EasyJet EU261 compensation ensures passengers are compensated for long delays, cancellations, missed connections, and rebookings. This rule applies to any flight departing from the EU on any airline or arriving in the EU on an EU-based airline, addressing the inconvenience caused to affected passengers.
What is EU261/2004?
EU 261/2004 is a regulation in European Union law that prioritizes passenger rights. It places financial responsibility on airlines if air travel takes an unexpected turn, provided the disruption was not due to circumstances beyond the airline’s control. Compared to other passenger rights laws, EC 261 is one of the most comprehensive, playing a crucial role in protecting the rights of air travelers and passengers.
Which EasyJet Flights are Covered by EU 261?
Most routes within Europe are covered under EasyJet EU regulation 261. This applies not only to EU airspace but also to Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and the “outermost regions” such as French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe, and Réunion. If your flight departs from an airport in the EU, it is covered. If your flight departs from another location but the destination is in the EU, coverage depends on the airline—if it’s a European carrier, you’re covered.
| 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 |
Under EasyJet EU regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to various rights and compensations if they experience flight problems such as delays, cancellations, or denied boarding. Here’s a detailed look at what you can expect.
Passenger Rights Under EU Regulation 261/2004
Under EasyJet EU regulation 261/2004, passengers are entitled to various rights and compensations if they experience flight problems such as delays, cancellations, or denied boarding. Here’s a detailed look at what you can expect.
EasyJet Flight Delays
If your flight is delayed by 3 or more hours, you are entitled to EasyJet flight delay compensation. Additionally, the airline must provide food and drinks after a 2-hour delay (Right to care). If the delay extends overnight, EasyJet must offer hotel accommodation. Compensation amounts depend on the distance and length of the delay:
| Distance | Less than 3 hours | 3 – 4 hours | More than 4 hours | Never arrived |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All flights 1,500 km or less | ❌ | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | ❌ | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ €300 | ✅ €600 | ✅ €600 |
EasyJet Flight Cancellations
If your EasyJet flight is canceled, you have the right to a ticket refund or a flight change. Compensation ranges from €250 to €600 per passenger, depending on the flight distance. You are also entitled to food and drinks during a long wait (Right to care). However, if EasyJet notifies you of the cancellation 14 days or more before the flight, you are not entitled to EasyJet flight cancellation compensation. If they notify you less than 14 days before the flight, their payment obligations depend on their ability to provide an alternative flight or re-routing within specific time limits.
| Notification Prior to Departure | Alternate Flight | Right to Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| More than 14 days | Irrelevant | ❌ No |
| 7-13 days | Departed no more than 2 hours earlier and arrived 4 hours later or less | ❌ No |
| 7-13 days | Departed 2 hours earlier or more and arrived 4 hours later or more | ✅ Yes |
| Less than 7 days | Departed no more than 1 hour earlier and arrived 2 hours later or less | ❌ No |
| Less than 7 days | Departed 1 hour earlier or more and arrived 2 hours later or more | ✅ Yes |
The amount of compensation you can receive depends on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay caused by the cancellation. Here are the compensation amounts based on different scenarios:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ €125 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| ✅ €200 | ✅ €200 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| ✅ €200 | ✅ €200 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| ✅ €300 | ✅ €300 | ✅ €300 | ✅ €600 | ✅ €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
By understanding EasyJet EU rules for cancelled flights, you can ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in the event of a flight cancellation.
EasyJet Denied Boarding
If you are denied boarding on your EasyJet flight, the airline must immediately provide snacks and drinks (Right to care). You can also request a ticket refund or a flight change. To be eligible for compensation, you must have registered on time (usually 45 minutes before departure) and have a valid ticket and booking confirmation.
| Flight Distance and Itinerary | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| All flights 1,500km or less | ✅ 250€ |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500-3,500km | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500km | ✅ 600€ |
The amount of compensation depends on the distance of your flight and the route taken. If your boarding was denied despite meeting all the criteria, you are entitled to compensation under EasyJet EU law for delayed flights. This compensation helps cover the inconvenience and additional costs incurred due to the denied boarding.
EasyJet Missed Connecting Flight
You are entitled to reimbursement if you miss a connecting flight and arrive at your destination three hours or more later than expected. This is applicable as long as your ticket is good for the entire trip, even if the connecting aircraft was run by a different airline. Each traveler may receive compensation of between €250 and €600 for a missed connection.
| Distance | Less than 3 hours | 3 to 4 hours | More than 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| All flights 1,500 km or less | ❌ | ✅ 250€ | ✅ 250€ |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 400€ | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights 1,500-3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 400€ | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 300€ | ✅ 600€ |
Additionally, starting from 2 hours of waiting at the airport, EasyJet must provide you with food and soft drinks (Right to care). If the delay extends overnight, the airline must also offer hotel accommodation. By knowing your rights under EasyJet EC261 compensation, you can ensure you receive the appropriate compensation for the inconvenience caused by a missed connection.
Missed Connection Because of a Flight Delay
If you arrive at your destination at least 3 hours late due to a delay on your first flight, causing you to miss a connection, you are entitled to compensation. The amount depends on the length of the delay and the route:
| Distance | Less than 3 hours | 3 to 4 hours | More than 4 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| All flights 1,500 km or less | ❌ | ✅ 250€ | ✅ 250€ |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 400€ | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights 1,500-3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 400€ | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km | ❌ | ✅ 300€ | ✅ 600€ |
By understanding the compensation amounts under EasyJet EU regulation 261/2004, you can ensure you receive what you’re entitled to if your connection is missed due to a flight delay. This includes compensation for the inconvenience and additional costs incurred due to the delay.
If your connection is missed due to a EasyJet flight cancellation, you have specific rights under EasyJet EU regulation 261.
- If the airline has not offered you an alternative flight, you can request a full refund for both connecting flights.
- If the airline provides an alternative flight, but you decline the offer, you can still request a full refund for the connecting flights.
- If the alternative flight causes you to arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours later, you can claim flight compensation.
- If your original flight was canceled less than 14 days before departure, you are also eligible for flight compensation.
EasyJet EU261 compensation table in case of delayed arrival at the final destination:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ €125 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | ✅ €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| ✅ €200 | ✅ €200 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| ✅ €200 | ✅ €200 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | ✅ €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| ✅ €300 | ✅ €300 | ✅ €300 | ✅ €600 | ✅ €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Understanding your rights under EasyJet EU regulation 261/2004 ensures you receive the appropriate compensation for missed connections caused by a cancelled flight. This compensation can help cover the inconvenience and additional costs incurred due to the cancellation.
Missed Connection Because of a Denied Boarding
If you are denied boarding due to an overbooked flight and miss a connection, you may also be eligible for compensation. The amount you are entitled to depends on the flight distance and route:
| Flight Distance and Itinerary | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| All flights 1,500km or less | ✅ 250€ |
| Internal EU flights over 1,500 km | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights between 1,500-3,500km | ✅ 400€ |
| Non-internal EU flights over 3,500km | ✅ 600€ |
By understanding the compensation entitlements under EasyJet EU261 compensation, you can ensure you receive what you’re owed if a missed connection occurs due to denied boarding. This compensation helps mitigate the inconvenience and additional costs resulting from the overbooking situation.
What is not Covered by EU 261?
It’s important to be aware of situations where the airline is not responsible for flight-related problems. According to EasyJet EU regulation 261, airlines are not required to pay compensation if the failure was caused by extraordinary circumstances. These are events beyond their control and include:
- Strikes initiated by airport employees or air traffic control
- Political unrest
- Inclement weather
- Security risks
However, airlines must demonstrate that they took reasonable steps to prevent the delay. Understanding these exceptions under EasyJet EU law for delayed flights ensures that passengers are aware of when they may not be eligible for compensation.
How to Claim EasyJet EU261 Compensation
Flight issues with EasyJet can arise for numerous reasons, but if you’ve been inconvenienced, you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004. Understanding your rights and the process to claim compensation can significantly ease this challenging situation.
- Complete the Compensation Form: Start your claim by filling out the Compensation Form with essential details about the disrupted flight, such as the flight number, the date, and a specific description of what went wrong.
- Submit Your Claim: After providing all the necessary information, submit your claim. Our experts will then take over, handling all the complexities of the claim process, from dealing with the airline to ensuring that all necessary documentation is in order. This meticulous approach gives you the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve.
By understanding your rights and following these steps, you can confidently claim the compensation you are entitled to for any flight disruptions with EasyJet. Let us help you navigate this process smoothly and effectively, ensuring you receive fair compensation with minimal hassle.