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EU-261 Passenger Rights
The article explains passenger care entitlements and compensation claims for flight delays or cancellations.
In the unfortunate event of a flight delay or flight cancellation, we do our best to minimize the impact of these circumstances. See below for more information on your care entitlements, as well as instructions on how to claim travel expenses and compensation.
EU261 regulations provide compensation and assistance for passengers facing denied boarding, flight cancellations, or long delays. If re-routed promptly, passengers may receive meals, refreshments, two calls or emails, hotel accommodation if needed, and transport between the airport and accommodation. These entitlements do not apply if opting for later re-routing or a refund.
EU261 regulations are common rules on compensation and assist passengers event of denied boarding, flight cancellations or long flight delays.
If you have experienced a flight delay or flight cancellation and you choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, you may be entitled to the following:
- Meals and Refreshments that are reasonable in relation to the waiting time;
- Two telephone calls or e-mails;
- Reasonable hotel accommodation where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary;
- Transport that is reasonable between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other).
*Please note that the above care entitlements are not applicable should you choose to be re-routed at a later date at your convenience or if you choose to get a refund.
EU261 applies to passengers flying from or to the EU/EEA, with compensation amounts based on flight distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km or other flights between 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km. Eligibility criteria apply.
EU261 affects passengers departing from/arriving into the European Union and the European Economic Area.
Please note, not all passengers are entitled to EU261 compensation. Eligibility is determined by a number of criteria, which can be found in the applicable Passenger Rights Regulations.
Monetary compensation is determined by the following distances between departure/arrival airports:
- €250 in respect of all flights of 1,500 km or less or;
- €400 in respect of all intra-EU flights of more than 1,500 km and for all other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km or;
- €600 in respect of all non-internal EU flights of more than 3,500 km.
If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you may be eligible for compensation or expenses, but check eligibility and rules before claiming.
If your flight has been cancelled or delayed you might be eligible for compensation or expenses. There are various rules and restrictions regarding making a claim, therefore it is advised to check your eligibility before requesting compensation and expenses.
For more information on your options for a delayed flight, click here.
For more information on your options for a cancelled flight, click here.
Compensation for disrupted Ryanair flights depends on eligibility. Passengers are generally not entitled to compensation if delays or cancellations are due to extraordinary circumstances outside Ryanair’s control, if notified over 14 days in advance, or if the delay at the final destination is less than three hours.
Entitled for compensation for disrupted flights depends on eligibility criteria.
- If the flight delay or cancellation is outside of Ryanair’s control. These are extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided by all reasonable measures. They include, adverse weather conditions, de-icing, lightning strikes, runway/airport closure, strike action, issues with Air Traffic Control, bird strike, foreign object debris, external handling difficulties, security and medical emergencies;
- If you were notified of a flight cancellation more than 14 days in advance of your scheduled departure date;
- If your flight was delayed and arrives at its final destination with a delay that is less than 3 hours.
Ryanair advises customers with valid EU261 compensation claims to apply directly through its website to receive full compensation, warning that third-party “claims chaser” firms may deduct over 40% in fees. Customers can use Ryanair’s user-friendly compensation form to avoid these charges.
Ryanair urges customers with valid EU261 compensation claims to submit their claims directly to Ryanair and avoid “claims chaser” firms who can deduct over 40% of a €250 claim in fees. Customers with valid claims who claim directly from Ryanair will receive 100% of their EU261 compensation entitlement without the deduction of these excessive “claims chaser” fees. Customers may submit claims to Ryanair via our user-friendly compensation form.
For more information on your options for a delayed flight, click here.
For more information on your options for a cancelled flight, click here.
Ryanair assesses flight disruptions individually and only compensates when responsible. If dissatisfied with their decision, customers can contact local ADR bodies or submit separate claims for expenses, even if compensation is not granted. Relevant links are provided for further action.
We understand that flight disruptions are frustrating, but most fall outside of our control. All of our flight disruptions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis at flight level by our Operations team. We will only pay compensation for disruptions that we are responsible for.
If you are not happy with the decision, you can also take the following steps:
- Contact your local ADR. You may find a list of local ADR bodies in your country here.
- Claim expenses. Compensation and expense requests are submitted and reviewed separately. While we only pay compensation for flight disruptions we are responsible for, you may still be entitled to expenses. We invite you to submit an expenses request by clicking here.
If dissatisfied with the decision, you can contact your local ADR or submit a compensation request through the provided links for further assistance.
If you are not happy with the decision, you can also take the following steps:
To claim using the customer claim form, you must verify you are a named passenger on the booking by confirming your travel document. Claims on behalf of others must be submitted through their own myRyanair account for security.
We need to make sure that the person claiming is an actual passenger on the booking in order to let you claiming on the customers' claim form.
If you are a passenger on the booking, you will need to confirm it by verifying your travel document so we will make sure that your actually a named passenger on the booking and the owner of the myRyanair account.
If you are claiming on behalf of a family member or friend, you would need to do it though their own myRyanair account for security reasons.