EU261 Reform Delay Compensation Thresholds
EU261 reform headlines can make passengers hesitate. For a claim today, the safest starting point is the current rule that applied to your disrupted flight, not a proposed threshold that has not replaced it.
Quick answer
Current EU261 delay compensation is still built around arrival at the final destination 3 or more hours late, fixed distance-based amounts, and the airline's extraordinary-circumstances defence. Reform proposals should be monitored, but passengers should not rewrite current claims around future thresholds unless an official change is in force.
Use the disruption date, route, and final-arrival delay before reacting to reform headlines.
Current Claim Rules To Use Now
| Issue | Current claim position | Claim-preparation note |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival delay | 3+ hours at final destination | Use the actual arrival time, not departure delay. |
| Amount | EUR250, EUR400, or EUR600 | Depends mainly on flight distance and delay band. |
| Airline defence | Extraordinary circumstances | The airline must explain the specific event and why it could not avoid the delay. |
| Claim timing | National limitation period | Deadline varies by country, so do not wait for reform headlines. |
How To Read Reform Headlines
Longer delay thresholds
Some reform discussions have involved changing when compensation starts for longer flights. Treat this as policy risk, not today's claim rule.
Clearer rerouting and information duties
Passenger-rights updates may improve process clarity, but they do not remove the need to document your actual flight timeline.
Headlines about passenger-rights cuts
Do not let headlines stop a current claim. Use the rules in force on the disruption date unless an official change has actually taken effect.
If The Airline Mentions Reform
- Write the claim under the current EU261 or UK261 rule that applied on the disruption date.
- Use final-arrival delay and flight distance instead of proposed future thresholds.
- Save airline emails in case the airline later cites reform headlines or policy uncertainty.
- If the airline rejects the claim, ask for a specific legal reason, not a general reference to reform.
Related Guides
Prepare The Claim Under Today's Rule
A clear current-law claim is stronger than a reform debate. Start with final-arrival delay, distance, airline reason, and evidence.
Check current eligibilitySource note
This guide separates current EU261 and UK261 claim rules from public EU passenger-rights reform discussions reviewed on 2026-07-11. Use official current-law guidance for live claims and monitor EU institutions for enacted changes.
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.