Roughly 85% of passengers never claim compensation they are entitled to, often because the rules feel designed to confuse. EC 261/2004 is simpler than airlines want you to believe. Here is what it actually guarantees.
Which flights are covered?
- Any flight departing from an EU airport, any airline, any nationality
- Flights arriving in the EU on an EU-based carrier
- Budget fares, reward tickets, and children's tickets all qualify
Three pillars of passenger protection
When a qualifying disruption occurs, you may have rights in three categories, and they stack:
- Fixed financial compensation (€250 / €400 / €600) for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding
- Choice of a full refund or re-routing to your destination
- Care during the wait, meals, drinks, hotel, and transport between airport and hotel
How long do you have to claim?
In most EU countries you have up to three years from the flight date. In the UK, generally six years (five in Scotland). The sooner you submit, the easier it is to gather evidence.
You do not need to be European or flying within Europe on holiday, a disrupted departure from Lisbon, Madrid, or Paris is enough.
Why most people never claim, and how we fix that
Airlines delay responses, reject valid claims, and hide behind legal jargon. Compensall closes the gap: upload your boarding pass, confirm your details, and let our assistant and human team handle the rest, on a no win, no fee basis.
