FAQ

​FAQ

In addition to the compensation of up to 600 euros, you can also claim the actual expenses such as accommodation, meals, and transportation (round trip from the airport to the hotel) to the airline.
If you would like to make a claim, please upload a photo or scan of a document (receipt, receipt, etc.) that shows the amount.

The airline is obliged to provide an alternative flight, and if this is not possible, the original ticket price will be refunded. On the other hand, the costs of alternative means of transportation (air tickets/rail tickets, etc.) arranged separately by individuals are not eligible for compensation under EU261 law. However, there are some cases where actual costs may be claimed, such as when the airline fails to make every possible effort to provide an alternative flight. We recommend that you attach the receipt from AirHelp's form at the time of application.

EU261 compensation is only compensation for the mental burden caused by delays and cancellations, and does not cover cancellation fees for hotels, activities, etc. that occur at the destination. Therefore, even if you make a claim, there is a high possibility that you will not be eligible for compensation.
We recommend that you explain the situation to the hotel/vendor where you made the reservation and negotiate for a waiver of the cancellation fee.
*It is possible to try to make a claim. In that case, please attach a receipt etc.

For codeshare flights, you must bill the airline that actually operated the aircraft, not the codeshare airline. For short-haul flights within Europe, even if the flight number is for a major airline, there are many cases in which a smaller airline is actually contracted to operate the flight, which is a hurdle for claiming EU261 compensation.
AirHelp's application system allows you to automatically determine the appropriate billing destination and proceed with the procedure by entering the flight number and flight information.

If a short-haul flight of 1,500 km or less is delayed for more than 2 hours, airlines must provide snacks, etc. In response to this, there are blog posts that say, ``Delays of 2 hours or more will be subject to a compensation of 250 euros,'' but this is incorrect.
Based on past case law, EU261 compensation is only payable if the arrival of a short-haul flight is delayed by more than three hours.

If your flight is cancelled, you will not always be eligible for EU261 compensation. Extraordinary circumstances where the reason for cancellation is not the fault of the airline In addition to cases where the following conditions apply, compensation will not be provided if the replacement ticket meets the following conditions:

1. If cancellation is notified more than 2 weeks before the departure date
2. If the cancellation is notified 2 weeks to 7 days before the departure date, and the replacement ticket "departs at least 2 hours before the original scheduled time, and the expected arrival time is delayed by a maximum of 4 hours."
2. If the cancellation is notified less than 7 days before the departure date and the replacement ticket "departs at least 1 hour before the original scheduled time and the scheduled arrival time is delayed by a maximum of 2 hours"​

Based on past case law, delays and cancellations caused by strikes by airline pilots, flight attendants, ground staff, etc. are the responsibility of the airline and are subject to EU261 compensation.
On the other hand, if the delay or cancellation is caused by an external party, such as an air traffic control agency or airport security staff, there is a high possibility that you will not be eligible for payment.

EU261 law does not specify compensation standards in the event of a missed connection.
However, past court precedents have shown that the transit destination is the final destination. Destination) and calculate the delay duration and distance. In this case, even if the delay at the connecting point is within 3 hours, you will be eligible for compensation if your arrival at your final destination is delayed by more than the compensation standard due to a failed connection.
However, if you are using an LCC or have issued separate tickets, you will not be eligible for compensation as there is no transfer guarantee.

*For example, if you have a Copenhagen->Amsterdam->Narita Airport itinerary (with a 2-hour layover) and the flight between Copenhagen and Amsterdam is delayed for 1.5 hours and you are unable to make the connection and are rescheduled to the next day, the flight will be considered to have been delayed for more than 4 hours and will be eligible for compensation of 600 euros.

Even within the EU, the statute of limitations varies from country to country, with many countries having a statute of limitations of 2 to 5 years. Since it will be difficult to confirm the reason for the delay, EU261.net recommends applying as soon as possible (within six months) after the event occurs.

​Even tickets acquired using mileage are eligible for EU261 compensation.

Even children can receive the same amount of compensation as adults if they reserve a seat.
Infants who do not occupy a seat are not eligible for EU261 compensation.​

EU261 is compensation for passengers who have suffered mental/emotional burden due to delays and cancellations, so you can claim it even if you are traveling on a business trip.
However, it depends on each company's policy as to whether you can actually receive it, so please check with the person in charge at your company. As a general rule, the remittance from AirHelp will be sent to an account in the passenger's name.

You can apply as an individual passenger even if you are on a tour (group tour) run by a travel agency. Please have the flight ticket information provided by your travel agency ready before applying.

Depending on the airline and the complexity of the case, the process typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Our partner company, AirHelp, negotiates with airlines, and in addition to receiving periodic progress reports via email, you can also check the latest status on AirHelp's My Page. Please contact AirHelp's customer support directly for information on the individual status of applications made through AirHelp in the past.

If you use AirHelp, our partner company, there is no cost to apply as there is a complete success fee system. Only if compensation is obtained, 35% of the compensation amount (50% if additional legal proceedings are taken) will be deducted as a service fee according to AirHelp's regulations.
Please check the latest information provided on AirHelp's application screen for the final amount received and applicable fee rate.

To prove your legitimate claim against the airline, you will be asked to submit a copy of your passport or other identification document and a power of attorney with an electronic signature during the AirHelp process. Please be assured that the personal information you enter will be handled in accordance with AirHelp's global security standards and GDPR (European General Data Protection Regulation).

Even if you do not have a boarding pass, you can apply if you have an e-ticket copy with your reservation number or a reservation confirmation email.

It is difficult to claim for hotel, food, and transportation expenses if you do not have a photo/scan of the receipt/receipt that shows the actual amount.