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English
By RightEuropean rights, in situation
ODERSA association · Rights programmeIndependent educational site. Not an official website of the European Union.

Official redress

Real redress, in order

Four steps, to be climbed in this order: the first one is the one you never skip.

Law as verified onAugust 10, 2026

File EU 261/2004

General information, not legal advice on your case. Every remedy has a time limit, often set by national rules: act early, and check the limit that applies to your case before you wait.

  1. The airline, through its own form

    Straight away

    The step you do not skip. Quote the Regulation, the file number, the distance, the actual arrival time and the amount claimed. Attach the screenshot of the delay board and the receipts. Keep the date you sent it: that is what starts the two months running.

    Air passenger rights (Your Europe, European Union)

  2. The national body of the country where it happened

    After 2 months with no reply

    With no reply after two months, or with a reply that does not satisfy you. It issues a non-binding legal opinion on what to do next. The European Commission publishes the list of the twenty-seven designated bodies.

    National enforcement bodies (European Commission)

  3. The European Consumer Centre in your country

    At any time

    The official EU page points you to your local European Consumer Centre for help and advice on problems related to air passenger rights.

    European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net)

  4. The European Small Claims Procedure

    Last resort

    A written procedure, provided for by EU law for cross-border claims. The Regulation that sets it up states in black and white that representation by a lawyer or another legal professional is not mandatory.

    Small claims (e-Justice portal, European Union)

The limitation periods for suing an airline in court are set by national rules: this site does not cover them, because it only presents the European baseline common to all twenty-seven.

File EU 261/2004

The items in this file

Every item has its own page. The situation is played here; what you keep, what you send and what you re-read live next door.

Play the situationThe file, decision by decisionThe sheet to printThe reflexes to keep, each with its official textThe written walkthroughThe whole situation item by item, answers includedThe rights, one by oneEvery right taught on this site, with its sourceThe next situationThe lost bag