A five-hour delay to New York
The case most people picture. The amount comes from the regulation, not an opinion — and the cash is only part of what she is owed.
Sample flight
Paris (CDG) → New York (JFK)
Air France AF1234 · arrived 5 hours late
- Spotted the disruption
- Worked out your rights
- Checked the regulation, line by line
Your claim letter
We draft it. You send it.Add your booking reference and name where the brackets are — we can't file the claim for you.
Subject: EU261 compensation claim — flight AF1234 To: Air France — Customer Relations Date: 14 March 2026 Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to claim the compensation I am owed under EU261 for the disruption to flight AF1234. Flight: AF1234 Booking reference: [your booking reference] Passenger(s): [full name(s) of everyone on the booking] Under EU261 I am entitled to €600, on the following basis: - Article 7(1): Under EU261 Article 7(1), a passenger on a non-intra-Community flight of more than 3,500 km who arrives at the final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time is entitled to €600 compensation. - Article 5(1)(c): Under EU261 Article 5(1)(c), the operating air carrier must compensate passengers in accordance with Article 7 unless it can prove the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided. The airline is required by law to inform passengers of their rights to compensation and assistance. Please confirm payment within 14 days. If I do not receive a satisfactory response, I will refer this claim to the National Enforcement Body of the country of departure, and pursue the matter through the competent alternative dispute resolution body or the courts. I am bringing this claim within the applicable time limit, which varies by the country of departure (commonly between two and six years). Please make payment to: [your payment details] Yours faithfully, [your full name]