# Airline Compensation: How to Claim What You’re Owed

Has your flight been delayed, canceled, or were you bumped? In these cases, **you may be entitled to compensation from the airline**. Domestic flights are generally regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), but flights from (and in many cases to) Europe are protected by [EC 261 regulation](https://www.airhelp.com/en/ec-regulation-261-2004/), which grants passengers the right to compensation from the airline in case of delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through discovering [your passenger rights](https://www.airhelp.com/en/air-passenger-rights/) and the situations where the **airline must compensate you**. We’ll also show you how to claim and ensure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.

#### Key Points About Airline Compensation

- **Airline delay and cancellation compensation**: under DOT rules, airlines are not required to compensate for delays or cancellations. Under EU 261, you may be entitled to compensation of up to €600 (~$650).

- In case of **overbooking**, both DOT rules and EU 261 provide the possibility of airline compensation.

- In case of **baggage issues**, you may be entitled to airline compensation.

- In the event of a flight disruption, you must file a claim to get airline compensation: AirHelp is here to help you receive what you’re entitled to.

## When Do Airlines Have to Compensate You?

### Your Passenger Rights: EU 261 and US DOT Rules

Passenger rights in case of flight disruptions can be your best ally. Under DOT rules and EU 261 regulation it is your right to request a money refund, re-routing or other form of compensation from your airline.

US law does not mandate monetary compensation for delayed and canceled flights, but denied boarding due to overbooking could entitle you to compensation of up to $2,150. The European Regulation EC 261 provides that, under certain circumstances, airlines must compensate passengers in case of delayed, canceled, or overbooked flights.

**EC 261 applies not only to European citizens but to all passengers on flights covered by this regulation, regardless of nationality**. All passengers departing from a European airport are covered under EC 261. In some circumstances, passengers flying into Europe from other worldwide destinations may be covered as well. If you’re confused, here’s a simple chart to help:

| Itinerary | EU Air Carrier | Non-EU Air Carrier |
| --- | --- | --- |
| From inside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From inside the EU to outside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| From outside the EU to inside the EU | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| From outside the EU to outside the EU | ❌ Not Covered | ❌ Not Covered |

### Airline Delay Compensation in the EU and US

You can claim airline delay compensation under EC 261 in the following circumstances:

- You arrived at your destination more than **3 hours** late

- The delay was within the airline's control (not caused by _[extraordinary circumstances](https://www.airhelp.com/en/ec261/extraordinary-circumstances/)_)

- Your flight took off in the EU (flights from the US to the EU may also qualify)

- You checked in for your flight on time

If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to compensation of up to $650. The amount depends on your flight distance and length of delay:

| Flight distance | Delay | Compensation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All flights under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $270 per person |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $430 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km | 3+ hours | Up to $430 per person |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | Up to $650 per person |

### Airline Compensation for Canceled Flights

Under the European Regulation EC 261, you could be entitled to airline compensation if:

- You were notified less than **14 days** before departure

- The flight departs from an EU/UK airport or is operated by an EU/UK-based airline arriving at an EU/UK destination.

- Your replacement flight arrives over **3 hours** later than your original booking

- The reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control (e.g. operational circumstances, technical difficulties, or airline staff strikes).

### Overbooking Compensation

When an airline overbooks, it may deny you boarding. **If your flight is covered by EU 261**, the airline may owe you up to €600 (~$650) in compensation if:

- You did not volunteer to surrender your seat in exchange for vouchers or other benefits.

- You were not [denied boarding](https://www.airhelp.com/en/denied-boarding-compensation/) for a reason under your control (for example, you showed up too late at the departure gate, or did not have the correct documentation).

### Airline Compensation for Missed Connections

If your ticket includes a flight with multiple stopovers, delay or cancellation of one of the legs could result in missing a connecting flight or otherwise arriving at your final destination late. Under EU rules, it’s the airline’s responsibility to offer you an **alternative flight**, but **you may also be entitled to compensation**:

- If you miss a connection due to a canceled flight and arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation..

### Airline Strike Compensation

Under EU 261, you could be eligible for airline strike compensation if:

- You had a flight disrupted by an **airline staff** strike.

- As a consequence of the strike, your flight was either **delayed by 3 hours** or more, or **canceled less than 14 days** before departure.

- Your flight departed from an EU airport, or landed at an EU airport and was operated by a European airline.

- You had a confirmed flight reservation.

## Airline Compensation for Lost or Delayed Baggage

If your luggage is delayed, lost, or damaged, you could be owed compensation from the airline. This right, as well as the compensation amount, depends on the type of flight:

- U.S. domestic flights, covered by DOT regulations

- International flights, covered by the Montreal Convention

**Domestic Flights**

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has set a maximum care liability of $4,700 for each domestic flight passenger whose baggage is delayed, lost, or damaged.

**International Flights**

When it comes to international flights, the [Montreal Convention](https://www.airhelp.com/en/montreal-convention/) typically applies. Should your baggage be delayed, lost, or destroyed, you could be able to get up to $1,950 under this treaty (1,519 SDRs, or Special Drawing Rights).

## How to Claim Airline Compensation

You can claim compensation by contacting the airline, consulting a lawyer, or relying on the specialists at AirHelp. Whatever your choice, here's how to proceed with your claim:

1. Hold onto your boarding pass and travel documents.
2. Gather proof (e.g. photos of departure boards or emails from the airline)
3. Check for compensation with our [Free Eligibility Checker](https://funnel.airhelp.com/claims/new?lang=en).
4. File your claim through AirHelp.

That's it! We’ll take it from here.

## Commonly asked questions

### Can I claim airline compensation for weather-related delays?

Usually, no. Most flight delays caused by bad weather are seen as _extraordinary circumstances_.

### If I had a codeshare flight, can I get compensation?

Usually, if you have a [codeshare flight](https://www.airhelp.com/en/codeshare-flight/), it is the operating airline (the one flying the plane) at the time of the disruption that is responsible for the payout.

### If my flight was part of a package holiday, can I claim airline compensation?

Yes, you can claim as long as it meets the necessary criteria. Airlines are the ones responsible for compensating their passengers, so the laws apply even if the ticket was sold as part of a package holiday.