EU261 passenger rights

EU261 protects covered flights—not every loss from the journey.

EU261 can provide care, transport choices and fixed compensation for covered disruption. Baggage loss and expense reimbursement remain a separate legal track.

Reviewed 1 September 2026

01

Check EU route coverage

EU passenger-rights guidance covers flights within the EU, flights departing the EU regardless of airline, and flights arriving in the EU from outside it when operated by an EU airline. The rules also extend to Iceland, Norway and Switzerland in the way described by official EU guidance.

A non-EU inbound flight operated by a non-EU airline is generally outside EU261, although another national regime may apply.

02

Use the current operational rules

Current Your Europe guidance lists €250, €400 and €600 compensation bands, subject to distance, final-destination delay, cancellation timing, re-routing and extraordinary circumstances. Some long-haul re-routed or delayed outcomes can result in a 50% reduction.

EU institutions approved further passenger-rights changes in 2026. BagBack does not apply a proposal or newly approved change until it is legally in force for the journey and reflected in operative official guidance.

03

Claim from the operating airline

The airline that sold the ticket may not be the operating carrier. Submit the claim to the operator first, keeping the booking, boarding pass, arrival time, cause correspondence and receipts.

04

Run baggage loss as a different claim

EU261 fixed compensation does not replace a Montreal Convention baggage claim. A passenger may potentially pursue both when both sets of facts qualify, but each requires its own legal test and evidence, without double recovery for the same expense.

Common questions

What passengers ask next.

Does EU261 apply to a flight from the UK?

It may apply in limited cases, such as an EU-airline flight arriving in the EU. UK261 may also be relevant. The route and operating carrier decide coverage.

Are the 2026 EU changes already used by this guide?

This guide uses current operative official passenger guidance. It does not treat a proposal or approved reform as applicable before its legal commencement.

Does EU261 pay for lost baggage?

No. Baggage loss is a separate claim, commonly under the Montreal Convention for covered international carriage.