EU261 · Aer LingusUpdated July 2026

Aer Lingus Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Claim Up to €600 Under EU261

As an Irish carrier operating within the EU, Aer Lingus is fully subject to EU Regulation 261/2004. A delay of 3+ hours at arrival or a cancellation with less than 14 days' notice entitles you to fixed cash compensation — including on transatlantic routes to the US and Canada.

Irish law: 6-year claim window

Under Irish contract law, Aer Lingus compensation claims can be filed up to 6 years after the flight. A delayed Dublin–New York flight from 2020 is still claimable in 2026.

Am I eligible?

Flight departed from an EU, UK, Norway, or Iceland airport on Aer Lingus
Flight arrived in EU/UK operated by Aer Lingus (an EU carrier)
Arrival delay of 3+ hours at your final destination
Cancellation notified fewer than 14 days before departure
Denied boarding due to overbooking
Transatlantic routes (Dublin–US/Canada) — Aer Lingus pre-clears US customs in Dublin, still covered by EU261
Extraordinary circumstances: severe weather, ATC strikes, genuine security events

Compensation amounts

Flight distanceExample routesCompensation
Under 1,500 kmDublin–London, Dublin–Paris€250
1,500–3,500 kmDublin–Lisbon, Dublin–Athens€400
Over 3,500 km (4h+ delay)Dublin–New York, Dublin–Boston, Dublin–Chicago€600

How to claim Aer Lingus EU261 compensation

  1. 1

    File directly with Aer Lingus

    Aer Lingus has an online EU261 claim form. Submit your booking reference, flight number, and actual arrival time. Aer Lingus must respond within 14 days.

    Aer Lingus customer relations →
  2. 2

    If denied or no reply: escalate to the Commission for Aviation Regulation

    The Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) handles EU261 disputes. UK passengers can use the CAA or CEDR arbitration. Both are free.

    Commission for Aviation Regulation →
  3. 3

    Use a claims service (easiest for transatlantic claims)

    Transatlantic EU261 claims against Aer Lingus can be complex. AirHelp handles the full process — they take ~25% only if they win.

    Check via AirHelp →

Aer Lingus denial tactics to watch for

  • "Extraordinary circumstances" for technical faults — court-tested and routinely rejected by Irish courts
  • Claiming the transatlantic route is not covered by EU261 — it is, because the flight departs from Dublin (EU)
  • Offering Avios points or travel credits instead of cash — you have the right to demand cash
  • Calculating delay at departure, not arrival — EU261 measures delay when the aircraft door opens at the destination
  • Not responding within 14 days — this is grounds to escalate immediately to the CAR

Find past Aer Lingus delays in your inbox

SubRadar scans your Gmail or Outlook for Aer Lingus booking confirmation emails from the past 6 years and surfaces any flights that were delayed or cancelled where you may still be able to claim.

Scan my flight emails — free

Connect Gmail or Outlook. SubRadar detects your Aer Lingus flights and flags potential EU261 claims within the 6-year window.

Scan my inbox free →