When you fly with Transavia, you’re protected by the same passenger-rights laws that apply to all EU-registered airlines. These rules ensure you’re treated fairly when your flight is delayed, cancelled, or disrupted. The key regulations are EU Regulation 261/2004 and, in some cases, UK261. Depending on your route and what happened to your flight, you may be able to rely on one or both of these laws to claim compensation or other support.
Continue reading about your EU air passenger rights.
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EU Regulation 261/2004 and EU Air Passenger Rights: The Basics
EU Regulation 261/2004 defines EU air passenger rights and sets the rules for when airlines must provide compensation or assistance to passengers facing major disruptions, such as cancellations, long delays, or denied boarding.
EU Regulation 261/2004 outlines when airlines must provide compensation, refunds, assistance, and care to passengers affected by serious flight disruptions.
These rules apply to all EU airlines, as well as any flight that departs from the EU, no matter which airline operates it.
You are protected under EU261 in the following situations:
1. Your Flight Arrives More Than 3 Hours Late
If you reach your final destination 3+ hours later than scheduled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to:
- Flight delay compensation (€250–€600, depending on distance)
- Right to care, which includes:
- Meals and drinks
- Hotel accommodation (if the wait is overnight)
- Transportation between the hotel and airport
- Free calls, emails, or messages
Keep in mind that the right to care still applies even when a delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances. Only compensation is not available in those cases.
How much is flight delay compensation? Typically €250, €400, or €600, depending mainly on the distance of your flight. In most cases, the longer the route, the higher the compensation.
2. Your Flight Is Cancelled Less Than 14 Days Before Departure
If Transavia cancels your flight with less than 14 days’ notice, and the cancellation is the airline’s responsibility, you are entitled to:
- Flight cancellation compensation (€250–€600)
- Refund or a new flight of your choice
- Right to care while waiting for the replacement flight
Key conditions:
The disruption must be the airline’s fault — not caused by extraordinary circumstances (like extreme weather or air traffic control strikes).
3. Your Flight Is Overbooked And You Are Denied Boarding
If you are denied boarding against your will because the flight is overbooked, you are entitled to:
- Denied boarding compensation (€250–€600)
- Refund or a new flight
- Right to care while waiting for a replacement flight
Key conditions:
Denied boarding must be involuntary. If you voluntarily accept the airline’s perks or vouchers and choose to take a later flight, it is considered “voluntary denied boarding,” and you are not entitled to EU denied boarding compensation.
Read more: What to Do if Your Transavia Flight Is Overbooked?
These rules apply to all EU airlines, including charter airlines, and in many cases also cover non-EU airlines flying from the EU. Your nationality does not matter.
How much is flight compensation? Typically €250, €400, or €600, depending mainly on the distance of your flight. In most cases, the longer the route, the higher the compensation.
EU air passenger rights ensure travelers receive compensation and assistance when flights are delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.
Regulation UK261 and UK Air Passenger Rights
After Brexit, the UK introduced its own version of the EU passenger-rights rules, called UK261.
It is almost identical to EU Regulation 261/2004, offering the same protections and the same compensation amounts.
The good news is that you’re still covered when flying to or from the UK.
The only real change is that you now need to know which regulation applies to your specific flight — EU261 or UK261.
Flying with a European Airline: Which Laws Protect You?
If you’re flying with an EU airline—such as Transavia, KLM, SAS, Air France, Ryanair, or Lufthansa—several passenger-rights laws may apply. The exact protection depends on your route and the details of your trip.
Remember: for connecting flights, your final destination is what matters when determining your rights.
All Flight Scenarios Covered: When EU261 or UK261 Protect You
Here are all the scenarios when you are protected:
- EU – EU (only EU261)
- EU – UK (UK261 & EU261)
- EU – Third country (only EU261)
- UK – EU (UK261 & EU261)
- UK – UK (only UK261)
- UK – Third country (only UK261)
- Third country – EU (only EU261 law)
- Third country – UK (only UK261 law)
Check your compensation online.
Example: Transavia flight from Amsterdam to London
You have a Transavia flight from Amsterdam (AMS) to London Heathrow (LHR).
If your flight is delayed, cancelled at the last minute due to the airline’s fault, or you’re denied boarding because the flight is overbooked, which regulation applies?
Transavia is an EU-registered airline, and the flight departs from an EU airport (Amsterdam). This means you are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Because the flight arrives in the UK, you are also protected under UK261.
When filing a claim, you can rely on either regulation.
Example: KLM flight from Amsterdam to Sao Paulo
You have a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Sao Paulo.
Your flight is delayed or cancelled last-minute due to the airline’s fault. Or you have been denied boarding due to overbooking. What regulation should you refer to when making a claim for disrupted KLM flight?
Since KLM is a EU airline, the flight departs from a EU airport, and lands in a third country, it is covered only by the EU Flight Compensation Regulation 261.
Example: Qatar Airways Flight Returning to Europe
You have a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Copenhagen.
The flight is delayed or cancelled at the last minute, and it is clearly the airline’s fault. Can you claim compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 or UK261?
In this case, no.
Qatar Airways is not an EU airline, and the flight does not depart from the EU or the UK. European regulations, EU261 and UK261, do not apply.
Whether you can receive compensation depends entirely on the local laws of the departure or arrival country, or the airline’s own policies—not EU or UK regulations.
Example: Qatar Airways Flight From Europe to the Middle East
You have a Qatar Airways flight from Paris to Doha.
Your flight is delayed more than 3 hours, cancelled at the last minute due to the airline’s fault, or you are denied boarding because of overbooking. Which regulation applies?
Even though Qatar Airways is not an EU airline, the flight departs from an EU airport (Paris). This means you are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004.
So in this situation, you can make a claim under EU261, even though the airline itself is non-European.
Understanding your EU air passenger rights can help you claim compensation, request a refund, or receive proper care during major travel disruptions.
Featured photo by Anton Porsche from Pexels