Missed Your Connecting Flight? Possible Compensation of Up to EUR600 Under EU261

If you missed your connecting flight due to a delay and all flights were on a single booking, you may be entitled to EUR250-600 compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 -- provided you arrive at least 3 hours late at your final destination. The distance is calculated as the great circle distance between origin and final destination.

Am I entitled to compensation for a missed connection?

You may be entitled to EUR 250-600 under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 if a delay on one leg made you miss your connection and you reached your final destination 3 or more hours late — provided all flights were on a single booking. The European Court of Justice confirmed this in Folkerts (C-11/11): what counts is the delay at the final destination, not at the transfer airport. The amount depends on the great-circle distance from origin to final destination: EUR 250 up to 1,500 km, EUR 400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and all other flights up to 3,500 km, EUR 600 for all other flights. Even a connection missed outside the EU can qualify if the journey started at an EU airport on one booking (C-502/18). Your claim is against the operating carrier of the disrupted flight, not the airline that sold the ticket. You can claim yourself, free of charge; ClaimEU261 drafts the legally referenced complaint letter for a one-time flat fee.

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How much compensation can you claim for a missed connection?

EU261 compensation table for missed connections
Total Distance (Great Circle)CompensationExample Route
Up to 1,500 km250 EURStuttgart - Copenhagen (via Munich)
1,500 to 3,500 km, plus all flights within the EU over 1,500 km400 EURHamburg - Crete (via Athens)
All other flights (between the EU and a non-EU country, over 3,500 km)600 EURBerlin - Los Angeles (via London)

Flights to the EU's outermost regions — such as the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores or Réunion — count as flights within the EU. The Regulation therefore provides 400 euros for them, even where the distance exceeds 3,500 km.

Important: Single booking required

The compensation claim only applies if all flights were booked on a single reservation (one PNR/booking reference). If you booked the flights separately, each flight is treated independently and the missed connection is at your own risk.

How do you claim missed connection compensation yourself?

  1. 1

    Check eligibility

    Verify that all flights were on a single booking and that you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late.

  2. 2

    Enter flight data

    Enter the departure airport (first flight) and destination airport (last flight). Compensation is based on the total distance.

  3. 3

    Generate complaint letter

    Our AI creates a complaint letter documenting the missed connection and your total delay -- for 10.00 EUR.

  4. 4

    Send to airline

    Download the letter as a PDF and send it to the airline that operated the delayed feeder flight.

When are you entitled to compensation — and when not?

You have a claim if:

  • All flights on a single booking (PNR)
  • Delay at final destination exceeds 3 hours
  • First flight departed from the EU or entire journey with EU airline

No claim if:

  • Flights were booked separately (different PNRs)
  • Arrival delay at final destination under 3 hours
  • Extraordinary circumstances caused the delay
  • You missed the connection due to your own fault

EU261 reform 2026: The EU has adopted new air passenger rights rules, but they only start applying around the second half of 2027. Flights today are governed by the current rules described on this page.

To the reform tracker: what changes — and what applies today

Airline rejected your claim or gone silent?

What you can reply — with CJEU citations

Frequently Asked Questions

When may I be entitled to compensation for a missed connection?
You may be entitled to compensation if all flights were booked on a single booking (PNR), you missed your connecting flight due to a delay on the first leg, and you arrived at your final destination at least 3 hours late.
How is the distance calculated for connecting flights?
The relevant distance is the great circle distance between the departure airport and the final destination -- not the sum of individual segments. This was confirmed by the ECJ in case C-11/11 (Air France v. Folkerts).
What if I booked the flights separately?
With separate bookings (different PNRs), each flight is treated as an independent journey. If the first flight was delayed, you can only claim for that specific flight. The missed connection is at your own risk.
How is the delay calculated?
Only the arrival delay at the final destination (last airport on the booking) counts, not the delay of individual flights. If you miss your connection but arrive only 2 hours late on the next flight, there is no claim.
What about connections outside the EU?
If the first flight departs from the EU, EU261 applies to the entire journey -- even if the connection is outside the EU. If the first flight departs from outside the EU, EU261 only applies with EU airlines.
Does the airline have to offer me a replacement flight?
Yes, if you miss your connection, the airline must rebook you on the next available flight or refund your ticket price. The duty of care (meals, hotel) also applies.
Can I claim compensation if I only just missed my connection?
Yes, even if the delay on the feeder flight was small, only the arrival delay at the final destination counts. If it exceeds 3 hours, you may have a claim.

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The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. No liability is accepted for accuracy or completeness. For complex cases, we recommend consulting a lawyer.