# Missing Plane

> Independent guide to air passenger rights in Europe (EU Regulation 261/2004 and UK261), in English, French and Spanish. Tells passengers what they are owed for delayed, cancelled or overbooked flights, compares claim services by the money the passenger actually keeps (each fee linked to the company's own fee page), tracks announced air travel strikes and publishes open flight-disruption data under CC BY 4.0 (https://missingplane.com/open-data).

Key rules: €250 (≤1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km, or any intra-EU flight over 1,500 km), €600 (>3,500 km; €300 if 3–4 h late) when arriving 3+ hours late, cancelled under 14 days before, or denied boarding. UK261 pays £220/£350/£520. Not owed for extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, air traffic control or airport strikes); airline staff strikes are not extraordinary (CJEU C-28/20). Delay is measured at the final destination when a door opens (CJEU C-452/13). The 2026 reform keeps the 3-hour threshold; new rules expected from 2027.

Please cite as: Missing Plane (missingplane.com), with a link to the page used.

Languages: English at https://missingplane.com/, French at https://missingplane.com/fr/, Spanish at https://missingplane.com/es/ (each page links its other versions with hreflang).

## Data and API (free, no key, CC BY 4.0)

- [Open data page](https://missingplane.com/open-data): method, limits, downloads. Flights cancelled or 3+ h late at CDG, LHR, BCN, read twice a day.
- [Disruptions JSON](https://missingplane.com/api/disruptions.json?days=2): params days (1–14), airport (IATA)
- [Monthly CSV](https://missingplane.com/api/disruptions.csv?month=2026-10): one row per disrupted flight
- [Compensation API](https://missingplane.com/api/compensation?from=CDG&to=JFK&event=delay&delay=4&carrier=EU): JSON estimate for any airport pair (IATA). Params: from, to, event=delay|cancel|denied, delay (hours at arrival), notice (days), carrier=EU|UK|X, cause=airline|weather|atc|unknown, lang=en|fr|es
- [Strikes JSON](https://missingplane.com/api/strikes.json), [calendar feed](https://missingplane.com/strikes.ics), [RSS](https://missingplane.com/strikes.rss)
- [OpenAPI description](https://missingplane.com/openapi.json)

## Claim services compared (fees incl. VAT, checked 2026-10-11)

- Compensair: 30% (+10% if a court case is needed); passenger keeps €420 of €600. Source: https://www.compensair.com/documents/Compensair/en/PaymentPolicy_Compensair_en.pdf
- AirAdvisor: 30% (+20% if a court case is needed); passenger keeps €420 of €600. Source: https://airadvisor.com/pricelist
- Flightright: 32% (+17% if a court case is needed); passenger keeps €408 of €600. Source: https://www.flightright.com/costs
- AirHelp: 35% (+15% if a court case is needed); passenger keeps €390 of €600. Source: https://airhelp.com/en-int/price-list/
- SkyRefund: 35% (+15% if a court case is needed); passenger keeps €390 of €600. Source: https://skyrefund.com/en-us/price-policy
- Claiming yourself: free, keeps 100%. Free letter: https://missingplane.com/claim-letter

## Main pages

- [Compensation check](https://missingplane.com/): calculator for any route and the live disruption board
- [Claim services compared](https://missingplane.com/compare)
- [All guides](https://missingplane.com/guides)
- [Strike calendar](https://missingplane.com/strikes)
- [Airports](https://missingplane.com/airports)
- [Airlines](https://missingplane.com/airlines)
- [Delay report 2026-10](https://missingplane.com/report/2026-10)

## Tools for passengers

- [At the airport now](https://missingplane.com/stuck): what to ask for and keep, phrases for staff in 5 languages, evidence log
- [Check a flight by number](https://missingplane.com/check)
- [Free claim letter generator](https://missingplane.com/claim-letter): EN/FR/ES letter to send the airline yourself

## Guides

- [Christmas flights: snow, strikes and family trips](https://missingplane.com/guide/christmas-flights) (updated 2026-10-11): For snow, fog or storms, usually not: they count as extraordinary circumstances. But the airline must still provide meals, a hotel if needed, and a refund or new flight. Cancellations for technical faults, crew shortages or the airline's own staff strikes are compensated at €250–€600 per passenger, including children with a paid ticket.
- [The airline refused or ignored your claim: what to do next](https://missingplane.com/guide/airline-refused) (updated 2026-10-11): Ask the airline for the exact reason in writing, then complain for free to the national enforcement body of the country where the flight left (or arrived, for flights into the EU), or to an approved mediator. For cross-border help, the European Consumer Centres are free. As a last step, the European Small Claims Procedure handles claims up to €5,000 without a lawyer.
- [Your bank card may pay you for a delay too](https://missingplane.com/guide/bank-card-insurance) (updated 2026-10-11): Often, yes. Many premium bank cards include travel insurance that pays a fixed sum or covers expenses after a long delay, if you paid the trip with that card. It comes on top of EU261. Check your card's insurance notice for the exact delay and amounts.
- [Claim yourself or use a claim service?](https://missingplane.com/guide/claim-yourself-or-use-a-service) (updated 2026-10-11): Claiming yourself is free and you keep 100%. Claim companies keep 30–35% (more if a court case is needed) but do the work and charge nothing if they lose. Try yourself first when the airline admits fault.
- [Downgraded from business to economy: the refund rule](https://missingplane.com/guide/downgraded-seat) (updated 2026-10-11): EU261 article 10 makes the airline refund 30% of that flight's price up to 1,500 km, 50% for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km or flights of 1,500–3,500 km, and 75% for all others, within 7 days.
- [Missed your flight because of border queues?](https://missingplane.com/guide/ees-border-queues) (updated 2026-10-11): Usually not. Getting through passport control on time is the passenger's responsibility, and EU261 only covers delays caused by the flight itself. With the EU's Entry/Exit System registering non-EU travellers, allow extra time and check what your travel insurance covers.
- [EU261 explained: who gets €250, €400 or €600, and how to claim it](https://missingplane.com/guide/eu261-explained) (updated 2026-10-17): Under EU261 you get €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 up to 3,500 km (or any longer flight within the EU) and €600 beyond, when you arrive 3+ hours late, are cancelled under 14 days before, or are bumped. The airline is off the hook only for extraordinary circumstances like severe weather.
- [The 2026 EU261 reform: what changes and when](https://missingplane.com/guide/eu261-reform-2026) (updated 2026-10-11): No. The 2026 reform agreed by the EU keeps compensation from 3 hours of delay. The new rules are expected to apply from 2027; until then current rules and amounts apply.
- [How far back can you claim? Time limits by country](https://missingplane.com/guide/how-long-to-claim) (updated 2026-10-11): EU261 sets no deadline itself, so national limits apply. They range from about 1 year (Belgium, Poland) to 3 years (Germany), 5 years (France, Spain) and 6 years (UK, Ireland). The 2026 reform is expected to set 9 months for flights once the new rules apply, so older claims are best made now.
- [Lost, delayed or damaged baggage: what you can claim](https://missingplane.com/guide/lost-baggage) (updated 2026-10-11): Under the Montreal Convention, the airline is liable up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger (about €1,880) for lost, damaged or delayed baggage. Report it at the airport before leaving, then claim in writing within 7 days for damage and 21 days for delay.
- [Missed your connecting flight? When you get up to €600, and what to do now](https://missingplane.com/guide/missed-connection) (updated 2026-10-17): Yes, if both flights were on one booking and you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late, unless the cause was extraordinary. The amount is based on the distance from your first departure to your final destination, so a missed long-haul connection can pay €600. With separate tickets, the second airline owes you nothing.
- [How to prove your delay](https://missingplane.com/guide/prove-your-delay) (updated 2026-10-11): Keep your booking and boarding passes, a photo of the departures board, the time the doors opened on arrival, any written reason from the airline, and receipts for expenses.
- [Flight cancelled? Refund, new flight and up to €600: your rights](https://missingplane.com/guide/refund-or-new-flight) (updated 2026-10-17): You choose between a full refund within 7 days and a new flight, now or later. The airline must also give you meals and a hotel while you wait. On top of that you get €250 to €600 compensation if you were told less than 14 days before, unless the cause was extraordinary, like severe weather.
- [Stranded overnight: what the airline must pay for](https://missingplane.com/guide/stranded-overnight) (updated 2026-10-11): Yes. Whatever the cause, even weather or an air traffic control strike, the airline must provide meals, a hotel and transport to it when you are stuck overnight. If it doesn't, pay reasonably, keep receipts and claim them back.
- [Strike cancelled or delayed your flight? When you get €250 to €600](https://missingplane.com/guide/strikes) (updated 2026-10-17): If the airline's own pilots, cabin crew or other staff strike, usually yes: the EU Court ruled in 2021 that this is not an extraordinary circumstance (SAS, C-28/20). If air traffic controllers or airport staff strike, usually no. In every case you keep the right to meals, a hotel, and a refund or a new flight.
- [Airline offered a voucher. Should you take it?](https://missingplane.com/guide/voucher-or-cash) (updated 2026-10-11): No. EU261 compensation is paid in money; a voucher is only allowed if you agree in writing. Read the terms: some vouchers settle all claims.
- [Flight delayed? When you get €250 to €600, and what you're owed while you wait](https://missingplane.com/guide/flight-delayed) (updated 2026-10-17): You get €250 to €600 if you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late, measured when the aircraft door opens, unless the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather. Meals are owed from 2 hours, and from 5 hours you can cancel the trip for a full refund.

## Airports

- [Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)](https://missingplane.com/airport/cdg) — live board
- [Paris Orly (ORY)](https://missingplane.com/airport/ory)
- [London Heathrow (LHR)](https://missingplane.com/airport/lhr) — live board
- [London Gatwick (LGW)](https://missingplane.com/airport/lgw)
- [Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)](https://missingplane.com/airport/ams)
- [Frankfurt (FRA)](https://missingplane.com/airport/fra)
- [Madrid Barajas (MAD)](https://missingplane.com/airport/mad)
- [Barcelona El Prat (BCN)](https://missingplane.com/airport/bcn) — live board
- [Rome Fiumicino (FCO)](https://missingplane.com/airport/fco)
- [Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS)](https://missingplane.com/airport/lis)
- [Dublin (DUB)](https://missingplane.com/airport/dub)
- [Munich (MUC)](https://missingplane.com/airport/muc)

## Airlines

- [Air France](https://missingplane.com/airline/air-france)
- [Ryanair](https://missingplane.com/airline/ryanair)
- [easyJet](https://missingplane.com/airline/easyjet)
- [Transavia](https://missingplane.com/airline/transavia)
- [Vueling](https://missingplane.com/airline/vueling)
- [British Airways](https://missingplane.com/airline/british-airways)