Flight delayed or cancelled?
You may be owed €250–600.
EU Regulation EC261/2004 protects you on any flight departing an EU airport, or arriving in the EU on an EU airline. Check your eligibility, then follow the steps to claim in Germany.
A 3-hour-plus arrival delay, a cancellation with less than 14 days’ notice, or denied boarding (overbooking) entitle you to a flat €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance — regardless of ticket price. Unless “extraordinary circumstances” apply (extreme weather, air-traffic-control strike, security). Meals and accommodation are owed either way.
Check your flight in 30 seconds
The amounts (EC261)
How to claim in Germany
- 1. Claim from the airline
Write to the airline directly (email or letter), citing Regulation EC261/2004. Keep proof — boarding pass, booking, screenshots.
- 2. Free conciliation (voluntary)
If you get stuck, use a conciliation body — free and out of court. For the ~40 participating airlines: Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr (formerly söp). For airlines that don’t participate: the Schlichtungsstelle Luftverkehr at the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz). In Germany conciliation is voluntary — not a precondition to going to court.
- 3. Report to the LBA
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) is Germany’s enforcement body for EC261. It doesn’t pay compensation itself, but can act against a non-compliant airline.
- 4. Court (last resort)
If conciliation fails, you can go to court (Amtsgericht). The limitation period in Germany is 3 years, counted from the end of the year the flight took place — a 2026 flight expires end of 2029.
Your rights, no matter what
Even with extraordinary circumstances, beyond a certain wait the airline must provide: meals and drinks, two means of communication, and accommodation + transfers if you need to stay overnight. This right to care is separate from compensation.
FAQ
How much for which flight?
€250 up to 1,500 km; €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all flights 1,500–3,500 km; €600 beyond 3,500 km outside the EU.
How long must the delay be?
From 3 hours at the final destination. This 3-hour threshold still applies in 2026 (the proposal to raise it to 4–6h was rejected).
What about weather or strikes?
“Extraordinary circumstances” (extreme weather, ATC strike, security) remove the flat compensation but not the care. A strike by the airline’s own staff usually doesn’t count.
How long do I have to claim?
In Germany the limitation period is 3 years, counted from the end of the year the flight took place — a 2026 flight expires end of 2029.
Do I need a paid claim company?
No. Claiming and conciliation (Reise & Verkehr / BfJ) are free. Claim firms take 25–35%; you can do it all yourself for nothing.