Air France: Compensation for delayed flight, cancellation, denied boarding

Is your Air France flight delayed? Or cancelled? If any of that has happened recently or during the last 3 years, here is a good news for you. According to EU regulations you might be owed up to €600 by Air France. What should you do next? How to claim your Air France compensation?

How to claim Air France flight delay compensation?

How to claim Air France flight cancellation compensation?

Check your compensation online!

Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.

Here are 6 main topics that we will focus on:

1. What to do if your Air France flight is delayed?

2. What to do if your Air France flight is cancelled?

3. How to claim Air France flight delay compensation?

4. How to claim Air France flight cancellation compensation?

5. How to claim Air France denied boarding compensation?

6. Connecting flights with Air France

1. What to do if your flight is DELAYED?

It has happened. Your Air France flight is delayed.

What’s next? What to do if your Air France flight is delayed?

1.1 If you are still at home

If you are still at home, don’t leave for the airport right away.

First try and find out why is your Air France flight delayed.

This way you’ll know whether you may or may not be entitled to flight delay compensation later. If the delay turns out to be at least 3 hours long.

Go to the website of the airport to check, how long is this delay going to be. Alternatively you can use sites like FlightStats or Flightradar24, to check the status of your Air France flight online. If you have learned about it from an email or sms sent by Air France, then most probably you already know the answer to both of these questions.

If it is going to be a long delay, wait at home for a while.

Otherwise - wait for a while and proceed to the airport.

Do you have a connecting flight you may miss because of it?

If it’s a connecting flight you’ve booked with Air France, you can relax.

Because if there will be any problems with your flights, they will put you on another flight for free. That’s how it works, when you miss a connecting flight that's booked from a full-service airline like Air France.

If you have a flight that's booked separately -- it's your responsibility. Look for alternatives now, if it’s clear that you are going to miss your original flight or flights.

1.2 If you are already at the airport

If you are already at the airport, go and see if the check in counter is open.

If the check in counter is open, there is no reason to wait. Go and check in for your flight. And proceed through security, as you would normally do.

Unless there is a chance that you may not take it after all. In that case make a decision first. If for example you have another flight or flights that are going to be affected. And if now you are thinking of possibility of not taking this flight (because it’s going to be late) and changing your travel plans.

If you have a connecing flight with Air France, there is nothing to worry about.

Because the airline will take care of that. For free.

Now wait for more information.

Clock on the wall

- 3 hour flight delay

Air France is a European airline.

That means that you are under the EU protection.

When flying with non-EU airlines, the rules are slightly different.

Accordingly, when you are travelling from the EU or to the EU, and the flight is more than 3 hours late, you should be provided with a free meal and drink, plus two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If you haven’t received any of that, contact Air France.

And in this case it doesn’t matter if the reason of the delay is something within or out of the airline’s control.

All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261).

Like with most things, there are a few exceptions. For instance, if the company sees that providing its passengers with food and drinks would cause the delay to be even longer, they may decide not to do that. In order to make the flight delay as short as possible.

- Long delay (Overnight delay)

However, sometimes these things take even longer.

And 2-3 hour delays become 6-9 hour delays. Is there anything you should know, if you end up in a situation like this? Yes, there is.

In all situations, when you are travelling with Air France to or from Europe, and you encounter a long delay, the airline is obliged to provide you with free hotel accommodation, transport to and from it, plus free meals and drinks. That is, if otherwise you would need to stay at the airport overnight. This applies to all Air France flight delays, all Air France delays.

What many don’t know is that it applies to every passenger. No matter the citizenship. In Europe everyone has the right to care.

Again - thanks to the Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation EC 261.

1.3 If it's fault of Air France

If it’s the airline's fault, and the delay is 3 or more hours, mostly you will also be entitled to flight delay compensation up to €600.

If it’s less than 3 hours, then it doesn’t count.

What matters here is the time of your arrival. Not departure.

The moment doors of the airplane are opened and passengers are free to disembmark the airplane, that’s the moment that’s assumed to be your time of arrival. If it’s 3 or more hours later than planned, then it counts as a long delay, and you may apply for Air France delay compensation.

Was your Air France flight 3 or more hours late?

Yes? You can claim for flight delay compensation.

1.4 Why do flights get delayed?

Here are some of the top reasons why flights get delayed.

2. What to do if your flight is CANCELLED?

What to do if your Air France flight is cancelled?

Could you be entitled to flight cancellation compensation?

2.1 If you are still at home

It has happened. Your flight is cancelled.

You were all so looking forward to going on that trip, and now it’s cancelled, as stated in the email you have received from Air France. Read this email carefully. To see what has happened and what they are offering to you. Mostly it’s gonna be a new flight or flights.

Alternatively you can also choose to get a full refund.

Yes, you can choose to have a full refund.

Even if the flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances.

See what suits you the best.

Don’t forget to take into account other travel plans you might have. Other flights, trains and buses you may have booked.

Haven’t received anything from Air France?

Then contact the airline yourself. To ask what has happened and what should you do now. Especially if the flight was expected to leave today or tomorrow.

Remember - no matter the reason of the flight cancellation, they still have an obligation to take you to your destination. And if that’s their fault, they may also owe you a compensation. More on that further below.

2.2 If you are already at the airport

Have you already gone through security?

If yes, wait for more information regarding your flight cancellation. If you have WiFi, go online to check your Air France flight status.

If you haven’t yet, don’t do it. Don’t go through security just yet, before you know what’s happening next. You may not fly anywhere today. Wait for more information or contact the airline staff. If you aren’t in a rush, I would wait a bit before contacting them. Because at first they as well will not know what’s happening next.

Coming up with a solution may take time. Mostly - up to a few hours. However, it doesn’t mean that you will fly today, because the alternative flight offered by your airline may be leaving only tomorrow.

Do you have a connecting flight?

If it’s booked with Air France, relax. They will take care of that. For free.

If it isn’t - well, that means you will have to deal with all the consequences yourself. Or with help of your travel insurance company.

A red alarm clock

- 3 hour flight delay

Air France has offered you a new flight. It leaves in 4 hours.

What it means to you? It means that they must also provide you with free meal and drink (mostly in form of coupons), plus two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. Because they are a European airline. And that’s the rules in Europe, that apply to all flights to or from Europe.

If you haven’t received anything, contact their ground staff at the airport.

- Long delay (Overnight delay)

There will be a new flight.

Air France has made an offer, that you have accepted. But… the new flight is leaving only tomorrow. Which means that you will have to stay at the airport for a whole night. Here is a good news to you, something you should know about.

You can get free accommodation and free transfer.

In all these situations with European flights, Air France must also provide you with free accommodation and free transport to and from it. Plus free food and drinks, just like mentioned earlier, when you are having a 3+ hour delay and you are waiting at the airport. All thanks not to the Air France cancellation policy, but to the same EU flight compensation regulations.

To get it, contact Air France representatives at the airport.

Usually it’s offered at the same time when the airline offers you a new flight.

No matter the cause of the cancellation, and whether it's within the airline’s control, every passenger is entitled to this type of care by Air France.

You are entitled to this type of care.

2.3 If it's fault of Air France

If it’s Air France fault, they may also owe you a compensation.

And, yes, if the new flight leaves only on the next day, you should be able to receive all of the mentioned - free food, free accommodation, a new flight to your destination AND flight cancellation compensation.

2.4 Why do flights get cancelled?

Here are some of the top reasons why flights get cancelled.

How to claim compensation

3. How to claim Air France flight delay compensation?

Your Air France flight has been delayed for more than 3 hours.

The reason? Let’s say, technical problems with the aircraft.

In most situations technical problems are considered airline’s fault.

Which means that now you might be entitled to flight delay compensation.

How to claim it?

There are two options:

1. You can do it yourself. Find a way to contact Air France, claim compensation by referring to the EU flight compensation regulation, and wait. Be prepared, that it may not go smoothly at all. Be persistent in your communication.

Search for a legal advice, if necessary.

2. You can also take the easiest path - register a claim online at with us. And we’ll do all the legal actions on your behalf. We will help you to get your Air France flight delay compensation.

Woman using laptop - Best Travel Blogs 2019

When working with us, here is all you will have to do:

Go to this page;
Fill in the details about yourself and your Air France flight delay;
Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
Sign the claim online.

And now you can relax. Because we’ll do the rest.

There are no upfront fees. And you’ll pay nothing if it turns out that you aren’t entitled to compensation after all. No win, no fees, as we say. If we are successful, however, we’ll only take €25 + 25% of the amount of the compensation.

The rest we'll transfer to your bank account.

Learn more about EU flight delay compensation.

- How long does it take?

When you’ll receive your money?

In most situations it takes around 2-3 months, from the moment you register your Air France compensation claim. But not from the date of the flight disruption.

The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you'll get the money.

- How far back can you claim flight delay compensation?

Mostly 2-3 years. It depends from country to country.

But don’t wait and submit your Air France claim as soon after the flight delay as possible. So you simply don’t forget about it. And to make the whole process easier as well.

- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?

No.

It applies to everyone, to all passengers. No matter the nationality and age (it applies to infants as well). You don't have to be European, to be entitled to EU flight compensation.

Since Air France is a European airline, it applies to all its flights to, from or within Europe.

- What about codeshare flights?

What if you were on a codeshare flight?

What if you bought a ticket from one airline, but the flight was operated by another company? Which company is the one to be held responsible if there are problems with the flight?

Which one is going to pay the compensation?

The one operating the flight.

But that's only true regarding the compensation. If the first flight of your journey is delayed and because of that you have missed your connecting flight, the marketing airline is responsible for booking you into the next available flight for free. If that has happened, contact the airline you booked your flight from.

3.1 How much can you claim?

In most of situations it’s gonna be either 250, 400 or 600 euro.

Because that’s the rules.

They are the same for all airlines operating in Europe, and they are the same for everyone. No matter the age, nationality, airline, price of the ticket or travel insurance. Your under 2 years old can receive full flight compensation, too.

The longer the journey, the bigger will be your Air France refund.

4. How to claim Air France flight cancellation compensation?

Your Air France flight has been cancelled last-minute.

You were about to fly the day after tomorrow, but now the flight isn’t happening. You have been offered a new flight, and you have taken the offer. But since the reason of the cancellation is something within the airline’s control, now they also owe you a compensation.

The rules here are very simple.

If you have been informed of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure and if it’s the airline’s fault, they must also pay you a compensation. If your flight is cancelled more than 2 weeks before the trip, then it's different.

How to claim it?

There are two options:

1. You can do it on your own. Contact Air France. Submit information about your cancellation, plus everything else they might be asking for, and wait. If you aren’t sure about something, use internet forums to find someone else who have been in a situation like you are now. Ask for advice.

2. Or you can work with us. And register your claim online at refundor.com.

This way saving both your nerves and time.

Documents on the table next to a laptop

It’s an easy and straight forward process:

Go to this page on our website;
Fill in the details about yourself and your Air France flight cancellation;
Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
Sign the claim online.

And… wait for the money in your bank account.

It’s easy, isn’t it?

There are no upfront fees, and you’ll pay nothing if it turns out that you aren’t entitled to compensation after all. No win, no fees, as we say. If we are successful, however, we’ll only take €25 + 25% of the amount of your Air France flight compensation, and transfer you the rest.

Learn more about EU flight cancellation compensation.

- How long does it take?

In most situations it takes around 2-3 months until you receive your money.

- How far back can you claim flight cancellation compensation?

Mostly 2-3 years. It depends from country to country.

But don’t wait and submit your Air France claim as soon after the flight cancellation as possible. So you simply don’t forget about it. And to make the whole process easier as well.

- Does it apply only to citizens of the European Union?

No.

It applies to everyone, to all passengers. No matter the nationality and age (it applies to infants as well). Since Air France is a European airline, it applies to all its flights to, from or within Europe.

- What about codeshare flights?

What if you were on a codeshare flight?

What if you bought a ticket from one airline, but the flight was operated by another company? Which company is the one to be held responsible if there are problems with the flight?

Which one is going to pay the compensation?

The one operating the flight.

4.1 How much can you claim?

In most of situations it’s gonna be either 250, 400 or 600 euro.

Because that’s the rules.

The longer the journey, the bigger will be your Air France compensation.

€250 - if the distance of your flight is up to 1500 kilometres (1-2 hour flights);
€400 - if the distance of the flight is between 1500 - 3500 kilometres (mostly 2-5 hour flights);
€600 - if the distance is more than 3500 kilometres (mostly 5+ hour flights).

5. Air France denied boarding compensation

For most part, rules are the same.

Whether your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled less than 2 weeks before the departure or you are denied boarding because of overbooking.

It applies to all Air France flights to, from or within Europe.

By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

The amount of the compensation mostly is the same.

Either 250, 400 or 600 euro.

And you can get both - a new flight to or full refund and a compensation.

But remember, it applies only to overbookings.

If there was an issue with your travel documents or you weren’t allowed to board the plane because of security issues, then it doesn’t count. Same applies to situations when you were offered and agreed to voluntarily give up your seat and take another flight.

So, remember - if you voluntarily give up your seat, you will not be entitled to denied boarding compensation anymore.

Learn more about EU denied boarding compensation.

6. Connecting flights with Air France

As most traditional airline, Air France offers connecting flights.

When booking a connecting flight with Air France, you are given one reservation number for the entire journey. When you check in for your flight you’ll get a boarding pass for your first flight as well as a boarding pass for your next (connecting) flight.

This means that, if you are transiting at one or more airports before you get to your final destination, you don’t have to leave the transit area to check in as it has been done already. You can enjoy airport lounges, drink coffee and do some shopping instead of rushing through another security check.

In most cases your baggage will checked through to your final destination.

But you’ll have to reclaim and recheck your luggage if you are transferring between airports, or if you are traveling with an animal in the hold.

If you miss your next flight because the first (or the previous) flight is cancelled or delayed, Air France will transfer you to the next available flight free of charge. Also your checked luggage will be relabelled and sent to your destination. And you won’t need to recheck it.

About Air France

Air France is a full-service international airline and the French flag carrier.

With its headquarters in Tremblay-en-France, Air France has two main hubs in Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports.

Air France is a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. In 2003 Air France and KLM became subsidiaries of a holding company called Air France–KLM. Because of the quality services and professional staff, Air France is certified with the 4-Star Airline rating (Skytrax certified airline rating).

The fleet of Air France consists of 205 Boeing and Airbus aircrafts.

From 1976 until 2003 Air France operated a supersonic passenger airliner, Concorde, fleet. In fact, Air France was one of the two airlines operating Concorde. The other airline was British Airways.

The planes were discontinued in 2003 after the crash on a hotel in Gonesse, France.

Air France destinations

Air France has an extensive network of flights. It flies to almost 200 destinations in 5 continents.

Algeria (Algiers), Angola (Luanda), Armenia (Yerevan), Argentina (Buenos Aires), Austria (Vienna),

Belgium (Antwerp, Brussels), Benin (Cotonou), Brazil (Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo), Bulgaria (Sofia), Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou),

Cameroon (Douala, Yaoundé), Canada (Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver), Caribbean Netherlands (St. Maarten), Central African Republic (Bangui, N'Djamena), Chile (Santiago), China (Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan), Colombia (Bogota), Costa Rica (San José), Côte d’Ivoire (Abidjan), Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zagreb), Cuba (Havana), Chezh Republic (Prague),

Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Denmark (Billund, Copenhagen), Djibouti (Djibouti City), Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Santo Domingo),

Ecuador (Quito), Egypt (Cairo), Equatorial Guinea (Malabo),

France (Agen, Ajaccio, Aurillac, Bastia, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Brest, Brive, Caen, Calvi, Castres, Clermont-Ferrand, Figari, Lille, Lorient, Lourdes, Lyon, Marseille, Metz/Nancy, Montpellier, Nantes, Nice, Paris, Pau, Perpignan, Quimper, Rennes, Rouen, Strasbourg, Tarbes Lourdes, Toulon, Toulouse), French Guiana, France (Cayenne), French Polynesia, France (Papeete),

Gabon (Libreville), Georgia (Tbilisi), Germany (Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart), Ghana (Accra), Greece (Athens), Guadeloupe, Guinea (Conakry),

Haiti (Port-au-Prince), Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Hungary (Budapest),

India (Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai), Ireland (Cork, Dublin), Israel (Tel-Aviv), Italy (Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin, Venice),

Japan (Osaka, Tokyo), Jordan (Amman),

Kenya (Nairobi),

Lebanon (Beirut),

Madagascar (Antananarivo), Maldives (Male), Mali (Bamako), Malta (Malta), Martinique, Mauritania (Nouakchott), Mauritius (Port Louis), Mexico (Cancún, Mexico City), Morocco (Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat),

Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam), Niger (Niamey), Nigeria (Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt), Norway (Bergen, Oslo),

Panama (Panama City), Peru (Lima), Poland (Kraków, Warsaw, Wroclaw), Portugal (Lisbon, Porto),

Republic of Congo (Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire), Réunion, Romania (Bucharest), Russia (Moscow, Saint Petersburg),

Senegal (Dakar), Serbia (Belgrade), Sierra Leone (Freetown), Singapore (Singapore), Slovenia (Ljubljana), South Africa (Cape Town, Johannesburg), South Korea (Seoul), Spain (Barcelona, Bilbao, Ibiza, Madrid, Málaga, Seville), Sweden (Gothenburg, Stockholm), Switzerland (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Geneva, Zürich),

Taiwan (Taipei), Thailand (Bangkok), Togo (Lomé), Tunisia (Tunis), Turkey (Istanbul),

Ukraine (Kiev), United Arab Emirates (Dubai), United Kingdom (Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London, Manchester), United States (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C.).

Venezuela (Caracas), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City).

For up to date information visit airfrance.com.

Air France baggage allowance

Cabin luggage

Economy Class passengers are allowed to take on board one carry on bag and one personal item. Premium Economy, Business or La Première passengers are entitled to two carry on bags and one personal item.

Your carry on bag must not exceed the following dimensions: 55 x 35 x 25 cm (including wheels and handles).

The combined weight of your cabin luggage must not exceed:

12 kg - for Economy class passengers;
18 kg - for Premium Economy, Business or La Première passengers.

Your personal item can be one of the following: a handbag, a briefcase, a laptop bag, a camera bag, or a bag for any other electronic device.

Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and its dimensions must not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm.

If a passenger has a connecting flight provided by another airline, they must check the baggage rules set by this second airline. The rules might be different from those of Air France.

Hold luggage

Passengers (except the Light fare passengers) are entitled to at least 1 checked baggage item at no extra charge.

The Light Fare passengers are not entitled to free checked luggage, but can purchase a checked baggage option.

Checked baggage allowance by travel cabin (except Light fare):

Economy cabin (except Light fare) - 1 checked baggage item weighing up to 23 kg.
Premium Economy cabin - 2 checked baggage items weighing up to 23 kg each.
Business cabin - 2 checked baggage items weighing up to 32 kg each.
La Première cabin - 3 baggage items weighing up to 32 kg each.

Blue Silver, Gold and Platinum passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus members are entitled to 1 additional checked baggage item at no extra charge. The permitted weight depends on the travel cabin.

If a passenger would like to transport more baggage items than permitted with their fare, the passenger can purchase additional baggage.

Remember, whenever your flight with Air France is delayed, cancelled or you have been denied boarding - you might be entitled to flight compensation. File a claim to get it sorted out right away!