TRAVEL PROBLEMS · EU FLIGHTS
Ryanair delay compensation: how to claim (and how much)
A Ryanair flight that lands 3+ hours late can be worth €250 or €400 to you under EU rules, unless the cause was outside Ryanair's control. Here is where to claim, what to expect, and what Ryanair says you can get at the airport.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you use AirHelp through the link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Claiming from Ryanair yourself is free. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with Ryanair. Prepared with AI assistance.
The 30-second answer
Claim directly in myRyanair using Ryanair's EU261 request form. Ryanair says people who claim directly get 100% of their entitlement, while claims companies "may deduct up to 50% in fees".
You likely qualify if you arrived 3+ hours late and the cause was within Ryanair's control. Ryanair says ATC strikes, bad weather and medical emergencies generally don't qualify.
Are the EU rules changing? Yes, from October 23, 2027. The reform, Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 (Official Journal, October 2, 2026), keeps compensation for "a delay at arrival exceeding three hours" and the EUR 250, 400 and 600 amounts. Reports of a new 4- or 6-hour threshold are wrong for the final text. Flights before October 23, 2027 stay under Regulation 261/2004. Checked on EUR-Lex October 30, 2026.
How much: EU261 amounts on Ryanair routes
| Flight distance | Compensation (3+ hours late) |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less (for example Dublin to London, Milan to Rome) | €250 |
| Over 1,500 km within the EU, or 1,500 to 3,500 km (for example London to Canary Islands) | €400 |
Amounts from the EU Your Europe passenger rights page. Ryanair mainly flies short and medium-haul routes, so the €600 band rarely applies. Flights leaving the UK follow UK rules in pounds instead: see UK flight delay compensation.
How to claim from Ryanair, step by step
- Log in to myRyanair and open the EU261 request form (ryanair.com, myRyanair, Requests, EU261).
- Verify you are a named passenger. Ryanair asks you to confirm your travel document. Each passenger claims from their own myRyanair account.
- Claim compensation and expenses separately. Ryanair reviews them as two requests. Expenses (meals, hotel, transport you paid for) go through the EU261 expenses form with itemised receipts.
- Expect a short wait for the cause. Ryanair says its operations team may take 24 to 96 hours to confirm why a flight was delayed.
Want something in writing as well? Use our free EU261 claim letter template for the details to include.
At the airport: what Ryanair says you can get
| Situation | What Ryanair says |
|---|---|
| Expected delay of 2+ hours (flights up to 1,500 km) or 3+ hours (longer flights) | Assistance at the airport, including meal coupons |
| Delay runs into the next day | Often hotel and airport transfers; if not, keep itemised receipts and claim them |
| Delay of 5+ hours and you decide not to fly | Request a refund at refundclaims.ryanair.com |
Ryanair also says to contact it before arranging your own transport, and that if you book your own care after it has offered assistance, the extra costs may not be reimbursed.
If Ryanair says no
Ryanair points unhappy customers to their local alternative dispute resolution (ADR) body. You can also complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the flight left from. Read what to do if your EU261 claim is rejected.
Don't want to deal with it yourself?
A claim service can file and chase the claim for you, and keeps a share of the payout if it wins. Claiming directly with Ryanair costs nothing.
Check your Ryanair flight with AirHelp →
Affiliate link. Opens AirHelp's website, where you check eligibility and submit a claim. A claim service keeps a percentage if it wins; claiming yourself is free.