Air France flight delay and cancellation compensation
If Air France delayed you 3 or more hours or cancelled your flight with less than 14 days notice, and it was within Air France's control, you can claim 250 to 600 euro under EU261. You also get care rights (meals, and a hotel if stranded overnight) during long delays, and the same rules apply to KLM. Air France often cites extraordinary circumstances, but many refusals can be challenged. The easiest route is Compensair, a free check on a no-win-no-fee basis. Rules verified July 13, 2026.
Air France is an EU airline, so EU261 applies to all its departures from the EU and to its flights into the EU. The rule gives fixed cash compensation for long delays, cancellations and denied boarding within the airline's control, on top of care during the disruption. As Air France and KLM are one group, the same rights and claim routes cover KLM flights too. Here is how much Air France owes and how to claim.
How much Air France owes
When your Air France flight qualifies
- Delay: you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- Cancellation: Air France told you less than 14 days before departure.
- Denied boarding: you were bumped from an overbooked flight.
- Fault: the cause was within Air France's control (a technical fault or own pilot/crew strike usually counts; French air traffic control strikes or severe weather do not).
- Care rights: during long delays you are also owed meals, communication and, if stranded overnight, a hotel and transfers, even when the delay is extraordinary.
Claim it: our pick
Our pick to claim against Air France: Compensair
No-win-no-fee EU261 claim service
No win, no fee
If Air France delayed you 3 or more hours, cancelled with under 14 days notice, or denied you boarding for reasons within its control, you can claim 250 to 600 euro under EU261. Compensair checks your Air France flight for free and, if eligible, handles the claim and escalation with the airline. You pay nothing up front; its success fee is about 30 percent, with an extra 10 percent only if legal action is needed. The same service covers KLM, Air France's sister airline. Checked July 13, 2026.
Pros
- Free Air France eligibility check, no upfront cost
- Handles the airline paperwork and escalation for you
- Claims the full EU261 amount where eligible
- Also covers KLM and Transavia claims
- Rated about 4.6/5 on Trustpilot (attributed)
Cons
- Success fee about 30 percent (plus 10 percent if legal action needed)
- Payouts can take time if Air France disputes the claim
- Only worthwhile if the disruption was within Air France control
Best for: Air France and KLM passengers who want the compensation without handling the claim themselves.
Strikes: when Air France still has to pay
France sees frequent aviation strikes, and Air France leans on them to refuse claims, so the distinction matters. A strike by Air France's own pilots or cabin crew is generally treated as within the airline's control, which means the 250 to 600 euro compensation is usually still due. An external strike, most often by French air traffic control (DGAC controllers), counts as an extraordinary circumstance and removes the cash compensation, though Air France must still feed and house you. Because airlines cite strikes broadly, a flat refusal is often worth challenging.
Claiming directly vs using a service
Air France has its own online claim form, and claiming yourself costs nothing: provide your booking reference, flight number and the scheduled versus actual arrival times, citing EU261. For a flight that departed from France you have 5 years to claim, one of the most generous limits in Europe. If Air France refuses wrongly you can escalate to the French national enforcement body, the DGAC, or go to court. That can be slow, especially when the airline argues extraordinary circumstances. A no-win-no-fee service like Compensair handles the fight for a share of the payout, and covers KLM claims the same way.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Air France delay compensation?
Under EU261 the amount depends on distance: 250 euro for flights up to 1,500 km, 400 euro for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and 600 euro for over 3,500 km, when you arrive 3 or more hours late or the flight is cancelled and Air France is at fault. It is a fixed amount per passenger, not linked to the ticket price.
When is an Air France flight eligible for compensation?
When you arrive 3 or more hours late, the flight is cancelled with less than 14 days notice, or you are denied boarding, and the cause was within Air France control. As an EU airline, Air France is covered by EU261 on all its departures and on flights arriving in the EU, and the same rules apply to KLM.
Can I claim if Air France blames a strike?
It depends who struck. Strikes by Air France's own pilots or crew are generally treated as within the airline's control, so compensation is usually due, while an external French air traffic control strike is an extraordinary circumstance and exempt from the cash payment. Even then Air France must still provide care, meals and a hotel if needed, and a broad strike refusal is worth challenging.
How long do I have to claim from Air France?
For a flight that departed from France, French law gives you 5 years to bring an EU261 claim, one of the most generous limits in Europe. If Air France wrongly refuses, you can escalate to the French national enforcement body, the DGAC (Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile), or use a no-win-no-fee service that does it for you.
See our full EU and UK flight compensation guide or check Lufthansa compensation.