Missed connection because an earlier flight was late (EU)
Applies under: eu-261-2004
On a single booking through the EU, if a delayed first leg makes you miss your connection and you reach your final destination 3+ hours late, EU 261 compensation is based on the whole journey.
Your rights
Compensation is assessed on the delay at your final destination and the total distance of the journey, not leg by leg, when the flights are on one booking. You are also entitled to care during the wait and to re-routing or a refund if you no longer wish to travel.
When this applies
Flights booked on a single reservation, the first leg is covered by EU 261, and the delay to your final-destination arrival is 3 hours or more (Folkerts, C-11/11).
Step by step
- Keep both legs on the one bookingSave the single reservation showing both flights, and record your actual arrival time at the final destination.
- Claim on the total journeyWrite to the operating carrier of the delayed leg, citing Article 7 and the Folkerts ruling, calculating compensation on the full journey distance.
Common airline pushback
“The connecting flight was on time, so no compensation is due.”
Compensation is based on the delay at your final destination on a single booking, not on the punctuality of the connecting leg (Folkerts).
If the airline refuses
- The airline directly
- National regulator
- Small-claims court
Typical outcomes
| Compensation range | 250–600 EUR |
|---|---|
| Success rate | 64% |
| Time to resolution | median 45 days · 90th pct 160 days |