Flight Delayed or Cancelled in France? Claim up to €600 EU261 Compensation

Q: How long do I have to claim in France?

In France, you have 5 years from the date of the flight to submit an EU261 compensation claim. This is one of the longest limitation periods in Europe. Even a flight from several years ago may still be eligible — check now.

Q: The airline hasn't replied after 2 months — what now?

In France, airlines are expected to respond within 2 months. If there is no reply or the claim is refused, you must go through mandatory mediation (MTV — Médiation Tourisme et Voyage) before taking the matter to court. This step is required under French Decree 2025-772.

Q: Is mediation mandatory before going to court in France?

Yes. Since Decree 2025-772, mediation is mandatory in France before any court action. You must first contact an accredited mediator such as the MTV (Médiation Tourisme et Voyage). If mediation fails, you can then bring the case before the Tribunal judiciaire.

Q: Can I claim for multiple passengers?

Yes. Each passenger is entitled to their own individual compensation. In France, combining claims in court is limited to passengers who are family members (up to the 4th degree), civil partners (PACS), or cohabiting partners. Claimy lets you generate a claim letter for multiple passengers in a single process.

Q: My flight departed France with a non-EU airline. Am I covered?

Yes. EU261 applies to any flight departing from a European airport, regardless of the airline. If your flight took off from a French airport (CDG, ORY, NCE, etc.), you are covered even if the airline is American, Asian or from any non-EU country.

Every passenger whose flight departs or arrives in France is protected by EU Regulation 261/2004. Delayed by 3+ hours, cancelled, advanced or denied boarding — you may be entitled to up to €600, and in France you have 5 years to claim.

When can you claim compensation?

✓
Delay of 3 hours or more at arrival — it's the actual arrival time that counts, not the departure delay.
✓
Cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure — without an adequate alternative offered.
✓
Flight brought forward by more than 1 hour — if your flight departed earlier than scheduled and you could not board.
✓
Involuntary denied boarding — overbooking or a document issue attributable to the airline.

How much compensation can you receive?

Flight distance	Compensation
Short-haul ≤ 1,500 km (e.g. Paris–Nice, Paris–London)	€250
Medium-haul 1,500–3,500 km or intra-EU (e.g. Paris–Athens, Paris–Lisbon)	€400
Long-haul > 3,500 km non-EU (e.g. Paris–New York, Paris–Dubai)	€600

The airline may reduce these amounts by 50% if it offered you an alternative route with a limited arrival delay.

Which flights departing or arriving in France are covered?

→ Any flight departing from a French airport (CDG, ORY, NCE, LYS, MRS, TLS…) — regardless of the airline
→ Any flight arriving in France operated by a European airline (EU, EEA or Switzerland)
→ Your nationality does not matter — coverage depends on the departure point and the airline

Limitation period in France: 5 years

5 years

In France, you have 5 years from the date of the flight to file an EU261 claim. This is one of the most favourable deadlines in Europe. Even flights from a few years ago may still be claimable.

Statutory interest rate 2026 (H1): 6.67% — applicable if the airline delays payment after a court ruling.

How to claim in France — step by step

1
Write a formal demand letter citing EU261, the exact compensation amount and a 2-month response deadline. Claimy generates this letter in 30 seconds.
2
Send it by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR) to the airline's registered office.
3
Wait 2 months for the airline's response.
4
If refused or no reply: mandatory mediation before court
Important — Decree 2025-772: in France, mediation is mandatory before any court action. You must first contact an accredited mediator such as the MTV (Médiation Tourisme et Voyage). If mediation fails, you may then bring the case before the Tribunal judiciaire.
5
Report to the DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile) — the French national enforcement authority for passenger rights — at any stage.

When is the airline exempt?

The airline can refuse to pay if it proves extraordinary circumstances — events it could not have avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken:

✗ Exceptional weather conditions (storm, extreme snow, hurricane)
✗ Air traffic control strike or airspace closure
✗ Political instability or natural disaster

Important: a technical fault, staff shortage or knock-on delay is not an extraordinary circumstance under established European case law. The burden of proof lies with the airline.

Why use Claimy instead of a claims handler?

Traditional compensation services (AirHelp, Flightright, etc.) charge 25–35% commission on your payout. On €600, that's up to €210 taken from you.

Claimy generates your claim letter in 30 seconds, at a fixed price — from €9.90 to €24.90 depending on the claim amount. You keep 100% of your compensation.

	Traditional claims handler	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

Check my eligibility →

Frequently asked questions — France

How long do I have to claim in France?

In France, you have 5 years from the date of the flight. This is one of the longest limitation periods in Europe. Even a flight from 4 years ago may still be eligible — check now.

The airline hasn't replied after 2 months — what now?

The expected response time in France is 2 months. If there is no reply or the claim is refused, you must go through mandatory mediation with an accredited mediator (such as the MTV) before you can go to court. Mediation is free for consumers.

Is mediation mandatory before going to court in France?

Yes. Since Decree 2025-772, mediation is mandatory in France before any court proceedings. You must first contact the MTV (Médiation Tourisme et Voyage). If mediation fails, you may then go to the Tribunal judiciaire.

Can I claim for multiple passengers?

Yes. Each passenger is entitled to their own compensation. In France, combining court claims is restricted to family members (up to 4th degree), civil partners (PACS) or cohabiting partners. Claimy lets you generate a letter for multiple passengers in one step.

My flight departed France with a non-EU airline. Am I covered?

Yes. EU261 applies to any flight departing from a European airport, regardless of the airline's nationality. If your flight took off from a French airport, you are covered.

Claim by country or airline

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2-minute form. Letter generated immediately. Fixed price. 5 years to act in France.

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