EU Delayed Flight Compensation Awareness for Travel Rookies Like Me

Thanks for posting this! Sharing this knowledge with our fellow travelers is really helpful.

Last December, the American Airlines flight my husband and I took from CDG back to the States was delayed a little over 3 hours. Thankfully, I had read about EU 261 in the past, so I knew about asking for compensation. After we returned home, I reached out to the airline in writing and got a response that day approving my request. In less than 2 weeks, we each received a check equivalent to €600.

Please note:
1. US Carriers only are required to provide compensation for departures FROM Europe; so that delayed AA flight from JFK to CDG? Nope. Air France? Yup.
2. UK compensation applies for UK issues, and similar to the above - United from the US to LHR, no, but United to the US? Yup. Ftr, it includes CODESHARE flights as well, only depends on the metal you're flying.

Last Fall my Lufthansa flight from Munich to Canada was delayed.
I got notifications regularly on their app, and in the end we had three delays before getting off the ground.
Lufthansa actually sent me a message before even leaving Munich about how to claim compensation, including the forms.
I was 8 minutes over the arrival time to be able to claim.
I did put in a claim, and a few weeks later received $900 as compensation.
I was very impressed.
It would have arrived sooner, but their system didn’t recognize my bank's ID numbers.
In the end I sent them a screenshot of a blank void cheque, and the money arrived 3 days later.
On the other hand, my husband has been fighting with WestJet for a comp for a 6 hour delay. Grrr.
Good work EU airlines.

But don't count on the airline to tell you. Some less scrupulous carriers will do nothing in the hopes some passengers will not be aware. to wit:

7 years back my new d.i.l. was able to take the semester in Rome at her college's campus there. They didn't think to have me arrange the flight (which we were paying for anyway!), and flew Norwegian, which required driving to Newark from Philadelphia. Yes, it was cheaper, but: Get to Newark, find out Norwegian cancelled due to plane issues and several hours later a plane was being brought in to fly them...to Copenhagen, from where they would overnight and then be flown the next afternoon to Rome. Footnote - Norwegian did not have fly Newark to Copenhagen, this was a substitute. No one was informed of EU 261. Worse, she had a large trunk paid for checked luggage. They actually had the unmitigated gall to force her to then pay for this again to get from Copenhagen to Rome, knowing full well that even without EU 261 they would have to refund that charge to every person who complained later, as obviously the charge had been paid to take it to Rome. Fortunately, I was well aware of EU 261 (thank you, Travel Forum) and about a month later they had the 600 euro plus the luggage money refunded. To add to this, my son went to visit over her spring break. Again Norwegian. This time, upon arrival in Newark they are told there is no plane and they have to get to JFK for a flight arranged for several hours later. I believe they did provide some kind of transfer. Needless to say he did full documentation and a month later another 600 euro in their account.

Huh, surprised that UA agent didn't know what they were doing, it's a pretty regular occurrence. In case anyone actually needs to file the EU compensation form for United, here it is. Unspecific form but perhaps useful, https://www.united.com/en/ca/customercare

Agreed I would never accept miles, however when a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) flight was cancelled for short 1 hour flight from CPH to ARN, I filed on their website and was offered E600 or DOUBLE the compensation as a flight credit good for a year. Yep, 1200 Euros which I promptly used to book my next trip!