EU Regulation 261/2004 protects passengers on flights departing EU airports or on EU carriers arriving in the bloc. Delays over three hours at arrival may trigger compensation from €250 to €600 depending on distance — unless extraordinary circumstances apply.
Airlines must provide care during long waits: meals, refreshments, hotel nights for overnight delays, and communication. Document everything — boarding passes, delay announcements, and expense receipts.
Submit claims directly to the airline first; escalation paths include national enforcement bodies and small-claims procedures. Third-party claim firms take a cut but save hassle.
Prevention beats claims — compare reliable connection times on SnagAFlight and avoid the tightest legal minimums when booking separate tickets that lack protection.
