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Airline guide

Air France compensation

Air France operates one of Europe's busiest hubs, and French air traffic control strikes make its delay notices worth reading carefully — not every strike excuses payment.

Quick answer

Air France operates one of Europe's busiest hubs, and French air traffic control strikes make its delay notices worth reading carefully — not every strike excuses payment.

Airline
Air France
Main hub
Paris Charles de Gaulle
Potential compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Route coverage
EU departures; EU-airline arrivals

Does Air France have to pay?

Air France flies from EU and EEA airports, so EC Regulation 261/2004 applies to those departures regardless of where the flight is going. Domestic and European sectors sit in the €250–400 bands; Paris long-haul reaches €600. Most of those routes fall in the €250 band, with longer ones reaching €400.

What usually decides the claim

  • A strike by Air France's own pilots or crew is not an extraordinary circumstance.
  • A national air traffic control strike usually is — but the airline must show it tried to reroute you.
  • Connections through Paris on one booking count towards a single arrival delay.
  • France's DGAC handles complaints when the airline refuses.

How to send your claim

Air France accepts claims through its online customer service form, in French or English. Attach boarding passes and keep the claim number.

If they refuse

Airlines often reject a first claim with a one-line reference to extraordinary circumstances. Ask them to state the specific cause and the reasonable measures they took. If the answer is unconvincing or none arrives within 14 days, escalate to the national enforcement body in the country of departure — for Paris Charles de Gaulle-based flights that is the regulator of that state — or to an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.

Common questions

The delay was blamed on a strike. Am I out of luck?
Not necessarily. Ask which strike and by whom: the airline's own staff striking does not excuse payment, while an external air traffic control strike usually does.
How long do I have to claim?
It depends on the country whose courts would hear the case: three years in Germany, five in Spain, six in the UK and Ireland, two in some others. Older flights are often still claimable, so it is worth asking.
Does Air France charge to process a claim?
No. Claiming under EU261 is free and the airline has to handle it, which is exactly why handing 25–35% to an agency is hard to justify.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.