EasyJet Flight Delay Compensation: How to Claim Up to €600 in 2026
Last updated: July 2026 · 8 min read
EasyJet delayed or cancelled your flight? Under EU261 (or UK261 for UK routes), you may be entitled to fixed compensation of up to €600 per person — regardless of the ticket price you paid. EasyJet does not make this easy. Here is the exact process to get what you are owed.
Quick summary
- ✓ EU261 applies to EasyJet — all flights departing from EU/UK airports, and all arrivals from outside EU on EasyJet (EU carrier)
- € €250 / €400 / €600 fixed compensation — based on distance, not ticket price
- ⏱ 3+ hours late at arrival triggers your right (not departure time)
- ✗ EasyJet routinely rejects valid claims — CAA escalation is free and effective
- ⏳ UK claim window: 6 years — one of the longest in Europe
Does EU261 cover your EasyJet flight?
EU Regulation 261/2004 (and its UK equivalent, UK261) applies to any EasyJet flight where:
- — The flight departed from any EU country (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, etc.) — regardless of destination
- — The flight departed from the UK — UK261 applies with identical rules and a 6-year claim window
- — The flight arrived in the EU/UK from outside and EasyJet (an EU/UK carrier) operated it
Since EasyJet flies exclusively short-to-medium haul European and North African routes, virtually every EasyJet flight falls under EU261 or UK261.
EasyJet post-Brexit: which regulation applies?
EasyJet operates under both regimes. Flights from UK airports fall under UK261. Flights from EU airports fall under EU261. The rules are identical — same amounts, same eligibility criteria. The main difference is which national authority handles escalation (CAA for UK, national body for EU departures).
How much compensation can you claim from EasyJet?
| Flight distance | Delay at arrival | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | 3+ hours | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | 3–4 hours | €300 |
| Over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | €600 |
Most EasyJet routes are under 1,500 km — London–Amsterdam, Manchester–Malaga, Paris–Lisbon. These qualify for €250. Longer routes such as London–Marrakech or London–Hurghada (over 3,500 km) qualify for €400–€600.
EasyJet's most common claim rejection tactics
"ATC restrictions" or "air traffic control"
EasyJet frequently cites ATC restrictions as an extraordinary circumstance. While genuine ATC strikes can qualify, generic "ATC flow restrictions" (which are routine daily occurrences at busy European airports) do not. EasyJet conflates the two deliberately.
Counter: Ask EasyJet to confirm whether it was an ATC strike or a routine flow restriction. Eurocontrol publishes daily ATC disruption reports. If the delay was flow management (not a strike), the defence fails.
"Technical fault" — the most overused excuse
EasyJet cites technical faults regularly. The ECJ ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia (2008) that routine technical problems are inherent to airline operations and are NOT extraordinary circumstances. Only hidden manufacturing defects that could not have been found during normal maintenance qualify.
Counter: State the Wallentin-Hermann ruling in your response. Demand the specific technical report. If EasyJet cannot prove a hidden defect (not routine maintenance), their defence fails.
Slow processing — weeks or months of silence
EasyJet is known for delayed claim responses. They often take 6–12 weeks to respond, betting that passengers give up.
Counter: In your initial claim email, state you expect a response within 14 days and that you will escalate to the CAA (or relevant NEB) after 8 weeks. This puts EasyJet on notice and creates a paper trail regulators will accept.
Offering low vouchers or partial settlement
EasyJet may offer travel credit or a partial payment (e.g., £75 on a valid €250 claim) as a "goodwill gesture." This is not your legal entitlement.
Counter: Reject in writing. State you are entitled to the full statutory EU261/UK261 amount in cash, and that you do not accept vouchers or partial settlement.
Step-by-step: how to claim compensation from EasyJet
Verify your delay
Check your actual arrival time via FlightAware or FlightRadar24 — not the scheduled time, not the departure time. If you touched down 3+ hours after scheduled arrival, you qualify. Save a screenshot.
Submit via EasyJet's claims portal
EasyJet has an online EU261 claim form. Submit there first — it starts the clock and creates a reference number.
easyjet.com — flight disruption claimsYou will need your booking reference and passport/ID details. Screenshot your submission confirmation.
Back up with a formal email
Always send a formal claim email as well. This creates an undeniable paper trail for regulators.
Email: legal@easyjet.com (for legal/formal claims)
See the email template below, or use our EU261 claim letter template.
Wait 8 weeks — then escalate for free
If EasyJet has not resolved your claim within 8 weeks, escalate to CEDR (the UK government-approved dispute resolution scheme for aviation) or your national NEB if departing from an EU airport. CEDR adjudication is free for passengers.
cedr.com/aviation — free adjudication for UK passengersEmail template: EasyJet EU261 claim
Send to legal@easyjet.com — Subject: EU261/UK261 Compensation Claim — Flight [EZY + number] — [Date]
Escalation routes if EasyJet refuses
EasyJet is a CEDR member. CEDR adjudicates disputes for free and their decisions are binding on EasyJet. Faster and more effective than the CAA route for UK passengers.
cedr.com/aviationHow far back can you claim against EasyJet?
The time limit depends on where your flight departed:
- — UK departures: 6 years
- — France departures: 5 years
- — Germany departures: 3 years (from end of calendar year)
- — Spain departures: 5 years
- — Portugal departures: 3 years
- — Netherlands departures: 2 years
Full breakdown: EU261 time limits by country.
Not sure if your EasyJet delay qualifies?
SubRadar scans your past flights for EU261 and UK261 compensation you may be owed — automatically, for free. We cross-check distance, arrival delay, and cause of disruption.
Scan my EasyJet flights free →Want someone to handle it for you?
AirHelp manages the full claim on your behalf — including fighting EasyJet rejections and escalating to CEDR or national regulators. No-win-no-fee: you pay nothing unless they win.
Check your EasyJet EU261 claim →Frequently asked questions
My EasyJet flight was delayed due to ATC restrictions — can I still claim?
Possibly. Genuine ATC strikes are extraordinary circumstances. But routine ATC flow restrictions (which happen daily at major airports and are part of normal operations) do not exempt EasyJet from paying. If your delay was "ATC flow management" rather than a strike, you likely have a valid claim. Request clarification from EasyJet on the specific ATC event.
EasyJet said my delay was a "technical fault." Do I still qualify?
Almost certainly yes. The ECJ ruled (Wallentin-Hermann, 2008) that routine technical faults are part of normal airline operations — not extraordinary circumstances. Only an undetectable manufacturing defect qualifies. EasyJet uses "technical fault" as a blanket denial. Challenge it by citing the ECJ ruling and demanding the specific technical report.
Can I claim for all passengers on my booking?
Yes. Each passenger on the booking is entitled to the full compensation amount separately. A family of four on a qualifying €250 delay each gets €250 — that is €1,000 total. You can claim on behalf of all passengers in your booking.
My EasyJet flight was cancelled. What am I owed?
For cancellations, you are entitled to: (1) a full refund OR rerouting at no extra cost, AND (2) fixed compensation of €250–€600 unless EasyJet notified you more than 14 days before departure. If notified between 7–14 days with an acceptable alternative flight, compensation is reduced. Under 7 days notice always triggers full compensation.
How long does an EasyJet claim take?
Direct claims to EasyJet typically take 4–12 weeks. CEDR adjudication takes around 3 months but is free and legally binding. Claims management companies (like AirHelp) can often resolve faster because they have direct escalation channels with airline claims teams.