EU261 Claim Letter Example
This example shows the tone and structure of a practical EU261 compensation letter. It is not a magic script: the airline still needs your route, delay, evidence, amount, and passenger details.
Quick answer
A strong EU261 letter states the covered flight, the disruption, the fixed compensation amount, and the evidence. It also asks the airline to give a specific, evidence-backed reason if it refuses.
Use the example after confirming route coverage, amount, and deadline risk.
Example Letter Wording
I am writing to claim compensation under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 for flight [flight number] from [departure airport] to [arrival airport] on [date].
The flight arrived at my final destination [delay length] late. My booking reference was [reference], and the affected passengers were [names].
Based on the flight distance and arrival delay, I request compensation of EUR[250/400/600] per passenger. I attach the booking confirmation, boarding pass or e-ticket, airline notification, and proof of final arrival delay.
If you reject this claim, please provide the specific disruption reason, the evidence you rely on, and the reasonable measures taken to avoid or reduce the delay.
Do not send bracketed placeholders. Replace them with your facts and attach evidence before submitting.
How To Adjust The Example
- Replace every bracketed field with your flight facts before sending.
- Use final arrival delay for delay claims, especially if the departure delay was shorter.
- For cancellations, replace the delay sentence with the cancellation notice date and replacement arrival time.
- For denied boarding, state that you had a confirmed reservation, presented yourself on time, and did not volunteer.
- Keep the first letter concise. Save legal argument for a rejection response unless the airline has already refused.
If The Airline Rejects The Example Letter
| Airline says | Reply angle |
|---|---|
| Extraordinary circumstances | Ask for the exact event, timing, operational evidence, and why the event affected this flight specifically. |
| Technical fault | Ask for the precise defect and whether it was a routine operational fault or a genuinely external hidden defect. |
| Weather | Ask whether other flights operated, what restrictions applied, and what re-routing or recovery steps were attempted. |
| Claim filed too late | Check the national limitation period before accepting the refusal. EU261 itself does not set one universal deadline. |
Escalation-Ready Follow-Up
If the airline refuses or goes silent, the next message should narrow the dispute. A complaint body can review a cleaner file when your timeline and evidence are already organised.
- Save the submitted claim, upload receipt, or airline portal screenshot.
- Wait for the airline response window used by the airline or complaint route.
- If the airline rejects, answer the exact reason instead of sending the same claim again.
- If the airline ignores the file, prepare a short timeline for ADR, an enforcement body, or court route.
Related Guides
Do Not Guess The Amount
Check the route, distance band, arrival delay, and deadline before putting a number in your EU261 letter.
Start the free claim checkSource note
The example is based on EU261 claim-preparation practice and the fixed compensation structure of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Verify airline-specific portals, national deadlines, and escalation bodies before filing.
Disclaimer
This guide is provided for informational purposes only. FlightClaimGuide does not provide legal advice and recommends seeking independent professional advice for complex legal matters.