Missed connection compensation: how to claim up to €600

Missed a connecting flight because the first leg was delayed? You might think you're out of luck — many passengers assume the airline only owes them if the actual flight they were on arrived more than 3 hours late. That's wrong. Under the Folkerts ruling, what matters is your arrival at the FINAL destination, not the connection.

The legal basis: the Folkerts ruling (2013)

In Air France v Folkerts (CJEU, 26 February 2013, Case C-11/11), the Court of Justice ruled that for a connecting flight on a single ticket, the 3-hour delay triggering EC 261 compensation is assessed at arrival at the final destination, not at any intermediate connection point.

The reasoning: the regulation aims to compensate the passenger's actual loss. That loss materialises at final destination, not at a transit airport where the passenger doesn't care about arrival time per se.

The single-ticket condition

Folkerts applies ONLY if your trip was sold as a single ticket (one booking, one PNR). This includes:

• One reservation with one airline operating both legs (e.g. KLM Amsterdam-Lagos via Lagos hub)
• One reservation with two airlines in interline agreement or codeshare (e.g. Air France ticket with KLM connection)
• One reservation through an OTA (Expedia, Opodo…) that issues a single ticket

If you booked two separate tickets (two separate PNRs, two separate orders), the rule does NOT apply. Each ticket is treated independently. Always book single tickets for connections when possible.

How to determine your compensation

Step 1 — Identify the scheduled arrival at FINAL destination

Check your original e-ticket. This is the scheduled arrival time at the final airport, not at any transit point.

Step 2 — Identify your actual arrival

The "actual arrival" is when at least one of the aircraft's doors opens at the gate, allowing passengers to exit (Germanwings ruling, CJEU 2014). Not the touchdown time.

Step 3 — Calculate the delay

Difference between scheduled and actual = your delay. If ≥ 3 hours, compensation is due.

Step 4 — Calculate the great-circle distance

From initial departure to final destination (not leg by leg). Use a great-circle calculator.

Step 5 — Apply the EC 261 tier

Worked examples

Example A — Paris-Casablanca-Bamako, missed connection

• Scheduled: depart Paris 09:00 → arrive Casa 11:00 → depart Casa 14:00 → arrive Bamako 17:00
• Actual: Paris-Casa delayed by 90 min, missed Casa-Bamako connection
• Air France rebooked you on the next-day flight, arriving Bamako 17:00 the following day = 24h delay
• Distance Paris-Bamako great-circle = ~3,900 km → €600 per passenger

Example B — London-Frankfurt-Singapore, 4-hour final delay

• Scheduled arrival Singapore: 06:00 next day
• Actual arrival: 10:00 = 4h delay
• Distance London-Singapore = ~10,800 km → €600 per passenger

Example C — Amsterdam-Madrid-São Paulo, 6-hour final delay

• Scheduled arrival São Paulo: 09:00
• Actual arrival: 15:00 = 6h delay
• Distance Amsterdam-São Paulo = ~9,800 km → €600 per passenger

The Wegener extension: non-EU connections covered

In Wegener v Royal Air Maroc (CJEU, 31 May 2018, C-537/17), the Court extended Folkerts: if your initial departure is from an EU airport and the ticket is single, the entire journey is covered by EC 261, even if the connection is operated by a non-EU airline from a non-EU airport.

Concrete impact:

• Paris-Casablanca-Lagos (single ticket Air France + RAM codeshare) → fully covered
• Brussels-Addis Ababa-Entebbe (single ticket Brussels Airlines + Ethiopian) → fully covered
• Frankfurt-Dubai-Mumbai (single ticket Lufthansa + Emirates) → fully covered

This dramatically expands your rights on Africa, Asia and Latin America trips.

Who do you claim against?

Two possibilities:

1. The operating carrier of the delayed flight — the one whose flight caused you to miss the connection.
2. The contractual carrier (the airline that sold you the ticket), per the České aerolinie ruling (CJEU, C-502/18).

You can choose. In practice, claim from the contractual carrier first (they usually have better customer service). If refused, claim from the operating carrier.

What if the airline rebooks you on the same day with a short delay?

If you missed the connection but the airline rebooks you on a flight arriving with less than 3 hours' total delay at final destination, no compensation is due (no Sturgeon delay). But you still have the right to care during the wait (meals, lounge access if waiting more than 2 hours, etc.).

What documents do you need for the claim?

1. Original e-ticket showing the single booking
2. Boarding passes (especially the one you were unable to use)
3. Documentation of the actual arrival time (photo of arrival board, baggage claim time)
4. Any official communication from the airline confirming the delay or rebooking
5. Receipts for any meals/hotels/transport you paid during the wait

What if the airline invokes extraordinary circumstances?

The same case law applies as for direct flights. Technical issue = not extraordinary (Wallentin-Hermann). Internal strike = not extraordinary (Krüsemann). Bird strike = extraordinary but airline must prove reasonable measures (Pešková). See our extraordinary circumstances guide.

Sample claim wording

"Pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EC) 261/2004 as interpreted by the Court of Justice in Sturgeon (C-402/07), Folkerts (C-11/11) and Wegener (C-537/17), I hereby claim compensation of €[amount] per passenger for my flight [number], booking reference [PNR], for which my final arrival at [destination] occurred [X] hours after the scheduled arrival time."

For assistance, use our simulator or contact us via WhatsApp.

Related articles

• Folkerts ruling: detailed analysis
• Compensation amounts explained
• Evidence to keep for your claim
• Full EC 261 guide