easyJet Compensation Claims for Delayed and Cancelled Flights: What You’re Owed

'If your easyJet flight reaches its final destination 3+ hours late, or is cancelled with under 14 days' notice for a reason within easyJet's control, you can claim £220-£520 (UK261) or €250-€600 (EU261) per passenger.

Key takeaways

1. easyJet passengers flying to, from, or within the UK are protected by UK261, which mirrors EU261 and can entitle you to compensation and care during disruptions.

2. You can claim up to £520 for UK261 or €600 for EU261 per passenger if your easyJet flight arrives 3 or more hours late and the airline is responsible.

3. Arrival time is measured when the aircraft doors open, not when the plane lands, and this detail often determines whether compensation is owed.

4. easyJet must provide meals, refreshments, and communication, depending on the delay length (starts at 2 hours; based on flight distance), and overnight delays require hotel accommodation and transport.

5. Cancellations within 14 days can also trigger easyJet compensation, and in some cases, passengers can also recover additional out-of-pocket costs.

Your rights when an easyJet flight is delayed or cancelled

In general, UK261 applies to easyJet flights departing from the UK, as well as eligible easyJet flights arriving in the UK. EU261 applies to flights departing from the European Union and eligible easyJet flights arriving in the EU from outside the bloc. 

Depending on your route and operating carrier, one or both sets of rules may apply.

These two sets of rules are nearly identical. Both were created to protect passengers who experience flight disruptions and ensure that they receive fair treatment from the airline.

In general, UK261 applies to easyJet flights departing from the UK, as well as eligible easyJet flights arriving in the UK. EU261 applies to flights departing from the European Union and eligible easyJet flights arriving in the EU from outside the bloc. 

These two sets of rules are nearly identical. Both were created to protect passengers who experience flight disruptions and ensure that they receive fair treatment from the airline.

Depending on your route and operating carrier, one or both sets of rules may apply:

Which easyJet airline operated your flight? 

easyJet flights are operated by one of three group airlines. EZY flights are normally operated by easyJet UK Limited, EJU flights by easyJet Europe Airline GmbH in Austria, and EZS flights by easyJet Switzerland S.A.

The operating airline can affect which regulation applies to an inbound flight. easyJet UK is a UK carrier, so UK261 can cover its flights arriving in the UK from abroad. easyJet Europe is an EU carrier, so EU261 can cover its flights arriving in the EU from a non-EU country, while UK261 can also cover eligible easyJet Europe flights arriving in the UK. 

easyJet Switzerland operates under Switzerland’s adoption of EC261, which also protects qualifying flights from third countries into Switzerland or the EU.

easyJet delay compensation: when you can claim & how much

Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EU261) and UK261, as interpreted by the CJEU in Sturgeon (C-402/07, 2009), you're owed compensation if you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late. 

Arrival time is when at least one door opens (CJEU Germanwings, C-452/13, 2014).

However, if the delay was caused by an airport strike or air traffic control restrictions, then you will not be eligible for compensation. This is because events like these are beyond the airline’s control.

On the other hand, if you were delayed because of controllable issues, then you will likely qualify for a payout based on the distance of your flight. 

For example, technical faults don't count as extraordinary circumstances (Jet2.com v Huzar, Court of Appeal 2014; CJEU van der Lans C-257/14). A strike by easyJet's own staff doesn't either (CJEU C-28/20, 2021).

If the delay could have been prevented, then the following compensation is possible:

easyJet compensation under UK261

What easyJet must give you while you wait: meals, drinks and calls

If your easyJet flight is delayed, under Article 6 of UK261/EU261, easyJet must give you meals and refreshments once your delay reaches 2 hours (flights up to 1,500 km), 3 hours (1,500-3,500 km) or 4 hours (over 3,500 km), regardless of the delay cause.

easyJet must also provide free access to communication so you can alert family and friends about your delay. Care and assistance is offered based on your wait time and the distance of your flight.

If your flight delay lasts overnight

If you have an overnight delay, under Article 9(1)(b)-(c) of UK261/EU261, easyJet is responsible for finding you hotel accommodation and transport there and back to the airport. 

If easyJet doesn't arrange a hotel, book a reasonably priced one yourself, keep the receipt, and claim it back.

According to easyJet's disruption policy, the meal allowance is £25 per person per day. But if you have to pay for any of this yourself, remember to keep your receipts for reimbursement. 

Follow these steps when you have an easyJet delay

1. Ask the gate agent for the delay reason and screenshot it in the easyJet app. If easyJet later blames the weather, this record shows what it told you on the day.

2. Collect evidence about the delay. Take photos or screenshots of the easyJet app, information boards, etc.

3. Keep track of how long the delay lasts. If you wait 2 hours or more, request meal coupons. If you have to wait overnight, ask for a hotel and taxi.

4. Keep any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.

5. When you arrive at your final stop, write down the time the door was opened at the gate. You’ll need this to determine compensation eligibility.

6. Check to see if your flight is eligible for compensation by using a calculator.

7. Use the easyJet EU261 claim form to file your claim.

easyJet cancelled flight compensation

If easyJet cancels your flight less than 14 days before your scheduled departure, then you could get up to £520 in compensation, as long as the cancellation was caused by a controllable reason and not extraordinary circumstances. 

However, compensation may not be due if easyJet offered a replacement flight within the UK261/EU261 rerouting time limits:

• 7-14 days' notice: no compensation if rerouting leaves no more than 2 hours early and arrives less than 4 hours late.

• Under 7 days: no compensation if rerouting leaves no more than 1 hour early and arrives less than 2 hours late.

If the rebooking falls inside the Article 5 limits above, you get nothing; if it falls outside them but you still arrive within 2/3/4 hours, easyJet can halve the payout under Article 7(2). These are the reduced amounts:

Example Scenario: 

Take these steps whenever your easyJet flight is cancelled

1. Ask easyJet why the flight was cancelled and screenshot the answer from the app, email, or text message. 

2. Look for an alternate flight or have an easyJet agent help you (online or at the airport).

3. If you have to wait 2 or more hours for your new flight, ask for meal and refreshment vouchers.

4. Keep copies of everything: receipts, airline correspondence, photos, and anything else that can serve as evidence for a compensation claim.

5. Write down the actual time you arrive at your destination.

6. Check to see if you can get compensation.

7. File a claim.

Flight statistics: easyJet delays & cancellations

Period: (1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026)
Total Flights Analysed: 173,787

Source: AirAdvisor Air Data; flights by airline from 1 July to 30 September 2026. On-time = arrived within 15 min; moderate = 60-179 min; major = 180+ min; categories don't overlap. Short routes are under 1,500km.

Over the last 3 months, 87.1% of easyJet’s flights ran without any delays over 15 minutes. However, because they fly so often, 4,905 flights (about 1 in 35 or 2.8%) were either cancelled or delayed by 3 hours or more.

If you were on one of these flights, you could be owed between £220 and £520 in compensation by law. Check Your Flight

An analysis of all easyJet delays and cancellations for the same period shows that short, "shuttle" trips (like London to Paris or Edinburgh) are the most likely to be affected. 

For easyJet cancellations, 2,692 (79.1%) happened on these shorter routes, which makes sense as these shorter intra-Europe routes are the airline’s focus.

Denied boarding on easyJet

Sometimes, easyJet will sell more tickets than seats available to avoid losing money on no-shows. This can sometimes lead to denied boarding. 

If easyJet bumps you against your will, you're owed £220-£520 (UK261) or  €250-€600 (EU261) on the spot under Article 4. Plus, you get the choice of a refund or a new flight (Article 8). easyJet can halve the payout only if your new flight gets you there within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original arrival, depending on distance.

Missed connecting flights with easyJet

If you miss a connection, you should be offered:

1. A full refund; or

2. A seat on the next available flight, or

3. Rerouting at a later date that’s convenient to you.

If you miss a connection on a single booking and easyJet is responsible, you have the right to be rebooked “at the earliest opportunity” (also Article 8 of UK261/EU261).  Compensation is also a possibility if you arrive 3 or more hours later than scheduled for a controllable reason.

easyJet sells mostly point-to-point flights, so according to Section 16 of the conditions of carriage, two easyJet flights booked separately aren't protected as a connection. 

How to claim easyJet compensation step by step

1. Collect all the documents and details pertaining to your disrupted flight, including dates, times, booking reference number, and any supporting evidence.

2. Go to easyJet’s website and either log in or search for your booking.

3. Look for the Disruption Help Hub and follow the prompts.

4. Take screenshots of the EU261 claim form as you complete it so you have a record of what was said.

5. Double-check to make sure the information is correct and submit. 

If and when easyJet responds, be sure to keep copies of all the correspondence. You might have to wait for a few weeks to get a response, so follow up with a message and be patient.

An airline can only pay compensation in vouchers if you agree in writing: never be afraid to ask for cash.

 - Anton Radchenko, Founder & CEO, AirAdvisor.

What if easyJet rejects your compensation claim?

If you have complained to easyJet and cannot resolve the dispute, you can take the case to AviationADR, the alternative dispute resolution provider approved by the UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) for easyJet complaints.

Passengers in England and Wales can also pursue a money claim through the county court. Claims can usually be started online using the government’s money-claims service, often referred to as the small-claims route. Court fees apply, and a hearing may be required if easyJet disputes the claim.

An easyJet compensation ruling

In LC and MD v easyJet Airline Co. Ltd (C-756/18), decided on 24 October 2019, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that passengers delayed by at least 3 hours could not be refused EC261 compensation simply because they had not produced a boarding pass or otherwise proved they checked in. 

If they held a confirmed reservation, compensation could only be rejected on that basis if the airline could show they had not actually travelled on the delayed flight.

Still waiting for your claim decision from easyJet?You can also take an easier route and let AirAdvisor manage your claim for you!Check Your Flight

Time limit for claiming easyJet compensation

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you have up to 6 years from the date of the flight to start a legal claim. In Scotland, the limit is 5 years. This is according to the Limitation Act 1980 (confirmed for flight delays in Dawson v Thomson Airways [2014]) and the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.

For flights departing an EU airport, the deadline depends on the country where you claim. For example, in Ireland, it's 6 years. In Spain and France, it's 5 years.

If you suffered a significant delay or cancellation within this timeframe, it’s worth checking your eligibility, even if the flight was years ago. 

Case study: easyJet leaves passenger stranded, AirAdvisor recovers £350 in cancelled flight compensation + expenses

How AirAdvisor helped

AirAdvisor took over the claim and handled it end to end, focusing on:

• Securing cancelled flight compensation where the airline was responsible

• Recovering out-of-pocket expenses caused by the short-notice cancellation

• Challenging the airline’s position and presenting the evidence needed to support the full claim

AirAdvisor secured £350 in UK261 compensation for the cancelled flight, along with £1,643.07 in reimbursed travel expenses, bringing the total recovery to £1,993.07.

Most of the £1,993.07 came from the replacement flight the passenger had to buy, which easyJet must reimburse under Article 8 when it offers no suitable rerouting.

AirAdvisor helps passengers recover not just the basic compensation, but the money they had to spend because their journey was disrupted.Find out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight

easyJet contact information

Website: easyJet.com
Phone (for calls from the UK): +44 (0) 330 5515151
Mon-Sun: 08:00-20:00 (local time)
Email: No public-facing email. easyJet only offers a webform on their site.
Address: easyJet Airline Company Limited, Hangar 89 London Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 9PF, United Kingdom

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