Flight delayed or cancelled?
You may be entitled to up to €600
Every year, millions of passengers experience flight delays and cancellations without ever claiming the compensation they're legally entitled to. EU Regulation 261/2004 protects you — here's how to use it.
When can you claim compensation?
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✓
Arrival delay of 3 hours or more — what matters is when you actually land, not when you took off.
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✓
Cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure — without an adequate alternative offered.
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Flight brought forward by more than 1 hour — if your flight departed earlier than scheduled and you couldn't board.
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✓
Involuntary denied boarding — overbooking, or a documentation issue caused by the airline.
How much can you receive?
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Short-haul ≤ 1,500 km (e.g. Paris–Nice, Brussels–Amsterdam) | €250 |
| Medium-haul 1,500–3,500 km or intra-EU (e.g. Paris–Athens, Brussels–Lisbon) | €400 |
| Long-haul > 3,500 km outside EU (e.g. Paris–New York, Brussels–Dubai) | €600 |
The airline may reduce these amounts by 50% if they offered a rerouting with a limited arrival delay.
Which flights are covered by EU261?
- → Any flight departing from a European airport — regardless of the airline
- → Any flight arriving at a European airport operated by an EU, EEA or Swiss airline
- → Your nationality doesn't matter — only your country of residence determines access to Claimy
When is the airline exempt?
Airlines can refuse to pay if they prove extraordinary circumstances — events that could not have been foreseen or avoided:
- ✗ Severe weather conditions (storm, extreme snow)
- ✗ Air traffic control strike or airspace closure
- ✗ Political instability or natural disaster
How long do you have to claim?
How to claim effectively
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1
Write a formal demand letter — citing the relevant regulations, the exact amount, and a response deadline. This is what Claimy generates in 30 seconds.
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2
Send it by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt to the airline's registered office.
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3
Wait for their response — 2 months in France, 3–4 weeks in Belgium.
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If refused or no reply: escalate to the national authority (DGAC in France, SPF Mobilité in Belgium), then the mediator, and finally court if needed.
Why use Claimy?
Traditional compensation services (AirHelp, Flightright, etc.) take 25–35% commission on your compensation. On €600, that's up to €210 taken away from you.
Claimy generates your claim letter in 30 seconds, for a flat fee — from €9.90 to €24.90 depending on the amount at stake. You keep 100% of your compensation.
| Traditional service | Claimy | |
|---|---|---|
| On €250 | You receive ~€175 | You receive €240.10 |
| On €400 | You receive ~€280 | You receive €385.10 |
| On €600 | You receive ~€420 | You receive €575.10 |
Frequently asked questions
My flight was delayed by 2.5 hours — does that qualify?
No. The threshold is 3 hours of delay at arrival (not departure). If the pilot made up time during the flight, it's the actual landing time that counts.
The airline offered me a voucher instead of cash. Do I have to accept it?
No. You can always refuse a voucher and demand cash payment. A voucher must be explicitly offered and accepted — it does not replace your right to financial compensation.
What if the airline doesn't respond?
After the deadline (2 months in France, 3–4 weeks in Belgium), escalate to the national authority: DGAC in France, SPF Mobilité in Belgium. Then the mediator if needed, and finally court.
We were several passengers on the same flight. Can we each claim?
Yes, each passenger is entitled to their own individual compensation. Claimy lets you generate a letter for multiple passengers in one go.
My flight was 4 years ago. Is it too late?
In France, no — the deadline is 5 years. In Belgium, if the flight is more than 1 year ago, you are unfortunately outside the legal time limit.
Ready to claim your compensation?
2-minute form. Letter generated instantly. Flat fee.
Start on Claimy →