Missed Your Connecting Flight? Claim Up to EUR600

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

Compensation amounts (origin to final destination)

EU261 compensation table for missed connections
Total Distance (Great Circle)CompensationExample Route
Up to 1,500 km250 EURStuttgart - Copenhagen (via Munich)
1.500 - 3.500 km400 EURHamburg - Crete (via Athens)
Over 3,500 km600 EURBerlin - Los Angeles (via London)

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.

4 steps to your compensation

  1. 1

    Check eligibility

    Verify that all flights were on a single booking and that you arrived at your final destination more than 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 8.40 EUR.

  4. 4

    Send to airline

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

Conditions and exceptions

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

Frequently Asked Questions

When am I entitled to compensation for a missed connection?
You are 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 more than 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 have a claim.

Create your complaint letter now

Professional EU261 complaint letter in minutes -- for just 8.40 EUR.

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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.