How to File an EU261 Claim and Get Flight Compensation

If you've ever experienced a flight delay or cancellation while traveling to or from Europe, you may be eligible for compensation under the European Union's EU261 regulation. But how exactly do you file an EU261 claim, and what can you do if the airline denies your request? In this blog post, we'll guide you through the claim process, provide resources for understanding the EU261 regulation, and introduce you to services like AirHelp that can assist you if you prefer not to handle the claim yourself.

What is EU261?

EU261 is a European Union regulation that protects passengers' rights in the event of significant flight delays, cancellations, or denied boarding. It applies to all flights within the EU, departing from the EU, or arriving in the EU on an EU-based airline.

Under EU261, passengers may be entitled to financial compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay. However, airlines are not required to compensate passengers if the disruption was caused by "extraordinary circumstances," such as extreme weather, air traffic control strikes, or security risks.

For more details on the official EU261 regulation, you can visit the European Commission's website.

How to File an EU261 Claim

Filing an EU261 claim directly with the airline is fairly straightforward, but the process can sometimes be slow and involve pushback from the airline. Here's a step-by-step guide to submitting your claim:

1. Check Eligibility

Before filing a claim, make sure your flight disruption qualifies for EU261 compensation. You can use online eligibility checkers offered by various companies, including AirHelp's free tool. Your flight must have been delayed by more than 3 hours, canceled with less than 14 days' notice, or overbooked, leading to denied boarding.

2. Gather Necessary Information

To file a claim, you'll need:

• Your flight details (flight number, booking reference, etc.)

• Proof of delay or cancellation (such as emails from the airline or screenshots - ALWAYS screenshot everything, the airline apps remove the information)

• Any receipts for expenses you incurred due to the delay (e.g., food, hotel costs)

3. Contact the Airline's Customer Service

Most airlines, including United Airlines, Lufthansa, and Ryanair, allow you to submit a claim directly through their websites. You'll typically find a "Customer Service" or "Claim Compensation" section where you can fill out a form and attach the required documents.

4. Follow Up

Once you've submitted your claim, the airline has a responsibility to investigate and respond within a reasonable period. However, this is where things can get tricky. Airlines may claim that the delay was due to "extraordinary circumstances" (such as weather or strikes), which would exempt them from paying compensation. EU261 regulations state that if other flights were able to get out, it is possible for your claim to go through.

5. Escalate to a National Enforcement Body (NEB)

If the airline denies your claim and you believe they’re wrong, you can escalate the issue to the National Enforcement Body (NEB) for the country where the disruption occurred. For example, if your flight was disrupted in France, you would contact France's NEB.

My Personal Experience: From Pushback to AirHelp

I recently encountered a frustrating situation when my flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles with United Airlines was delayed for over 5 hours on the tarmac, ultimately resulting in a flight cancellation that night. Believing I was eligible for compensation under EU261, I contacted United’s customer service team. After a handful of back-and-forth emails, United claimed that the delay was due to bad weather and therefore wasn’t covered under EU261. At first, I felt stuck—how could I prove otherwise?

Determined to pursue the claim, I handed the case over to AirHelp. AirHelp specializes in handling EU261 claims on behalf of passengers, and they only charge a fee if they successfully recover compensation for you. In my case, AirHelp would take 35% of any amount recovered if successful, and if they needed to take the case to court, they would take 50%. While giving up a portion of the compensation wasn’t ideal, I felt reassured knowing that experts were now handling my claim and that something was better than nothing. I knew I had exhausted all my efforts.

Unfortunately, after further investigation, AirHelp confirmed that United was right—the disruption was indeed weather-related and fell under the "extraordinary circumstances" clause of EU261, which meant no compensation was due. While this was disappointing, I appreciated having AirHelp’s expertise and knowing that I had done everything possible to fight the case. And because AirHelp wasn’t able to get me any money, I didn’t owe anything. Well worth the time because I was confident I now wasn’t leaving any money on the table - that’s one of my pet peeves!

Despite not receiving compensation through EU261, having travel insurance turned out to be a major relief. Travel insurance is an often-overlooked safeguard that can cover unexpected out-of-pocket expenses like hotel stays, meals, and rebooking flights when disruptions occur. Thanks to our travel insurance, we were able to claim our overnight hotel and food expenses for the canceled flight, which eliminated the financial burden of the unexpected delay. And the kids were elated that they got treats that mom wouldn’t normally pay for because I knew we were being reimbursed for all our food expenses.

For more information on AirHelp’s services and fees, you can visit their official website: here

What AirHelp Can Do for You

AirHelp offers a variety of services beyond just filing EU261 claims. Here’s how they can help you:

1. Flight Compensation Claims

AirHelp handles not just EU261 claims but also claims under similar regulations in other parts of the world, including the Montreal Convention, which governs compensation for delays and cancellations on international flights.

2. Legal Assistance

If the airline refuses to cooperate, AirHelp has a legal team ready to take the airline to court on your behalf. Their success rate in legal cases is high, meaning they can often recover compensation even when airlines initially refuse to pay.

3. Real-Time Flight Monitoring

AirHelp also monitors your flights in real time. If you're eligible for compensation due to a disruption, they notify you and start the claims process immediately, saving you the hassle of filing the claim yourself.

4. Airline Ranking and Reviews

AirHelp offers airline rankings and reviews to help passengers understand how different carriers perform in terms of customer service, flight punctuality, and compensation compliance.

Why Use AirHelp?

While filing an EU261 claim on your own is possible, there are several reasons why using AirHelp might be a better option:

• Expertise: Airlines often try to deny valid compensation claims by citing "extraordinary circumstances." AirHelp has a deep understanding of aviation law and can challenge these denials more effectively than the average passenger.

• Hassle-Free: If you're busy or don't want to spend hours on customer service calls, AirHelp handles everything for you, from submitting paperwork to fighting denials in court.

• No Win, No Fee: AirHelp only takes a portion of the compensation if they win your case. Their standard fee is around 35%, but it can go up to 50% if the case goes to court. While this may seem like a large cut, it's often better than receiving no compensation at all.

  
  

For more detailed information on AirHelp’s fees, services, and how they can assist you, check out their official website.

The Importance of Travel Insurance

While EU261 can provide financial relief in the event of flight disruptions, not every situation qualifies for compensation. As my own experience shows, weather-related cancellations and other "extraordinary circumstances" are exempt. This is where having travel insurance becomes invaluable. For more information about travel insurance and if it can help you or not see my post here.

Travel insurance can cover unexpected costs such as:

• Accommodation and meals during flight delays or cancellations

• Rebooking fees for missed connections

• Medical expenses if you fall ill or get injured during your trip

In my case, we were able to use our travel insurance to cover the cost of our overnight hotel stay and meals after our flight was canceled due to bad weather. This not only saved us from paying out-of-pocket expenses but also gave us peace of mind during a stressful situation.

Conclusion: Take Action and Get What You're Owed

Filing an EU261 claim can feel overwhelming, especially when airlines push back or claim that your flight delay or cancellation falls under "extraordinary circumstances." However, with the right knowledge and resources, you can take control and get the compensation you're entitled to.

Whether you choose to file the claim yourself or use a service like AirHelp, make sure you're aware of your rights as a passenger and don’t leave money on the table. For official details on your rights under EU261, refer to the European Commission’s official page. And if you'd like help navigating the process, AirHelp offers a stress-free alternative, ensuring you get something rather than nothing.

Finally, don’t forget to consider travel insurance as a safeguard for the costs that may not be covered by EU261. Whether it's an unexpected hotel stay or rebooking fees, insurance can be a lifesaver when travel plans go awry. For more information about travel insurance and if it can help you or not see my post here. I’m here to help you with the travel day logistics so you can focus on the good stuff CHASING MEMORIES.