court fees, lawyer, judicial officer), which we advance and bear. If the proceedings fail, you pay nothing. Procedural costs awarded against the airline (legal costs, Article 700 of the French Code of Civil Procedure) are retained by us. Estimate my compensation.
FAQ
How much compensation can I claim? €250, €400 or €600 per passenger under EU261 depending on distance.
Is a 3-hour delay enough? Yes, measured at arrival at your final destination.
What if the airline says extraordinary circumstances? It must prove them; technical faults and crew shortages generally are not enough.
Who is behind VolClaim? TETRIS GROUP LLC. See trust and transparency.