Frequently asked flight-compensation questions

Regulation 2026/261 is published in EUR-Lex, but the substantive rules take effect only after a transition period. Until the final, consolidated text sets an unambiguous date of application, we treat the exact entry into force as not established. What governs your claim is the date of the flight disruption: a disruption today is judged against EU 261/2004.

Source: EU 261 new rules 2026: what changes with Regulation 2026/261

The amounts of €250, €400 and €600 (roughly SEK 2,800, 4,500 and 6,800) remain in the texts published so far. EUR is the legal unit and the krona figures are approximate. The reform does not change the size of the compensation — it changes the definitions and the process that decide when and how it is paid out.

Source: EU 261 new rules 2026: what changes with Regulation 2026/261

EU 261/2004. For a flight delayed, cancelled or overbooked today, the current regulation applies, regardless of when you file the claim. Regulation 2026/261 governs only the disruptions that occur after the reform rules have taken effect.

Source: EU 261 new rules 2026: what changes with Regulation 2026/261

This is the most debated point in the reform and the reporting diverges. The Council of the EU position from June 2025 wanted to raise the threshold for shorter flights. Later Swedish reporting (Transportforetagen, January 2026) states that three hours remains. Until the consolidated text in EUR-Lex is unambiguous, we treat the threshold as not established.

Source: EU 261 new rules 2026: what changes with Regulation 2026/261

No. This page is about the air-travel reform, Regulation 2026/261. The EU has separate rules for rail passenger rights. If you search for "new passenger rights directive" you can land in the rail rules — that is a different set of rules with different amounts and conditions.

Source: EU 261 new rules 2026: what changes with Regulation 2026/261

You are entitled to compensation if the flight arrived more than three hours late, was cancelled with less than 14 days notice, or if you were denied boarding because of overbooking — and if the trip departed from an EU airport or was flown into the EU by an EU-based airline. The compensation is €250, €400 or €600 depending on the distance. It falls away only if the airline can show that the disruption was caused by an extraordinary circumstance.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

Compensation is a fixed flat amount — €250 to €600 — for the inconvenience of a disrupted trip. A refund is getting the ticket price back when you choose not to travel. They are two separate rights. With a cancelled flight you can be entitled to both at once: the ticket money back and compensation for the inconvenience.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

Three hours. If you arrive at your final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, that is treated as equivalent to a cancelled flight for the purpose of compensation. The rule was settled by the Court of Justice of the EU in the joined Sturgeon cases (C-402/07 and C-432/07). It is the arrival time that counts, not the departure time.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

The regulation covers every flight departing from an airport inside the EU regardless of the airline, plus flights arriving into the EU if they are operated by an EU-based airline. A flight from Stockholm to New York is covered. A flight from New York to Stockholm is covered if it is operated by an EU airline, but not if it is operated by a non-European one.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

Then it comes down to extraordinary circumstances. Extreme weather and strikes by air traffic control or airport staff are normally treated as circumstances outside the airline control, and the cash compensation falls away. A strike by the airline own staff, on the other hand, is usually grounds for compensation. The duty of care — meals, drinks and a hotel if needed — applies regardless, even when the compensation falls away.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

No. EU 261/2004 is the regulation that applies today. Regulation (EU) 2026/261 is the revised successor, published in EUR-Lex but with substantive rules taking effect after a transition period. Which set of rules governs your claim is decided by the date of the disruption. For a flight disrupted now, 261/2004 still applies.

Source: EU 261: air passenger rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding

It is not settled. The Council of the EU position from June 2025 wanted to raise the threshold for shorter flights. Later Swedish reporting (Transportforetagen, January 2026) states that three hours remains regardless of distance. Until the consolidated text in EUR-Lex is unambiguous, we treat the threshold as not established.

Source: EU 261 2026: new delay thresholds — what changes compared with 261/2004

Three hours. For a flight disrupted today, EU 261/2004 and the 3-hour rule from the Court of Justice Sturgeon ruling apply. A possible new threshold in Regulation 2026/261 affects only disruptions that occur after the reform rules have taken effect.

Source: EU 261 2026: new delay thresholds — what changes compared with 261/2004

From arrival. It is how late you reach your final destination that decides, not how late the plane took off. A flight that takes off late but makes up the time and lands on schedule pays no compensation. That principle applies under 261/2004 and is not changed by the reform.

Source: EU 261 2026: new delay thresholds — what changes compared with 261/2004

The threshold is a hard line: if the arrival falls one minute under it, no compensation is due. That is exactly why it matters where the reform sets the limit. Until the level is established in consolidated text, three hours applies to every disruption occurring now. Always document the actual arrival time.

Source: EU 261 2026: new delay thresholds — what changes compared with 261/2004

No. For a flight disrupted today, EU 261/2004 still applies. Regulation 2026/261 is published in EUR-Lex but the substantive rules take effect after a transition period. Which set of rules governs your claim is decided by the date of the disruption, not by when you file the claim.

Source: EU 261 2026: new definitions — what changes compared with 261/2004

The amounts of €250/€400/€600 (roughly SEK 2,800/4,500/6,800) remain in the texts published so far. EUR is the legal unit; the krona figures are approximate and vary with the exchange rate. What changes is not the size of the compensation but the definitions that decide when it is triggered.

Source: EU 261 2026: new definitions — what changes compared with 261/2004

Compensation is a fixed flat amount for the inconvenience — €250 to €600. A refund is getting the ticket price back when you no longer want to travel. They are two separate rights and 2026/261 keeps them apart the same way 261/2004 does. You can in some cases be entitled to both.

Source: EU 261 2026: new definitions — what changes compared with 261/2004

The threshold for when a delay gives the right to compensation is the point in the reform where the reporting diverges. The Council of the EU position from June 2025 wanted to raise the threshold for shorter flights; later Swedish reporting (Transportforetagen, January 2026) states that three hours remains. Until the final consolidated text in EUR-Lex is unambiguous, we treat the threshold as not established — see our page on the new delay thresholds.

Source: EU 261 2026: new definitions — what changes compared with 261/2004

The reform does not change the compensation amounts — it changes how a claim is handled. Regulation 2026/261 aims to set clearer response deadlines for airlines and stronger duties to handle claims correctly. The exact shape of those deadlines depends on the final text in EUR-Lex and should not be stated as settled yet.

Source: EU 261 in 2026: the new claim process — what changes compared to 261/2004

The reform discusses stronger duties for airlines to inform passengers about compensation and to handle it more actively. How far such a duty reaches in the final text is not yet clear-cut. Until it is, you should assume that you file the claim yourself — do not wait for the airline to get in touch.

Source: EU 261 in 2026: the new claim process — what changes compared to 261/2004

EU 261/2004 and today’s process: you contact the airline first, and if it says no you can turn to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden — the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes). Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) is the supervisory authority. That route is free for you as a consumer and is not affected by the reform for a disruption that happens today.

Source: EU 261 in 2026: the new claim process — what changes compared to 261/2004

No. The free official route remains. You can still bring a dispute to ARN at no cost, and Transportstyrelsen remains the supervisory authority for air passenger rights in Sweden. The reform aims to strengthen the process, not to remove the free review routes.

Source: EU 261 in 2026: the new claim process — what changes compared to 261/2004

The duty of care — the airline’s obligation to provide meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel during a longer disruption — remains in the reform and is clarified. It applies even when the cash compensation falls away because of an extraordinary circumstance. If you accept a refund of the ticket, however, the duty of care ends.

Source: EU 261 in 2026: the new claim process — what changes compared to 261/2004

As a simplified small-claims case (claim under 23,250 SEK in 2026) the application fee is 900 SEK according to Sveriges Domstolar (the Swedish courts). As an ordinary civil case the fee is 2,800 SEK. In a simplified small-claims case the other side's legal costs that you can be forced to pay if you lose are sharply limited — in practice the application fee plus one hour of legal advice per party (Chapter 18 Section 8 a of the Swedish Code of Judicial Procedure). In an ordinary civil case the loser bears the other side's full legal costs, which is the cost risk that pushes many difficult cases to a service instead.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

In a simplified small-claims case the risk is small — typically your own 900 SEK application fee plus a capped amount for the other side's legal advice. In an ordinary civil case the risk is real; there you can be ordered to pay the airline's full legal costs, which easily land at tens of thousands of kronor. That is why EU 261 cases above the simplified-track threshold are usually handed to a service on a no-win-no-fee model rather than pursued on your own.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

Expect six to twelve months for a simplified small-claims case from the statement of claim to judgment, sometimes longer if a main hearing is required. Ordinary civil cases regularly take longer. It is hard work but you have plenty of time — the limitation period for an EU 261 claim in Sweden is ten years under the Statute of Limitations (1981:130), confirmed by the Court of Justice in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11).

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

No, not in a simplified small-claims case. The whole small-claims procedure is designed so that private individuals can run cases themselves without representation — you fill in the statement of claim on the Swedish courts' form, pay 900 SEK and handle the written exchange and hearing yourself. The district court has a duty of procedural guidance and steers both parties. In an ordinary civil case representation is in practice necessary, which is one of the reasons cases above 23,250 SEK are often handed to a service.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

Then your claim becomes an unsecured debt in the bankruptcy estate and in practice is usually worthless. This is not theoretical: Flyr (2022) and several smaller European carriers have gone bankrupt with EU 261 claims unpaid. It is one of the few situations where winning on the merits does not help. Pursue the claim while the airline is alive — do not sit out the ten-year limitation period if the carrier's financial position looks weak.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

As a single journey, for the purpose of calculating the delay. The Court of Justice settled this in Folkerts (C-11/11) and confirmed it in Wegener (C-537/17): a booking with a connecting flight is treated as one continuous journey, and the delay is measured at the final destination. This matters in court because airlines repeatedly try to segment the trip — claiming the first leg was on time and that the delay only "arose" at the transfer. The court follows EU case law; the segmentation argument does not win.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

The limitation period is governed by the forum country, not by where the airline is based. If you sue in Sweden (where the carrier has the departure or destination point, cf. the Brussels Regulation) Swedish limitation law applies — ten years. In the United Kingdom it is six years (Limitation Act 1980), in Germany three years (BGB § 195). It is one of the few cases where it pays to hold on to your Swedish forum: a longer deadline means more time to try to resolve the matter amicably before court becomes necessary.

Source: Flight compensation in court — how to take your EU 261 case to the district court

Visby to Stockholm is around 220 km — well under 1,500 km — so the domestic flight sits in the lowest tier of EU 261: EUR 250 per passenger (roughly SEK 2,800) for a delay of more than three hours on arrival at the final destination. If your Visby flight is a connection via Arlanda to a longer final destination, the whole journey counts and the amount can rise to EUR 400 or EUR 600.

Source: Delayed Flight from Visby (VBY) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

As a rule, yes. Heavy traffic volume, fully booked aircraft and under-resourced staffing are not extraordinary circumstances — they are operational choices made by the airline and the airport operator. When summer traffic at Visby is roughly three times the off-season level and the carrier has not planned for it, the resulting delay is normally compensable under EU 261/2004.

Source: Delayed Flight from Visby (VBY) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

The airline has two separate duties. The first is re-routing or a refund — you can choose to be re-routed onto the next available flight (including with another carrier) or get the ticket price back. The second is the duty of care under Article 9: meals, drinks and, for an overnight delay, hotel and transport. If the Destination Gotland ferry runs the same evening or the next morning, you can ask the airline whether they will cover the ferry ticket as part of the re-routing — that is not guaranteed by the regulation, but it does happen in practice. Taking the ferry at your own cost is a legitimate choice; keep the receipts if you plan to claim back the additional expense.

Source: Delayed Flight from Visby (VBY) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

First, send a clear written claim to the airline with the flight number, date, booking reference, documented delay and the amount you are asking for (EUR 250–600). If you get a no, or no reply within a reasonable time, you can refer the case free of charge to Allmänna reklamationsnämnden (ARN), the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory authority and accepts reports about systemic failures at the carrier.

Source: Delayed Flight from Visby (VBY) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

In Sweden, ten years. The Court of Justice of the EU left the limitation question to national law in Cuadrench Moré (Case C-139/11), and the Swedish Limitation Act gives ten years for this kind of claim. Claims of two or three years circulate, but they do not apply here.

Source: Delayed Flight from Visby (VBY) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Umeå to Stockholm is around 600 km — under 1,500 km, and therefore in the lowest EU 261 tier: EUR 250 per passenger (roughly SEK 2,800) for a delay of more than three hours on arrival at the final destination. If the Umeå flight is a connection via Arlanda to a longer final destination, the whole journey counts, and the amount can rise to EUR 400 or EUR 600 depending on the total distance.

Source: Delayed Flight from Umeå (UME) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

It depends. Snowfall in itself is weather and can be an extraordinary circumstance — but de-icing the aircraft is the airline's ordinary operational responsibility. If other flights left more or less on time and yours was badly delayed because of a queue for de-icing, too few de-icing trucks or poor planning, this is no longer a pure weather case, and compensation can be due. The burden of proof sits with the airline.

Source: Delayed Flight from Umeå (UME) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

First, send a clear written claim to the airline with the flight number, date, booking reference, documented delay and the amount you are asking for (EUR 250–600). If you get a no, or no reply within a reasonable time, you can refer the case free of charge to Allmänna reklamationsnämnden (ARN), the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory authority and accepts reports about systemic failures at an airline.

Source: Delayed Flight from Umeå (UME) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

In Sweden, ten years. The Court of Justice of the EU left the limitation question to national law in Cuadrench Moré (Case C-139/11), and the Swedish Limitation Act gives ten years for this type of claim. Claims of two or three years circulate but do not apply here.

Source: Delayed Flight from Umeå (UME) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Yes. The duty of care under Article 9 of EU 261/2004 applies whatever the cause — it does not fall away because of weather. The airline must offer meals and drinks during the wait, two free calls or messages, and, for a delay overnight, a hotel and transport to and from the hotel.

Source: Delayed Flight from Umeå (UME) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Yes. EU 261/2004 applies to every airport within the EU regardless of size — a departure from Sundsvall-Timrå is covered in exactly the same way as a departure from Arlanda. What may differ is the amount: with EU flight distances up to 1,500 km, almost every Sundsvall departure lands in the €250 band. It is still money you are entitled to if the airline is responsible for a delay of more than three hours.

Source: Sundsvall-Timrå flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from SDL

BRA Sverige (Braathens Regional Airlines) has been through recent financial difficulties and the company's structure has shifted. We do not state any current operational or insolvency status here, because the situation can change and a page that pretends to know more than it does is not helpful. Check the company's current status with Bolagsverket (the Swedish Companies Registration Office) or Konsumentverket (the Swedish Consumer Agency) before relying on older guidance. The principle is this: as long as the airline is operating normally, you claim in the ordinary way. If an airline becomes insolvent, the claim becomes an unsecured debt in the bankruptcy estate — the right remains, but payment is uncertain and must be registered with the bankruptcy trustee within their time window, which is considerably shorter than the ten-year EU 261 limitation period.

Source: Sundsvall-Timrå flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from SDL

Not automatically. Winter weather in Norrland is expected, and brief de-icing or normal snow clearance is part of ordinary operations — it is not in itself an extraordinary circumstance. An extreme snowstorm, a closed runway or a safety stop can, however, count as extraordinary. Always ask for the precise cause of the disruption in writing. The duty of care remains regardless: meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel.

Source: Sundsvall-Timrå flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from SDL

First submit the claim to the operating airline's customer service. If the airline says no or fails to reply within a reasonable time, you can turn to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute at no cost. Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) is the supervisory authority for air passenger rights in Sweden and accepts reports of systematic breaches of the regulation.

Source: Sundsvall-Timrå flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from SDL

In Sweden the limitation period for EU 261 claims is ten years under the general rules of prescription. The Court of Justice of the EU confirmed in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11) that the national general limitation period applies — not the shorter two-year limit in the Montreal Convention. For a claim against a company that has become insolvent, however, the bankruptcy trustee's own registration deadlines apply, and these are considerably shorter — act on that as soon as you become aware of an insolvency.

Source: Sundsvall-Timrå flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from SDL

Yes. Skavsta is an airport inside the EU and every departure from it is covered by EU Regulation 261/2004, regardless of which airline operates the flight. It does not matter whether the operator is Ryanair, Wizz Air or anyone else — as long as the departure airport sits within the EU, the regulation and its €250–€600 amounts apply.

Source: Skavsta flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Stockholm Skavsta (NYO)

First submit the claim through Ryanair's own EU 261 form on ryanair.com. If the airline says no or fails to reply within a reasonable time, you can take the dispute to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews cases at no cost. Ryanair also points UK passengers to AviationADR (a British ADR body operated by CDRL Limited) as an escalation route. Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) is the supervisory authority for air passenger rights in Sweden.

Source: Skavsta flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Stockholm Skavsta (NYO)

No, not from the airline. EU 261 only covers disruptions for which the airline is responsible. A late connecting coach is a matter between you and the bus operator and falls outside the regulation. You may, however, have a separate claim against Flygbussarna under general consumer rules — contact Konsumentverket (the Swedish Consumer Agency) or the bus operator directly to learn how that works.

Source: Skavsta flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Stockholm Skavsta (NYO)

Extreme weather is normally classed as an extraordinary circumstance, in which case the flat compensation falls away. But "snow" on its own is not automatically extraordinary — winter weather is expected in Sweden and brief de-icing is part of normal operations. Ask for the precise cause in writing. And remember that the duty of care still applies even when the compensation does not: the airline must provide meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel.

Source: Skavsta flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Stockholm Skavsta (NYO)

In Sweden the limitation period for EU 261 claims is ten years under the general rules of prescription. The Court of Justice of the EU confirmed in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11) that the national general limitation period applies, not the shorter two-year limit of the Montreal Convention. You have plenty of time — but documentation fades, so start collecting the paperwork right away.

Source: Skavsta flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Stockholm Skavsta (NYO)

Yes. EU 261 applies to every flight that departs from an airport within the EU, whether the ticket is charter, part of a package holiday or a scheduled fare. For a long delay or a cancelled flight, it is the operating airline — not the travel agent — that is responsible under the regulation. For package holidays you also have separate rights against the tour operator under the Swedish package travel act (paketreselagen), but the fixed EU 261 compensation always comes from the airline.

Source: Malmö Airport flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Sturup (MMX)

Yes. Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH) sits in Denmark, an EU member state, and every departure from it is covered by EU 261. The claim is then brought against the operating airline under the same rules as from Sweden. If the airline is Scandinavian, a Swedish dispute is normally reviewed by ARN in Sweden; for foreign carriers a Danish or other body may take the case — though ARN will receive the complaint and refer it onward where needed.

Source: Malmö Airport flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Sturup (MMX)

The fixed EU 261 compensation is always pursued against the operating airline, not the tour operator — even when the ticket was bought as a package holiday. If the operator is Sunclass Airlines, TUI fly Nordic or similar, the claim goes there. At the same time the tour operator may have a parallel obligation under paketreselagen (the Swedish package travel act) — contact Konsumentverket (the Swedish Consumer Agency) for how the two rights sit alongside each other.

Source: Malmö Airport flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Sturup (MMX)

Heavy thunderstorms and storms are normally classed as extraordinary circumstances, in which case the flat compensation falls away. But the duty of care remains: the airline must still offer meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel. Always ask for the precise cause of the disruption in writing — "weather" on its own is not a sufficient rejection.

Source: Malmö Airport flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Sturup (MMX)

In Sweden the limitation period is ten years under the general rules of prescription. The Court of Justice of the EU confirmed in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11) that the national general limitation period applies to EU 261 claims, not the shorter limit in the Montreal Convention. You have plenty of time — but documentation fades, so start collecting the paperwork early.

Source: Malmö Airport flight compensation: EU 261 rights for delayed and cancelled flights from Sturup (MMX)

The flat rate follows the flight distance, not the ticket price. Luleå to Stockholm is around 750 km — well under 1,500 km — so the domestic flight sits in the lowest tier: EUR 250 per passenger (roughly SEK 2,800) for a delay of more than three hours on arrival at the final destination. If your Luleå flight is a connection via Arlanda to a longer final destination, however, the whole journey counts and the amount can rise to EUR 400 or EUR 600. The amount is the same for every passenger on the booking, adult or child.

Source: Delayed Flight from Luleå (LLA) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

First, send a clear written claim straight to the airline with the flight number, date, booking reference, documented delay and the amount you are asking for (EUR 250–600). If you get a no, or no reply within a reasonable time, you can refer the case free of charge to Allmänna reklamationsnämnden (ARN), the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes, which handles consumer disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory authority and accepts reports about systemic failures at an airline — it does not rule on your individual claim, but can act on patterns.

Source: Delayed Flight from Luleå (LLA) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

No. The fact that it is cold or snowing in Norrbotten is not in itself an extraordinary circumstance — it is normal for the place and the season. What releases the airline is a concrete event beyond its control: the airport closed by Swedavia, the runway unusable, visibility below operational minima, or F21 military activity that temporarily shuts the field. Long de-icing queues, too few de-icing trucks or missed crew planning are the airline's own responsibility — and there, compensation can still be due.

Source: Delayed Flight from Luleå (LLA) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

In Sweden, ten years. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Cuadrench Moré (Case C-139/11) that the limitation period for EU 261 claims is governed by national law, and the Swedish Limitation Act gives ten years for this type of claim. You sometimes hear that it is two or three years — that is not correct in Sweden. Do not wait, though, because the evidence position worsens fast: keep your boarding pass, delay confirmations and any correspondence right away.

Source: Delayed Flight from Luleå (LLA) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

No. Luleå Airport shares its runway with the Swedish Armed Forces' F21 wing, and when military traffic or an exercise closes the field that is a government decision beyond the airline's control — an extraordinary circumstance under Article 5(3) of EU 261/2004. The duty of care remains, however: the airline must offer meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel even when cash compensation does not apply. Ask for a concrete explanation in the refusal email; a vague reference to "operational reasons" is not evidence.

Source: Delayed Flight from Luleå (LLA) — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

The amount is EUR 250, 400 or 600 (roughly SEK 2,800, 4,500 or 6,800) depending on flight distance. Landvetter–Copenhagen or Landvetter–Stockholm gives EUR 250. Landvetter–Amsterdam, London or Frankfurt gives EUR 400. An intercontinental connection over 3,500 km — Gothenburg via Schiphol to New York or Bangkok — gives EUR 600 if the whole journey is booked on a single ticket. The delay is measured at arrival at the final destination and must be at least three hours.

Source: Landvetter Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

The claim is directed at the operating carrier, not at Swedavia or Landvetter. You submit it via the airline's passenger rights form with the flight number, date and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. If you get a no or no reply, you can take the matter further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory body in Sweden.

Source: Landvetter Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

It depends on how extreme the weather actually was. Extreme weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline's control and removes the right to compensation. Normal winter weather with snow and de-icing, on the other hand, is part of operations at a northern airport and is not automatically extraordinary (CJEU Wallentin-Hermann, C-549/07). The airline pointing to "the weather" does not settle the matter — ask for the cause in writing and review it.

Source: Landvetter Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Yes. If the whole journey was booked on a single ticket it counts as a single continuous journey under EU 261, and what decides is the delay at arrival to your final destination — not at Schiphol. The CJEU confirmed this principle for single-booking connections in Wegener (C-537/17). If the final delay was at least three hours and the cause lay within KLM's control, you are entitled to compensation for the whole route. The amount is calculated on the total distance from Landvetter to the final destination.

Source: Landvetter Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

In Sweden the general limitation period of ten years applies to EU 261 claims, following the CJEU ruling in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11), which refers the question back to national limitation law. That means you can claim compensation for a flight from Landvetter up to ten years ago. If the airline cites a shorter deadline in its own terms, the Swedish ten-year period takes precedence.

Source: Landvetter Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

The amount is normally EUR 250 (roughly SEK 2,800), because Bromma handles almost exclusively short domestic routes under 1,500 km — Visby, Malmö, Halmstad, Ängelholm, Umeå. On a longer route, if one applies, the amount can be EUR 400. The delay is measured at arrival at the final destination and must be at least three hours.

Source: Bromma Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

The claim is directed at the operating carrier — that is, the airline whose flight number you actually flew on — not at Swedavia or Bromma. You submit it via the airline's passenger rights form with the flight number, date and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. If you get a no or no reply, you can take the matter further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory body in Sweden.

Source: Bromma Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

BRA Braathens Regional was put into bankruptcy in late 2024. The operation was partially rescued by SAS, and some flights under the BRA brand have been resumed with SAS as the main actor. Legally this is not trivial: claims for flights operated before the bankruptcy order are debts in the bankruptcy estate — the right still exists but the payout is uncertain. Claims for flights operated after the restructuring are directed at the airline that actually operated the flight. If in doubt, ask for written confirmation of which legal entity was the operating carrier.

Source: Bromma Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

No. The question of Bromma's long-term operation is a political matter; your rights under EU 261/2004 are not affected by it. As long as a flight is operated from Bromma, the regulation applies to that flight, regardless of what happens to the airport in future. If Bromma were to close, it would not affect a claim for a flight that was operated before the closure.

Source: Bromma Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

In Sweden the general limitation period of ten years applies to EU 261 claims, following the CJEU ruling in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11), which refers the question back to national limitation law. That means you can claim compensation for a flight from Bromma up to ten years ago. Note, however: if the claim relates to an airline that has gone into bankruptcy, it is the proof-of-claim deadline in the bankruptcy estate — not the limitation period — that becomes the practical cut-off for actually being paid out.

Source: Bromma Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

The amount is EUR 250, 400 or 600 (roughly SEK 2,800, 4,500 or 6,800) depending on flight distance. A short flight from Arlanda within Scandinavia or to Copenhagen normally gives EUR 250. Arlanda to London, Rome or Málaga gives EUR 400. An intercontinental route over 3,500 km — Arlanda to New York or Bangkok — gives EUR 600. The delay is measured at arrival at the final destination and must be at least three hours.

Source: Arlanda Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

The claim is always directed at the operating carrier, not at Swedavia or Arlanda. You submit it via the airline's passenger rights form with the flight number, date and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. If you get a no or no reply, you can take the matter further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. Transportstyrelsen, the Swedish Transport Agency, is the supervisory body and can give guidance on systematic problems.

Source: Arlanda Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

In Sweden the general limitation period of ten years applies to EU 261 claims, following the CJEU ruling in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11), which refers the question back to national limitation law. That means you can claim compensation for a flight that was delayed up to ten years ago. Airlines sometimes cite shorter deadlines in their own terms — the Swedish ten-year period takes precedence.

Source: Arlanda Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Not automatically. De-icing counts as normal winter operations at a northern airport and is not by itself an extraordinary circumstance, regardless of the fact that Swedavia handles the de-icing itself. The CJEU established in Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07) that events forming part of an airline's normal operations are not extraordinary. A long de-icing queue is a nuisance but usually manageable — if the airline cites de-icing as the reason for not paying, ask for the cause in writing and review it.

Source: Arlanda Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Yes. EU 261/2004 applies to all flights departing from an airport within the EU, regardless of the airline's home country. That means an SAS flight to Gothenburg, a KLM flight to Amsterdam, a Norwegian flight to New York and a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt are all covered when they leave Arlanda. On the return leg from an airport outside the EU, the regulation only applies if the operating carrier is an EU airline.

Source: Arlanda Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Yes. The right to care — meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel — applies regardless of the cause of the delay. It is separate from financial compensation. Even when the airline does not have to pay compensation because the delay was caused by an extraordinary circumstance such as extreme weather or an air traffic control strike, the duty to look after you during the wait still stands.

Source: Right to Care: Meals and a Hotel During a Flight Delay — the Duty That Always Applies

Yes. If the airline does not offer the care you are entitled to, you may buy what is reasonably necessary yourself — food, drink and, if needed, a hotel room — and claim the cost back afterwards. Save every receipt. The claim is sent in writing to the airline with a reference to Article 9 of EU 261/2004. Keep your spending moderate and proportionate to the situation.

Source: Right to Care: Meals and a Hotel During a Flight Delay — the Duty That Always Applies

The right to care phases in according to the length of the wait and the flight distance, with the threshold at roughly two hours for the shortest flights and longer waits for longer routes. A hotel becomes relevant when the delay means you have to wait overnight. The scale of the meals should be in reasonable proportion to how long you wait.

Source: Right to Care: Meals and a Hotel During a Flight Delay — the Duty That Always Applies

No, they are two separate rights. The right to care under Article 9 is practical help during the wait — meals, a hotel, transport, a way to get in touch. Compensation under Article 7 is a fixed amount of EUR 250 to 600 for the disruption itself. You may be entitled to both at once, or only to care if the delay was caused by an extraordinary circumstance.

Source: Right to Care: Meals and a Hotel During a Flight Delay — the Duty That Always Applies

Find the airline staff or desk and explicitly ask for the meal vouchers and hotel booking you are entitled to under Article 9. If you get no help, document the situation — photograph the departure board, note the times — and buy what is reasonably necessary yourself against a receipt. Also ask for a written statement of the cause of the delay; you will need it later if you also want to claim compensation.

Source: Right to Care: Meals and a Hotel During a Flight Delay — the Duty That Always Applies

What matters is not that one leg was delayed, but how late you ultimately reached your final destination. If you arrived less than three hours late — because the margin between the flights was generous, or because you were re-routed onto an early next flight — there is normally no right to compensation, even if one of the flights was itself late. It is the arrival delay at the final destination that counts.

Source: Missed connecting flight: are you entitled to compensation? The two-test rule

Yes, it is often the whole difference. If the legs were on one and the same booking, the journey is assessed as a single connected whole, and the delay is measured at the final destination. If you booked the flights separately with different airlines, each flight is assessed on its own — and if you miss the connection because the first flight was a little late, you normally have no claim against the second airline, which kept its schedule.

Source: Missed connecting flight: are you entitled to compensation? The two-test rule

With a single booking, the claim is directed at the airline that operated the flight — the operating air carrier responsible for the journey. If it is a single booking with several airlines, the claim is in practice directed at the airline whose flight caused the miss. With separate tickets, any claim is directed at the airline whose flight was actually delayed or cancelled.

Source: Missed connecting flight: are you entitled to compensation? The two-test rule

The same ladder as with other EU 261 disruptions: €250 (about SEK 2,800), €400 (about SEK 4,500) or €600 (about SEK 6,800) depending on the whole journey's flight distance — measured from the first departure point to the final destination, not per leg. EUR is the legal unit; the SEK figures are approximate.

Source: Missed connecting flight: are you entitled to compensation? The two-test rule

EU 261/2004 applies to flights departing from an airport within the EU, regardless of airline, and to flights into the EU with an EU-based airline. If your whole single-booking journey is such a journey, it is covered even if the layover itself is outside the EU. What matters is where the journey begins and which airline operates it, not where the connection takes place.

Source: Missed connecting flight: are you entitled to compensation? The two-test rule

EU 261 gives a fixed flat-rate sum — €250, €400 or €600 — when you arrive at least 3 hours late at the final destination and the cause lay within the airline's control. The amount depends on the length of the flight, not on what the ticket cost. The compensation is not paid out automatically; you must claim it from the airline.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

At least three hours, measured at arrival at your final destination. What counts is the difference between scheduled and actual arrival time — not how late the aircraft took off. If you arrived two hours and fifty minutes late, there is no right to the fixed compensation.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

Compensation is a fixed sum of €250–600 for the inconvenience of the delay. A refund is getting the ticket price back. With a delay you usually still travel, so a refund is rarely relevant — but if the delay has passed five hours you have the right to give up the trip and get the ticket refunded instead.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

Normally not. Extreme weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control, and the fixed compensation then falls away. The duty of care — food, drink and a hotel where needed — does apply even for a weather delay. If the delay was instead down to a technical fault or a missing crew, that is the airline's responsibility and compensation can be due.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

In Sweden the limitation period is ten years, which means you can claim compensation for a flight delay up to ten years back. It is still wise to claim the compensation as soon as possible, while documentation and boarding passes still exist.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

No. EU 261 applies equally to all airlines covered by the rules — low-cost carriers, network airlines and charter. The size of the compensation depends on the flight distance, not on the ticket price. A delayed ticket that cost SEK 400 can give €400 in compensation on the same terms as an expensive ticket.

Source: Flight Delay Compensation — What You Are Entitled To and How Much

You are probably entitled to more than that. If you are denied boarding against your will, you have two separate rights: compensation (a fixed amount of €250–600 for the disruption) and, on top of that, a choice between re-routing and a refund of the ticket if you no longer want to travel. Many people ask about a refund but actually mean the compensation — that is the one that puts money in your hand on top of the ticket price.

Source: Overbooked flight: compensation for denied boarding — what you are entitled to

The amount is set by flight distance: €250 (about SEK 2,800) up to 1,500 km, €400 (about SEK 4,500) for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and others between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 (about SEK 6,800) for longer flights outside the EU. EUR is the legal unit; the SEK figures are approximate and move with the exchange rate.

Source: Overbooked flight: compensation for denied boarding — what you are entitled to

Almost never. Overbooking is a commercial decision by the airline itself — it deliberately sells more seats than the aircraft holds. It therefore counts in principle not as an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline's control, and the airline can rarely invoke force majeure to avoid compensation for denied boarding.

Source: Overbooked flight: compensation for denied boarding — what you are entitled to

No, not the statutory compensation of €250–600. If you voluntarily agree to stand aside in exchange for an agreed benefit — a voucher, cash, re-routing — the terms of that deal apply instead. The law's fixed compensation applies to anyone denied boarding against their will. Do not accept anything until you know what an involuntary refusal would have given you.

Source: Overbooked flight: compensation for denied boarding — what you are entitled to

No. Standby tickets are not covered by the EU 261/2004 rules on denied boarding. The right to compensation requires a confirmed seat reservation. Anyone travelling standby has, by definition, no guaranteed seat and therefore cannot claim the flat-rate compensation if there was no room.

Source: Overbooked flight: compensation for denied boarding — what you are entitled to

No. If the airline gives notice of the cancellation at least 14 days before scheduled departure, the fixed compensation of €250–600 falls away. You always keep the right to choose between getting the ticket price refunded and being re-routed to your destination.

Source: Cancelled flight compensation — your rights and what to do now

A refund means you get the ticket price back. Compensation is a fixed amount of €250–600 for the disruption caused by the cancellation. These are two separate rights. When a flight is cancelled you may be entitled to both at once — taking the refund does not cancel the right to compensation.

Source: Cancelled flight compensation — your rights and what to do now

Ask the airline for re-routing or a refund, photograph the departures board, and keep everything in writing. Do not accept a voucher instead of money, and do not sign anything that waives your rights. If you need food or a hotel because of the wait, the airline must pay for it — if it does not, pay yourself and keep the receipts.

Source: Cancelled flight compensation — your rights and what to do now

Yes, accepting a re-routing does not automatically cancel the right to compensation. The fixed compensation can still apply if notice came less than 14 days before departure and the cause was within the airline's control — though the amount can be affected by how far the new flight departs from the original schedule.

Source: Cancelled flight compensation — your rights and what to do now

If you choose a refund of the ticket, it means you are turning down a re-routing — the airline's duty to get you to your destination and to cover meals and a hotel then ends. It may be the right choice, but make it deliberately. The refund does not affect your separate right to the fixed compensation.

Source: Cancelled flight compensation — your rights and what to do now

No. For a cancelled flight you choose for yourself between rebooking onto a new departure and a refund of the ticket. If you accept a refund, it means you are giving up the journey — and the airline’s obligation to look after you on the spot can then end. If you still want to get there, demand rebooking instead.

Source: What do I do during a flight strike? A checklist for when you are stuck

Yes. The duty of care — meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel and transport — applies in every strike, even an air traffic control strike that gives no right to compensation. If the airline does not meet its responsibility, you can buy something reasonable yourself and claim the expenses afterwards. Keep all receipts.

Source: What do I do during a flight strike? A checklist for when you are stuck

Be careful. A voucher or credit note is not the same as cash compensation and often ties you to the same airline. You have the right to a refund in money if you choose not to travel. Do not sign a form that asks you to waive further claims — it can extinguish the right to the €250–600 in compensation.

Source: What do I do during a flight strike? A checklist for when you are stuck

Yes, for the right to compensation. If the airline’s own cabin crew or pilots strike, you are usually entitled to €250–600. If air traffic control or airport staff strike, it is usually an extraordinary circumstance and then no compensation is paid. But the right to meals and a hotel, and the choice between rebooking and a refund, apply regardless of who is striking.

Source: What do I do during a flight strike? A checklist for when you are stuck

If SAS’s own cabin crew or own pilots strike, it normally counts as within SAS’s control, and you are then usually entitled to €250–600 (about SEK 2,800–6,800) in compensation under EU 261 — provided the flight was cancelled or delayed by more than three hours and you were told less than 14 days in advance. If the disruption is due to an air traffic control strike or an airport strike, normally no compensation applies, even if SAS flights are affected.

Source: SAS strikes and compensation: what you are entitled to when SAS’s own staff strike

The amount depends on the distance: €250 (about SEK 2,800) for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 (about SEK 4,500) for 1,500–3,500 km and €600 (about SEK 6,800) for longer flights. SAS domestic and within the Nordics is usually in the lowest band; longer European flights in the middle band. Compensation is per person and comes on top of a ticket refund or rebooking.

Source: SAS strikes and compensation: what you are entitled to when SAS’s own staff strike

Not for a strike among SAS’s own staff. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in the Krüsemann case (C-195/17) that a wildcat strike among an airline’s own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance. If you get a rejection where SAS calls a strike by its own cabin crew or pilots an event outside its control, that rejection stands on weak ground and is worth disputing. It is different if the disruption was in fact due to an air traffic control strike.

Source: SAS strikes and compensation: what you are entitled to when SAS’s own staff strike

Yes. The duty of care applies in every strike, even those that give no right to compensation. SAS must offer meals and drinks during the wait and a hotel plus transport if you have to wait overnight. If SAS does not meet its responsibility on the spot, you can buy reasonable meals and accommodation yourself and claim the expenses afterwards — keep all receipts.

Source: SAS strikes and compensation: what you are entitled to when SAS’s own staff strike

You can safely choose rebooking or a refund — those are rights you have. Be careful, though, with offers of vouchers, credit notes or "goodwill" compensation, and with forms that ask you to waive further claims. Accepting your ticket money back does not extinguish the right to the €250–600 in compensation, but a signed final settlement can. Read what you sign.

Source: SAS strikes and compensation: what you are entitled to when SAS’s own staff strike

No. A strike is not automatically an extraordinary circumstance. If the airline's own staff strike — cabin crew or pilots — it normally counts as within the airline's control, so it is not an extraordinary circumstance and you are entitled to compensation. If air traffic control or airport staff strike, it usually counts as an extraordinary circumstance instead. What decides it is who is striking.

Source: Is a flight strike an extraordinary circumstance? It depends who is striking

In Krüsemann and Others (C-195/17) the Court of Justice of the EU examined a so-called wildcat strike — staff at the airline TUIfly stayed home in protest after an announcement of restructuring. The Court ruled that a staff dispute rooted in the airline's own decisions belongs to its normal activity and lies within its control. It is therefore not an extraordinary circumstance, and the passengers were entitled to compensation.

Source: Is a flight strike an extraordinary circumstance? It depends who is striking

Yes, normally. An air traffic control strike — an ATC strike — hits the airline from the outside; it is not the airline's own staff striking and the airline does not control the dispute. Such a strike usually counts as an extraordinary circumstance, and no compensation is paid. The airline must still show that it did what it reasonably could to avoid your particular departure being cancelled.

Source: Is a flight strike an extraordinary circumstance? It depends who is striking

Ask the airline to be specific. A rejection that only says the disruption was "caused by an event beyond our control" without naming which strike or who was striking has not made the assessment the law requires. If it was the airline's own staff who struck, the rejection rests on weak ground — you can dispute it and, if needed, take the matter to ARN, which resolves consumer disputes free of charge.

Source: Is a flight strike an extraordinary circumstance? It depends who is striking

Yes. The duty of care applies even when a strike is an extraordinary circumstance and no compensation is paid. The airline must still give you meals, drinks and, where needed, a hotel and transport while you wait. A valid extraordinary circumstance removes the right to the EUR 250–600 — but not the right to be looked after.

Source: Is a flight strike an extraordinary circumstance? It depends who is striking

It depends on who is striking. If the airline’s own staff — cabin crew or pilots — strike, the disruption normally counts as within the airline’s control, and you are then usually entitled to compensation of €250–600 (about SEK 2,800–6,800) under EU 261, provided you were told less than 14 days in advance. If air traffic control or airport staff strike, it is usually an extraordinary circumstance, and then no compensation is paid.

Source: Flight strikes and compensation: when you are entitled to money — and when you are not

Airlines often write in the rejection that the disruption was "caused by an event outside our control". That is true for an air traffic control strike or an airport strike, but not for a strike among the airline’s own staff. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in the Krüsemann case (C-195/17) that a so-called wildcat strike among an airline’s own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance. If you get a standard rejection that does not distinguish between strike types, it is worth disputing.

Source: Flight strikes and compensation: when you are entitled to money — and when you are not

Compensation is a fixed flat-rate amount of €250–600 for the inconvenience of a cancelled or heavily delayed flight. A refund means getting your ticket price back when you choose not to travel at all. In a strike you always have the right to choose between rebooking and a refund of the ticket — that applies regardless of who strikes. The right to compensation is a separate question, decided by the type of strike.

Source: Flight strikes and compensation: when you are entitled to money — and when you are not

Yes. The duty of care — the airline’s obligation to provide meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel and transport — applies in every strike, even when no compensation is paid. An air traffic control strike removes the right to the €250–600, but not the right to be looked after while you wait. Keep all receipts; if the airline does not meet its responsibility, you can claim reasonable expenses afterwards.

Source: Flight strikes and compensation: when you are entitled to money — and when you are not

For the right to compensation, what matters is who is striking, not how long the strike was known about. An announced pilot strike among the airline’s own staff can still give a right to compensation. What does affect the amount is when you were told about your specific cancelled departure: if you found out at least 14 days in advance, normally no compensation is paid, whatever the cause.

Source: Flight strikes and compensation: when you are entitled to money — and when you are not

The amount is EUR 250, 400 or 600 (roughly SEK 2,800, 4,500 or 6,800) depending on flight distance. A SAS journey within Scandinavia normally gives EUR 250; Stockholm to, say, London or Rome gives EUR 400; an intercontinental SAS route over 3,500 km gives EUR 600. The delay must be at least three hours to the final destination.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

You submit the claim via SAS customer service, normally through the passenger rights form on sas.se or in the SAS app. State the booking reference, flight number, date and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. Keep a copy of the claim. If you get a no or no reply, you can take the matter further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

A no in the first response is common and should not be taken as a final decision. Ask SAS to state the cause of the disruption in writing, challenge it if it looks doubtful, and escalate to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes, which examines the dispute free of charge. ARN's recommendation is in practice followed by most airlines.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

It depends on who was striking. A strike by SAS's own staff — pilots or cabin crew — is generally counted as something within the airline's control and gives the right to compensation. A strike by air traffic controllers or airport staff is beyond SAS's control and counts as extraordinary. The details are on our page about SAS strikes and compensation.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Yes. EU 261/2004 applies to all flights departing from an airport within the EU, including purely Swedish domestic routes such as Stockholm–Gothenburg or Stockholm–Malmö. SAS domestic flights are fully covered. A short domestic flight gives the EUR 250 compensation level.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

No. The right to EU 261 compensation is independent of whether you are a EuroBonus member and of which ticket class you bought. It follows from the regulation, not from the loyalty programme. Points or a voucher that SAS offers do not replace the cash compensation either, unless you expressly accept that.

Source: SAS Delayed Flight — Compensation Under EU 261 and How to Claim It

Yes. EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to all airlines departing from an airport within the EU, and to all EU airlines wherever they depart from. Ryanair is an Irish EU airline and is fully covered. A cheap ticket changes nothing — the compensation is a fixed flat sum tied to flight distance, not to the ticket price.

Source: Ryanair compensation: how to claim EU 261 money for a delay or cancelled flight

The amount is set by flight distance: €250 (roughly SEK 2,800) for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 (roughly SEK 4,500) for longer flights within the EU and between 1,500 and 3,500 km, €600 (roughly SEK 6,800) for flights over 3,500 km. Compensation requires that you reach your final destination at least three hours late and that Ryanair is responsible. The euro is the legal unit; the krona figures are approximate.

Source: Ryanair compensation: how to claim EU 261 money for a delay or cancelled flight

Ryanair wants the claim submitted through its own EU 261 form on ryanair.com, in the help section. You need your booking number, flight number, date and the passengers' names. Ryanair states that claims should go through its own form before an agent or third party is involved. Keep a copy of everything you send and every reply you receive.

Source: Ryanair compensation: how to claim EU 261 money for a delay or cancelled flight

A first no is not the end. Ask Ryanair to state the exact cause of the disruption in writing — you need that to judge whether the rejection holds. If the rejection stands, you can turn to ARN (the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute at no cost, or to AviationADR in Ireland, which handles Ryanair cases. You can also use an agent who pursues the claim for a share of the amount.

Source: Ryanair compensation: how to claim EU 261 money for a delay or cancelled flight

No, not the fixed compensation. Extreme weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance outside Ryanair's control, and the financial compensation then falls away. But the duty of care remains: Ryanair must still offer meals, drinks and a hotel if needed, and rebook you. You also have the right to a refund of the ticket if you choose not to travel.

Source: Ryanair compensation: how to claim EU 261 money for a delay or cancelled flight

Yes, fully. EU 261/2004 draws no distinction between budget and network airlines. Norwegian, SAS and Ryanair all fall under exactly the same rules. A cheap flight gives you the same right to compensation as an expensive one — the amount is €250 to €600 regardless of what the ticket cost.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

The amount is €250, €400 or €600 (roughly SEK 2,800, 4,500 or 6,800) depending on flight distance. A Norwegian route within Scandinavia normally gives €250; Stockholm to a southern European destination gives €400; any long-haul route over 3,500 km gives €600. The delay must be at least three hours at your final destination.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

You submit the claim through Norwegian customer service, normally via the passenger rights form on norwegian.com or in the Norwegian app. Provide your booking reference, flight number, date and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. If you get a no or no reply at all, you can take the case further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

A no in the first reply is common and should not be treated as a final answer. Ask Norwegian to state the cause of the disruption in writing, push back if it looks doubtful, and escalate to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden — the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute free of charge. Its recommendation is followed in practice by most airlines.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

No, not if the weather was the genuine cause. Extreme weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline's control and removes the right to compensation. Norwegian's duty of care — meals, drinks and a hotel if needed — still applies. But Norwegian pointing to weather does not automatically make the cause extraordinary.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

No. Compensation is a fixed flat sum of €250 to €600 for the inconvenience. A refund is getting the ticket price back when you choose not to travel. They are two separate rights. After a cancelled Norwegian flight you may, in some cases, be entitled to both at once.

Source: Norwegian flight delay — EU 261 compensation and how to claim it

Yes, if the delay was at least three hours to the final destination and the cause was within BRA's control. BRA is covered by EU 261/2004 just like any other airline departing from an EU airport. The amount is EUR 250 for BRA's typical shorter domestic routes — roughly SEK 2,800.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

BRA flies almost exclusively Swedish domestic routes under 1,500 km, so the compensation is normally EUR 250 (roughly SEK 2,800). On any longer route the amount can be EUR 400. The euro amount is the legally binding one; the SEK amount is approximate and moves with the exchange rate.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

The right to compensation under EU 261 remains, but a bankruptcy makes payment uncertain. In a bankruptcy you become one creditor among many and, at best, receive a share of what is left in the estate. Konsumentverket, the Swedish Consumer Agency, advises that you should then register your claim. If you paid for the ticket by credit card or bought a package holiday, there may be a separate route to getting money back.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

It is the same airline. BRA stands for Braathens Regional Airlines — the brand is BRA, but the legal company is called Braathens Regional Airlines. When you claim compensation, you direct the claim at Braathens Regional Airlines as the operating carrier.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

You submit the claim via BRA's customer service, normally through a passenger rights form on the airline's website. State the flight number, date, booking reference and an explicit reference to EU 261/2004. If you get a no or no reply, you can take the matter further free of charge to ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

No, not if weather was the real cause. Extreme weather counts as an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control and removes the right to compensation. BRA's right to care — meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel — still applies. However, the fact that BRA cites weather does not automatically make the cause extraordinary; where there is doubt, the matter is not settled.

Source: BRA / Braathens Flight Compensation — How to Claim EU 261 Against Braathens Regional

Yes. EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to all flights departing from an airport within the EU, and to all EU-based airlines wherever they depart from. Wizz Air is registered in Hungary and is an EU airline, so the regulation applies fully on the airline's EU-related routes. Budget or not makes no difference — the compensation is a fixed sum tied to flight distance.

Source: Wizz Air compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

The amount depends on flight distance: €250 (roughly SEK 2,800) up to 1,500 km, €400 (roughly SEK 4,500) for longer flights within the EU and between 1,500 and 3,500 km, €600 (roughly SEK 6,800) over 3,500 km. You must reach your destination at least three hours late and Wizz Air must be responsible. The euro is the legal unit; the krona figures are approximate and vary with the exchange rate.

Source: Wizz Air compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

Wizz Air handles claims through its own customer service system on wizzair.com — the airline generally directs you to its contact form or chat function for EU 261 cases. You need your booking number, flight number, date and the passengers' names. Describe the disruption factually, refer to EU 261/2004 and keep a copy of everything you send and every reply you receive.

Source: Wizz Air compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

A first no is common and does not mean the claim is weak. Ask Wizz Air to state the exact cause of the disruption in writing. If the rejection does not hold, you can turn to ARN (the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute at no cost. Because Wizz Air is Hungarian, the case can also go through the Hungarian supervisory body. You can also use an agent who pursues the claim for a share of the amount.

Source: Wizz Air compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

If you were denied boarding against your will — for example because of overbooking — and you had a valid booking and checked in on time, you have the right to the same compensation as for a long delay: €250–€600 depending on flight distance. One traveller describes how she and her boyfriend were denied boarding on a Wizz Air flight and eventually received compensation. Standby tickets, however, do not give the right to compensation.

Source: Wizz Air compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

EU Regulation 261/2004 applies, because the flight departs from an EU airport. This is true whether the flight is operated by easyJet UK (code GB) or easyJet Europe (code OE). On a delay of three hours or more, a cancellation or denied boarding for which easyJet is responsible, you have the right to €250 for ARN–LGW (under 1,500 km is rare on this route, so €400 is the usual amount in the 1,500–3,500 km band). The regulation follows the departure airport, not the airline's nationality.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

For a ticket bought from Sweden you can turn to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden — the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute at no cost. Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) is the national supervisory authority for EU 261. If easyJet still refuses to pay after an ARN recommendation, you can sue in a Swedish district court — under the Brussels I bis Regulation (1215/2012) article 18 a consumer can bring the case in the consumer's own country.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

Yes, normally. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Krüsemann and Others (C-195/17) that a strike by the airline's own staff — including cabin crew and pilots — is not an extraordinary circumstance under EU 261. It is part of the normal management of the business. A BALPA pilots' strike at easyJet UK, or industrial action at easyJet Europe, therefore gives the right to the flat compensation if the delay or cancellation meets the thresholds. Strikes by external parties — air traffic controllers, airport security — are treated differently.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

Yes. Under EU 261 the operating air carrier is the one liable, and that means the airline under whose flight number you actually flew. In a wet lease (ACMI — aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance leased in from another operator), easyJet remains the marketing and operating carrier for the passenger if the flight is sold and numbered as an easyJet flight. The lessor's identity is irrelevant for the claim — you write to easyJet.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

Ten years from the day the flight took place, under the Swedish Statute of Limitations (preskriptionslagen § 2). In the UK the period under the Limitation Act 1980 is six years. The Court of Justice has confirmed in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11) that the limitation period for EU 261 claims is set by national law, so the ten-year Swedish period is a real advantage for a passenger with a Swedish-bought ticket — it is one of the longest in the EU.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

Yes, for a flight that departs from or arrives in Sweden, or for a ticket bought from Sweden. The Brussels I bis Regulation (1215/2012) article 18 gives a consumer the right to bring proceedings against a counterparty either where the counterparty is domiciled or in the consumer's own country. The district court for the place where you live is competent. The CJEU has also held in flightright (joined cases C-274/16 and others) that the place of departure or arrival of the flight is a place of performance under article 7(1)(b), which also founds jurisdiction.

Source: easyJet flight compensation — when EU 261 or UK261 applies

No. EU 261 only covers flights into the EU from a non-EU airport when the operating carrier is a Community (EU-licensed) airline. Turkish Airlines is licensed in Turkey, so an IST-ARN or IST-GOT flight operated by Turkish Airlines falls outside the regulation. On that route you rely on Turkish law (SHY-Pasaj), and you escalate to SHGM (the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation), not to ARN.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

Yes. EU 261 applies to every flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the operating carrier. ARN-IST, GOT-IST and MMX-IST are all covered. A delay of three hours or more, a cancellation or denied boarding gives you €250 to €600, set by flight distance — €400 on a 2,300 km flight Stockholm-Istanbul.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

Yes, when EU 261 applies. Article 7(3) of the regulation says compensation is paid in cash, by electronic bank transfer or cheque, and a voucher is only acceptable with the passenger's written agreement. The Sturgeon ruling (C-402/07) confirms the compensation is a fixed monetary sum. If Turkish Airlines offers BonusMiles or a travel voucher, you can decline in writing and insist on the euro amount.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

Compensation is calculated on the total great-circle distance from the first point of departure to the final destination — about 8,100 km from Stockholm to Bangkok — which puts the case in the €600 band. The Folkerts ruling (C-11/11) confirms that what counts is the delay on arrival at the final destination, not on the intermediate leg. EU 261 applies as long as the first leg departs an EU airport — so an ARN-IST-BKK booking is covered even though the longer Istanbul-Bangkok leg is outside the EU.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

Often yes, for EU 261 claims on tickets bought as a consumer in Sweden. The Brussels I bis Regulation (1215/2012), article 18, lets a consumer sue in the courts of the Member State where the consumer is domiciled. The Cuadrench Moré ruling (C-139/11) also confirms that EU 261 compensation claims are subject to national limitation periods — ten years in Sweden under preskriptionslagen — not the two-year Montreal limit. Swedish district court is therefore a realistic route for an ARN-IST or GOT-IST claim.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

SHGM (Sivil Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü, the Turkish Directorate General of Civil Aviation) is the supervisory authority for air passenger rights in Turkey and administers the SHY-Pasaj regulation. You turn to SHGM when EU 261 does not cover your Turkish Airlines flight — typically a flight departing Istanbul or another non-EU airport. SHGM mirrors much of EU 261's structure but uses Turkish lira and US dollar amounts, and the limitation period in Turkey is shorter.

Source: Turkish Airlines flight compensation — when EU 261 protects Sweden-based passengers

EU 261 applies. The decisive factor is the place of departure, not the nationality of the airline. A flight departing from Stockholm Arlanda or Gothenburg Landvetter to London Heathrow takes off from an EU airport, so EU Regulation 261/2004 covers it in full — even though British Airways is no longer a Community carrier after Brexit. The compensation is €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 for distances between 1,500 and 3,500 km and €600 above that, paid in euros at the same rate as before Brexit.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

Yes, but under UK261, not EU 261. Since 1 January 2021 British Airways is not a Community carrier, and a flight departing from a UK airport with a non-EU airline falls outside EU 261. The British regulation that replaced it — the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, commonly called UK261 — gives the same protection. Compensation amounts mirror the EU figures: £220, £350 and £520 depending on flight distance.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

Yes. Both EU 261 (article 7.3) and UK261 require compensation in cash, by bank transfer or by cheque. Vouchers, frequent flyer points or travel credits are only valid if you give your written consent. If British Airways unilaterally credits Avios points to your account, you can decline and demand the cash equivalent at the statutory rate. Keep the offer in writing — it is useful evidence if the case has to be escalated.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

Yes. A strike by the airline's own pilots or cabin crew is treated as an internal labour dispute, not an extraordinary circumstance. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Krüsemann (C-195/17) that a wildcat strike by the airline's own staff is part of the normal operating risk. BALPA strikes against British Airways and IAG-Group cabin crew strikes therefore give the right to compensation under both EU 261 and UK261. An external air traffic control strike, by contrast, can be a genuine extraordinary circumstance.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) is the alternative dispute resolution body British Airways uses for UK261 claims. The procedure is free for the passenger. You first have to give BA a chance to respond — eight weeks, or a final rejection letter, whichever comes first. After that, file the complaint at cedr.com using BA's booking reference, copies of the correspondence and a short statement of the facts. CEDR's decision is binding on British Airways up to £10,000 and the airline pays the case fee.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

For an EU 261 claim filed in a Swedish court, the limitation period is ten years under section 2 of the Swedish Limitation Act (preskriptionslagen 1981:130). This was confirmed by the Court of Justice of the EU in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11), which left the time limit to national law. In the United Kingdom the equivalent period is six years under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980. The Swedish forum is therefore the more favourable choice for tickets bought in Sweden when the claim is covered by EU 261.

Source: British Airways flight compensation — EU 261 vs UK261 after Brexit

The amount is set by flight distance under EU 261/2004: €250 (roughly SEK 2,800) up to 1,500 km, €400 (roughly SEK 4,500) on intra-EU flights over 1,500 km or other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 (roughly SEK 6,800) on non-EU flights over 3,500 km. You must arrive at your final destination at least three hours late and KLM must be responsible. The three-hour threshold comes from the Court of Justice of the EU in Sturgeon (C-402/07).

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

No. EU 261/2004 gives you the right to cash compensation in euro. KLM may offer a travel voucher or Flying Blue award miles instead, but a voucher only counts if you actively and freely agree in writing to swap your cash right for it. If you have not signed anything, you can decline and insist on a bank transfer in euro. The Court of Justice has confirmed in Sturgeon (C-402/07) that the compensation is a fixed monetary right — the airline cannot unilaterally turn it into loyalty points.

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

On a single booking Stockholm–Amsterdam–Los Angeles, what matters is your arrival time at the final destination — LAX — not at the connection in Amsterdam. If the total delay at LAX is three hours or more, compensation is calculated on the great-circle distance Stockholm–Los Angeles, which is well over 3,500 km, giving €600. This follows the Court of Justice ruling in Folkerts (C-11/11), which established that a missed connection inside the EU triggering a long delay at the final destination outside the EU gives the right to compensation on the full distance.

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes, in most cases. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Krüsemann (C-195/17) that a so-called wildcat strike by an airline's own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance — it falls within the airline's normal operating risk. Recurring strikes by the KLM Cabin Attendants Association (VNC) over collective-agreement matters are therefore treated as the airline's own responsibility and give passengers the right to compensation if the flight is cancelled or delayed by three hours or more.

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes. If you bought the ticket as a consumer in Sweden, the Brussels I bis Regulation (1215/2012) article 18 lets you sue KLM in the Swedish district court at your place of residence. You can also choose the Amsterdam district court in the Netherlands. Suing in Sweden has one major practical advantage: Swedish law gives a 10-year prescription period for an EU 261 claim, while Dutch law (BW art. 8:1835) gives only two years. A claim that is time-barred in the Netherlands may still be alive in a Swedish court.

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

A volcanic eruption that closes airspace is a textbook extraordinary circumstance, so KLM does not have to pay the flat compensation of €250–€600. The duty of care under article 9 of EU 261/2004 remains, however: KLM must provide meals and drinks during the wait, hotel accommodation if you have to stay overnight, and transport between the airport and the hotel — for as long as the disruption lasts. Save every receipt; if KLM has not organised the care itself, you can claim reasonable costs back afterwards.

Source: KLM flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

The amount is set by flight distance, not by ticket price. Up to 1,500 km gives €250 (roughly SEK 2,800), which covers ARN-FRA and ARN-MUC. Within the EU over 1,500 km or any flight between 1,500 and 3,500 km gives €400 (roughly SEK 4,500). Over 3,500 km outside the EU gives €600 (roughly SEK 6,800), which is what you reach via a Frankfurt or Munich connection to Asia or North America. You must arrive at least three hours late at your final destination and Lufthansa must be responsible.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes. EU 261 compensation is a monetary right. The Court of Justice of the EU established in Sturgeon and Others (C-402/07) that long delays trigger the same fixed cash compensation as cancellations, and the regulation itself sets the figure in euros. Lufthansa frequently offers Miles & More vouchers as a first response — you can accept them, but you are not required to. Reply in writing that you decline the voucher and insist on payment in euros to a bank account under EU 261/2004.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. The Court of Justice ruled in Krüsemann and Others (C-195/17) that disruption caused by the airline's own staff — including a wildcat action by cabin crew — is not an extraordinary circumstance. The same logic is consistently applied to strikes by Lufthansa's own pilots through Vereinigung Cockpit and by cabin crew through UFO. A strike by external air traffic controllers can be extraordinary; a strike by Lufthansa's own employees is treated as part of the normal operation of the airline.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes, if it was a single booking. The Court of Justice ruled in Folkerts (C-11/11) that for a connecting flight booked under one reservation, compensation is calculated on the total distance from the original departure to the final destination, and the three-hour delay is measured at the final destination, not at the connection. An ARN-FRA-NRT booking where you arrive in Tokyo more than three hours late gives €600 — even if the ARN-FRA leg was on time, as long as Lufthansa is responsible for the missed connection.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

SÖP — Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr — is the German out-of-court mediation body that has jurisdiction over Lufthansa. Mediation is free for passengers. The condition is that you have first submitted the claim to Lufthansa and received a rejection or no reply within roughly two months. You then file the case at soep-online.de in English or German, attach Lufthansa's reply and the documentation, and SÖP mediates a proposed resolution. SÖP's decision is not binding, but Lufthansa accepts most outcomes.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

Yes, if you bought the ticket as a consumer in Sweden. Article 18 of Regulation 1215/2012 (Brussels I bis) gives a consumer the right to sue the trader either in the trader's home jurisdiction or in the consumer's own — so you can choose between a German court and the district court at your Swedish home address. The Swedish 10-year limitation period under preskriptionslagen § 2 also applies to claims pursued in Sweden, which is more generous than the German 3-year limit under BGB §195.

Source: Lufthansa flight compensation — your EU 261 rights as a Sweden-based passenger

The amount depends on flight distance: €250 (roughly SEK 2,800) up to 1,500 km, €400 (roughly SEK 4,500) for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and for other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and €600 (roughly SEK 6,800) for flights outside the EU over 3,500 km. You must arrive at your final destination at least three hours late and Finnair must be responsible. The euro is the legal unit in the regulation; the krona figures are approximate.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

Yes. Under EU 261/2004 article 7(3), an airline may only pay the compensation in vouchers, points or other services if you sign a written agreement to accept that form. You do not have to. If Finnair's first reply offers Finnair Plus points or a travel voucher, you have every right to refuse in writing and demand cash — typically a bank transfer in euro to a Swedish account. The CJEU ruling in Sturgeon (C-402/07) confirms that a long delay gives the same monetary right as a cancelled flight.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

In most cases, yes. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Krüsemann (C-195/17) that a strike by the airline's own staff — for example Finnair pilots in IAU or cabin crew in SLSY — is not an extraordinary circumstance. It is part of the normal operating risk of running an airline. Only a pure external strike (air traffic control, airport ground staff Finnair has no control over) can count as extraordinary. Finnair must therefore pay compensation for delays and cancellations caused by its own crew's industrial action.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

If Finnair rejects your claim or does not reply, you can take the dispute to ARN (Allmänna reklamationsnämnden — the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes) at arn.se. It is free, you file online and ARN issues a written recommendation within roughly six months. You need Finnair's rejection (or proof you waited more than 30 days), your booking confirmation and a short factual description with EU 261/2004 as the legal basis. Finnair complies with ARN recommendations in the great majority of cases.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

Yes. The CJEU ruling in Folkerts (C-11/11) is clear: if your flights are on a single booking and the arrival delay at the final destination is three hours or more, compensation is calculated on the total flight distance from the first departure to the final destination — not on each leg in isolation. Stockholm–Helsinki–Tokyo is over 3,500 km outside the EU on the long leg, so the claim is €600 per passenger, even though the short Stockholm–Helsinki leg on its own would only have been €250.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

For a passenger who bought the ticket in Sweden, Swedish law gives a 10-year limitation period under preskriptionslagen § 2 — confirmed by the CJEU for EU 261 claims in Cuadrench Moré (C-139/11), which leaves the time limit to national law. The Finnish limitation act sets only 3 years. If you have a choice of court — and you usually do, under Rome I — Swedish district court is the more favourable venue. In practice this means a Finnair claim from 2018 can still be pursued in 2026 through a Swedish court.

Source: Finnair compensation: your EU 261 rights for delay, cancellation and denied boarding

Yes, usually. EU 261 compensation is a flat-rate payment of €250–600 that the airline pays for the disruption itself, regardless of what the delay cost you. Travel insurance reimburses documented knock-on costs — a missed hotel night, a new ticket, a transfer — up to the policy limits. Because the two cover different things, you can normally claim both. The only thing you cannot get is double payment for exactly the same expense; if the insurer has already paid for a new ticket, the EU 261 money cannot also go towards the same ticket.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

You cannot name a winner without reading the terms — the limits vary considerably between If, Trygg-Hansa, Folksam, ICA and Gjensidige, and even between a basic and a premium policy at the same insurer. Three things to look at in the terms: which delay threshold applies (4, 6 or 8 hours), what is the payout cap per day and in total, and does the policy cover knock-on costs such as a missed connection or only the delay itself. The Swedish Consumer Insurance Bureau (Konsumenternas Försäkringsbyrå) has an independent comparison of non-life policies and is the most sensible starting point.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

For occasional travellers, rarely. Flight-delay policies such as If my flight, Trygg-Hansa's delay cover and AIG Travel Guard pay a fixed amount — usually SEK 500–1,500 — when a delay passes a stated threshold, often automatically without a claim form. The money arrives quickly but is small compared with the EU 261 flat rate of €250–600 (roughly SEK 2,800–6,800). It is a complement, not a substitute for the EU 261 claim. For frequent flyers and business travellers who hit several delays a year it can pay off; for a family that flies twice a year, it is rarely worth the premium.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

The travel cover bundled with home insurance and the insurance built into a credit card often cover flight delays, but the terms are stricter than a standalone travel policy. Common limits: the trip has to be paid for on the card, or fall inside the home insurer's definition of a started trip; the delay threshold is often longer (6–8 hours); and the daily cap is lower (around SEK 1,500). Read the terms or call the insurer before booking a hotel on your own — you want a decision on what they will approve in advance, not after the trip.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

Ask for it in writing with a reference to the policy. The insurer has to point to the exact clause in the terms that justifies the refusal. If you disagree, you can take it to the insurer's own internal review first and then to the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes (ARN), which reviews insurance disputes free of charge. The Swedish Consumer Insurance Bureau also gives free guidance on how to frame an appeal. And whatever the insurer says — the EU 261 claim against the airline is a separate matter and is not affected by the insurance decision.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

Both at the same time, for different outlays. Send the EU 261 claim to the airline straight away — it is a flat rate that does not require you to show any loss. At the same time keep every receipt for hotel, food and transport and file a claim with the card insurer or the home insurance travel cover for those documented costs. The two processes run in parallel and the final total is higher than if you had picked only one.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

The EU 261 claim then becomes effectively worthless — it joins the bankruptcy estate at the back of the queue and is rarely paid. This is where travel insurance is decisive. Many travel policies include a specific cancellation and insolvency cover that reimburses the ticket and the trip home, often up to a cap around SEK 25,000 per person. If you also paid by credit card, you can make a so-called chargeback — you are refunded by the card issuer. The Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket) has detailed guidance on the order of steps.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

The airline's. Article 9 of EU 261 says the carrier must offer food, drink, hotel and transport during longer waits, and the Court of Justice of the European Union held in Air Baltic Corporation (C-410/11) that this duty applies even when the airline is otherwise relieved from paying compensation because of extraordinary circumstances. In other words — demand the food and the hotel at the gate from the airline, not from the insurer afterwards. If you do pay out of pocket, keep every receipt; then it becomes a refund claim against the airline first, with insurance as the backup.

Source: Travel insurance vs EU 261 — which pays more for a delayed flight?

Usually not. Severe weather normally counts as an extraordinary circumstance under EU 261/2004, and the airline is then freed from paying compensation. But if the delay was in fact caused by the airline's own handling — too little de-icing capacity or poor planning — and weather is only used as a label, you may still be entitled to EUR 250–600.

Source: Flight delay due to weather — are you entitled to compensation?

No. That it is snowing is weather, but de-icing the aircraft is the airline's own responsibility and part of normal operations. If other flights left as scheduled and yours alone was heavily delayed because of a de-icing queue or too few resources, it is no longer a pure weather case — and compensation can then be paid.

Source: Flight delay due to weather — are you entitled to compensation?

Yes. The duty of care applies regardless of cause. Even when weather frees the airline from cash compensation, it must offer meals and drinks during the wait and, for a delay overnight, a hotel and transport. That right never falls away because of bad weather.

Source: Flight delay due to weather — are you entitled to compensation?

The burden of proof is on the airline. It is the airline that must show the weather was an extraordinary circumstance and that it could not have avoided the delay with reasonable measures. If you only get "weather reasons" without an explanation, you can ask for more detail and take the case to ARN.

Source: Flight delay due to weather — are you entitled to compensation?

Yes, usually. In Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07) the CJEU ruled that technical problems found during maintenance belong to an airline's ordinary activity and are therefore normally not extraordinary circumstances. For a delay over three hours caused by a technical fault you are generally entitled to EUR 250, EUR 400 or EUR 600.

Source: Flight delay due to a technical fault — are you entitled to compensation?

Rarely. That an aircraft develops a technical fault does not mean the fault lay beyond the airline's control. The CJEU has been clear: keeping the fleet airworthy is the core of running an airline. The phrase "event beyond our control" in a standard email is not proof — ask for a concrete explanation and take the case further.

Source: Flight delay due to a technical fault — are you entitled to compensation?

Yes, but they are few. The CJEU pointed to hidden manufacturing defects that the manufacturer discovers and warns about across the whole fleet, and to damage from sabotage or an act of terrorism. An ordinary wear or maintenance fault does not belong here. The burden of proof for landing in the exception is on the airline.

Source: Flight delay due to a technical fault — are you entitled to compensation?

The airline. It is the airline that must show both that the fault was an extraordinary circumstance and that it could not have avoided the delay with reasonable measures. Since the starting point is that technical faults are not extraordinary, you have a strong position — take the case to ARN if the airline holds to its no.

Source: Flight delay due to a technical fault — are you entitled to compensation?

The calculator uses two pieces of information: the length of the flight in kilometres and how late you arrived at your final destination. The distance places you in one of three distance tiers (EUR 250, 400 or 600) and the delay length decides whether the three-hour threshold has been passed. It also asks for the cause, because extraordinary circumstances can remove the right to compensation. The result is an estimate based on EU 261/2004 — not a legal decision.

Source: Flight Compensation Calculator — Work Out Your EU 261 Payout

Yes. The calculator works out compensation — the fixed flat-rate amount of EUR 250 to 600 for the disruption. It does not work out a refund, meaning the money back for a ticket you are no longer going to use. They are two separate rights. With a cancelled flight you may in some cases be entitled to both at once.

Source: Flight Compensation Calculator — Work Out Your EU 261 Payout

The calculator is free and needs no login or bank details. It gives you an estimate. Pursuing the claim itself is also free if you do it yourself directly with the airline or through ARN, the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes. A claim service such as AirHelp takes a commission on the amount paid out — the calculation itself costs nothing, whichever route you take.

Source: Flight Compensation Calculator — Work Out Your EU 261 Payout

No, the SEK amounts are approximate. EU 261 states the compensation in euros — EUR 250, 400 and 600. The SEK amounts of roughly 2,800, 4,500 and 6,800 move with the exchange rate. It is the euro amount that is the legal unit and that the airline must pay.

Source: Flight Compensation Calculator — Work Out Your EU 261 Payout

The calculator tells you whether your situation looks eligible for compensation and what amount is involved. It does not file the claim for you. The next step is to contact the airline with the flight number, date and a reference to EU 261/2004 — either yourself or through a claim service. The result is a starting point, not a finished decision.

Source: Flight Compensation Calculator — Work Out Your EU 261 Payout

Extraordinary circumstances is an exception in Article 5(3) of EU 261/2004. It frees the airline from paying compensation if the disruption was caused by an event that lies outside its normal activity and that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. The CJEU interprets the exception narrowly — it is not a blank cheque.

Source: Extraordinary circumstances on flights — when can the airline say no?

Normally not. In Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07) the CJEU ruled that technical problems found during maintenance, or caused by poor maintenance, belong to an airline's ordinary activity. They therefore generally do not count as extraordinary, and you are entitled to compensation. The exception covers a narrow set of cases, for example a hidden manufacturing defect.

Source: Extraordinary circumstances on flights — when can the airline say no?

Yes. The duty of care applies regardless of cause. Even when an extraordinary circumstance frees the airline from paying cash compensation, it must still offer meals, drinks and, where needed, a hotel and transport. That right never falls away, however strong the force majeure defence is.

Source: Extraordinary circumstances on flights — when can the airline say no?

The burden of proof is on the airline. It is the airline that must show both that the event was extraordinary and that it took all reasonable measures to avoid the delay. The claim "event beyond our control" in a standard email is not proof — ask for a concrete explanation and take the case further if none comes.

Source: Extraordinary circumstances on flights — when can the airline say no?

It depends on the case. If the claim is simple and recent — a clear delay, a cooperative airline — you keep the full amount by pursuing it yourself, and the work is often an hour or two. If the case is complex, old or already rejected, or if you lack the time and energy, a service can be worth its share: you only pay if the claim succeeds, and you skip the correspondence.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself or use a service — an honest comparison

The share is usually between 25 and 35 percent of the payout, often plus VAT. Flightright publicly states 29.75 percent including VAT as its base commission, with a possible surcharge if the case has to be pursued by a lawyer. AirHelp works on a similar model. On a €400 compensation, a commission of roughly 30 percent means you receive about €280 — the rest is the service's fee.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself or use a service — an honest comparison

The established services are not scams — they are legal companies that pursue claims for a commission. What people often experience as a rip-off is something else: the fee feeling undeserved when the airline simply sent a form, or a case dragging on. The real risk is not that the money disappears, but that you pay 25–35 percent for a claim you could just as easily have pursued yourself in an hour.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself or use a service — an honest comparison

No win no fee — no compensation, no charge — means the service only charges if it actually gets money out for you. If the claim succeeds, the service takes its share before the rest is paid out to you. If it does not succeed, you pay nothing. The model shifts the financial risk from you to the service, which is its real value — but it is not free, since the share is taken out of a won amount.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself or use a service — an honest comparison

Yes. A rejection from the airline is not final. You can ask for the exact cause in writing, push back with EU 261/2004 and then turn to ARN (the Swedish National Board for Consumer Disputes), which reviews the dispute at no cost. It is precisely at that point — when the airline has already said no and you are tired of the correspondence — that many people instead hand the case to a service. Both routes are open.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself or use a service — an honest comparison

Yes. The whole official route is free of charge: the claim to the airline, the complaint to ARN and contact with the Swedish Transport Agency cost nothing. A simplified small-claims case in the district court has a low application fee and limited cost risk. You do not need a representative to pursue an EU 261 claim — the right is the same regardless of who submits it.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself — the whole way from airline to court

A first no is common and does not mean the claim is over. Ask for a written justification, compare it with what EU 261/2004 actually says, and send a short reply. If the airline holds firm, file the dispute with ARN, which settles it for free. Many people only win at that stage — the airline saying no first says nothing about the merits.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself — the whole way from airline to court

Expect weeks to months. A clear claim the airline approves can be settled in a few weeks. If the airline drags things out — several months of waiting is common — and the case goes on to ARN, a review there typically takes several more months. It is tiresome, but it costs you nothing other than time.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself — the whole way from airline to court

Not without doing the maths. A common move is to offer a voucher or a sum clearly below the statutory amount and hope you settle. Compare the offer with €250, €400 or €600 for your flight distance. If it is lower, you can say no and refer to EU 261/2004 — you do not lose the right to the full amount by declining a low offer.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself — the whole way from airline to court

Claiming yourself is free and it works — it is the first-choice route. A service like AirHelp can be a reasonable alternative if the airline has already stonewalled you, if you lack the energy or time to pursue the case, or if it is heading for court. The price is a commission of 25–35 percent of the compensation — you get less, but you skip the work. It is a trade-off between money and hassle, not between right and wrong.

Source: Claim flight compensation yourself — the whole way from airline to court

Not for the strike itself. The EU Court of Justice ruled in the Pešková case (C-315/15) that a bird collision is an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control. But if a large part of the delay is instead down to the airline's own inspection or admin dragging on, that part may be claimable.

Source: Flight Delay Caused by a Bird Strike — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

In the Pešková case (C-315/15) the EU Court of Justice settled two things. First, a collision between an aircraft and a bird is an extraordinary circumstance. Second, the airline must still show it took all reasonable measures to limit the delay after the collision — otherwise compensation can still be due for that part.

Source: Flight Delay Caused by a Bird Strike — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Possibly. The time for a necessary safety inspection after a bird strike is normally not claimable. But if the delay dragged on because the airline had no technicians, was waiting for clearance or handled the case slowly, that extra time can be judged as something the airline could have avoided.

Source: Flight Delay Caused by a Bird Strike — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Yes. The duty of care applies regardless of cause. Even when the bird strike frees the airline from cash compensation, it must still offer food and drink during the wait, and for an overnight delay also a hotel and transport.

Source: Flight Delay Caused by a Bird Strike — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Normally not. A strike by air traffic control (ATC) lies beyond the airline's control and is treated as an extraordinary circumstance. The fixed compensation of €250–600 then falls away. The dividing line runs to the airline's own staff strike, which the EU Court of Justice ruled in Case C-28/20 the airline must bear responsibility for.

Source: Delay Caused by ATC or Safety Reasons — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

ATC stands for Air Traffic Control. An ATC delay arises when air traffic control holds an aircraft on the ground or slows traffic down — because of queues in the airspace, weather, capacity shortages or a strike by the controllers. The decision is made by air traffic control, not by the airline.

Source: Delay Caused by ATC or Safety Reasons — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

Yes. The duty of care under EU 261 applies regardless of the cause of the delay. For a longer wait the airline must offer food and drink, and for an overnight stay a hotel and transport there. That obligation remains even when the cause is extraordinary and no cash compensation is paid.

Source: Delay Caused by ATC or Safety Reasons — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

You have the right to ask the airline for a written reason for the delay. An answer that only says operational reasons is not enough — the airline must be able to substantiate that an extraordinary circumstance existed. If the cause is unclear or disputed, you can turn to ARN, which examines the case free of charge.

Source: Delay Caused by ATC or Safety Reasons — Are You Entitled to Compensation?

What matters is how late you were at the final destination, not at a stopover. If you booked the whole trip on one ticket and arrived at least 3 hours late because of a missed connection, the claim is assessed on the whole journey. If you booked the legs separately with different airlines, your position is weaker.

Source: Am I Entitled to Flight Compensation? A Simple Step-by-Step Check

No. If the airline announces a cancellation at least 14 days before the scheduled departure, the fixed compensation falls away. You still have the right to choose between a refund of the ticket and rerouting. If the notice came later than 14 days before departure, compensation can be due, depending on how the rerouting affected your times.

Source: Am I Entitled to Flight Compensation? A Simple Step-by-Step Check

At arrival. What counts is how late you reached your final destination, not how late the aircraft took off. The EU Court of Justice settled this in the Sturgeon case (C-402/07). An aircraft can take off four hours late but still arrive under three hours late — and then no compensation is triggered.

Source: Am I Entitled to Flight Compensation? A Simple Step-by-Step Check

Normally not. EU 261 requires a confirmed booking on the flight in question. A standby ticket or a heavily discounted staff ticket not available to the public does not, as a rule, give a right to the fixed compensation.

Source: Am I Entitled to Flight Compensation? A Simple Step-by-Step Check

Yes, the cause is often what decides it. Technical faults and a crew that is not enough lie within the airline's control and normally give a right to compensation. Extreme weather, an air-traffic-control strike and safety decisions count as extraordinary circumstances and normally give no compensation — but the duty of care always applies.

Source: Am I Entitled to Flight Compensation? A Simple Step-by-Step Check

AirHelp is an established, legitimate company and not a scam — it pursues real EU261 claims and pays out real compensation. The ratings are mixed, though: some travellers call it dead simple, others are angry about the size of the fee or about cases that dragged on. That anger is about value for money, not fraud. The money does not disappear — but the fee is high.

Source: AirHelp review: fees, ratings and whether the service is legit

AirHelp works on a no win, no fee basis and charges a commission of roughly 30–35 percent of the compensation paid out, often including VAT, with a possible higher share if the case has to go to court. On compensation of EUR 400 that means you receive roughly EUR 260–280 and the service keeps the rest. The exact percentage can change — check the current fee on airhelp.com before you sign up.

Source: AirHelp review: fees, ratings and whether the service is legit

Yes. Several travellers describe concrete payouts — one reports a payout of over USD 1,700 after fees, another USD 555 per passenger and calls the process dead simple. There are also unhappy voices, usually about the size of the fee or slow handling. The picture is mixed, but the payouts are real.

Source: AirHelp review: fees, ratings and whether the service is legit

For a simple, recent claim — a clear delay, a cooperative airline — it is usually better to claim yourself: it is free and you keep the whole amount. AirHelp makes more sense when the case is awkward, old or already rejected, or when you lack the time and energy. Then the commission can be worth paying to be spared the work and the risk.

Source: AirHelp review: fees, ratings and whether the service is legit

Yes, and we say so plainly. Kravflyg earns a commission if you sign up with AirHelp through a link on the site. It does not affect our assessment — this review points explicitly to the service's weaknesses and recommends the free route for simple claims. Being open about how the site is funded is part of being a source you can trust.

Source: AirHelp review: fees, ratings and whether the service is legit