Air France Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation Rights

If your Air France flight has been delayed or canceled and you’re feeling confused about your rights, you’re not alone. When your travel plans suddenly change, it’s hard to know what the airline owes you, whether compensation is possible, and how the process works — especially if it involves laws like EU Regulation EC261 that most people have never heard of.

This page breaks down exactly what you need to know about Air France flight delays and cancellations, how to determine if you qualify for compensation or a refund, and what steps you can take next — whether you want to claim directly or get help from a service like AirHelp.

If you’re still trying to understand where your situation fits in the bigger picture of airline passenger rights, start with this global flight delay and cancellation compensation guide.

Air France Flight Delays: What should you do if your flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed and you are looking for compensation, you will need to determine if the cause of the delay was within the airline’s control.    A controllable flight delay (or cancellation) is a delay or cancellation that has been caused by the airline and qualifies for reimbursement under EU 261.  

Controllable vs. Non-Controllable Delays & Cancellations

• Controllable Delays are caused by things the airline controls, such as maintenance and mechanical issues, lack of available equipment, cabin cleaning, flight crew schedules, fueling, baggage loading, etc.
• Non-controllable delays or delays due to “Extraordinary Circumstances” are caused by things outside the airline’s control, such as weather, air traffic congestion, air space closure, terrorism, political instability, emergency diversion, etc.

EU 261 Definition of a “Delay”

Another important definition to consider is the definition of a delay under EU 261. A delay is not determined by the time you leave your departure gate. It is calculated based on the time you arrive at your destination’s gate. This allows the airlines to make up for the lost time in the air.

Under EU261, a delay is measured by the time the aircraft doors open at your final destination — not when the wheels touch down. This means that even if the plane lands on time, but passengers cannot disembark until later, the delay clock continues. This definition is what regulators and courts use when determining whether a delay meets the three-hour threshold for compensation.

For official guidance on your passenger rights under European law, see the European Commission’s air passenger rights page, which outlines delay, cancellation, denied boarding, and assistance rules under EU261.

How Air France Handles Delays and Cancellations

Air France is a European airline, which means most of its flights are governed by EU passenger protection laws rather than airline-specific policies alone. In practice, this usually means Air France will first focus on operational solutions — rebooking passengers, offering vouchers, or arranging accommodations — before addressing compensation claims.

During long delays or cancellations, Air France typically offers:

• Rebooking on the next available Air France or partner flight
• Meal vouchers for extended airport waits
• Hotel accommodation for overnight delays, when required

What’s important to understand is that these services are separate from cash compensation, which is governed by law rather than airline discretion.

Are Air France Flights Covered by EU Compensation Rules?

Most Air France flights are covered by EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261).

You are generally protected if:

• Your Air France flight departed from the EU, or
• Your flight arrived in the EU, since Air France is an EU-based airline

When EU261 applies, eligible passengers may be entitled to cash compensation, assistance during delays, and refund options during cancellations.

For a full explanation of how EU261 works and who qualifies, see this EU flight delay compensation guide under EC261 and UK261.

Delay Rights Under EU261

Under EU261, if an Air France flight arrives three hours or more later than scheduled at your final destination, you may qualify for compensation — even if you’re flying economy or booked with points.

Under EU law, delay is measured by when the aircraft doors open at the final destination, not just when the plane touches down. This is the standard used by regulators and courts to determine eligibility for compensation.

Passengers are also entitled to assistance (meals, snacks, communication, and accommodation when overnight stays are needed) based on the length of the delay.

Cancellation Rights

Air France must offer you:

• Rebooking on the next available flight
• Refund if you choose not to travel
• Compensation if the cancellation was short notice and within the airline’s control

You generally qualify for compensation if Air France informed you less than 14 days before departure, and the cancellation is not due to extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or air traffic control strikes.

Missed Connections and Other Scenarios

If you miss a connecting flight because an earlier Air France segment was delayed, you may still be entitled to compensation under EU261 — even if you arrive late despite a rebooking.

Even if Air France rebooks you onto a later flight, you may still qualify for compensation under EU261 if your final arrival time is delayed by three hours or more compared to your original itinerary. Regulation EU261 bases eligibility on the total delay to your final destination, not whether the airline provided rebooking.

Similarly, if boarding is denied due to overbooking or a scheduling error, EU rules typically offer compensation separate from refunds or rebooking.

How to check Air France flight status

You can check the status of any Air France flight via the Flight Status and Notification section of the Air France website. Here you can search by flight number; if you don’t have the flight number, you can search by the route.

It’s also important to understand that EU261 may still apply on routes involving the United States if the disrupted segment departed from an EU airport or was operated by Air France into an EU airport. This means even U.S. residents flying on Air France to Europe may be eligible for compensation under EU passenger protection rules.

How Much Compensation You May Be Owed

If your Air France flight arrived at its final destination three hours or more late, you may qualify for compensation under EU261 — provided the delay was within the airline’s control.

Compensation amounts are set by regulation and depend on flight distance:

• Up to 1,500 km: €250
• 1,500–3,500 km: €400
• Over 3,500 km: €600

These amounts apply per passenger and are not affected by ticket price or fare class.

What You Should Do After a Delay or Cancellation

Immediate Steps

1. Confirm the delay or cancellation details in writing.
2. Keep boarding passes and emails from Air France.
3. Ask staff about accommodations and meals if the delay is long.
4. Note the actual arrival time at your final destination.

This helps establish eligibility when submitting a claim. If you aren’t sure whether your flight fits the requirements, you can read our EU flight delay compensation guide under EC261 and UK261 for full context.

How AirHelp Helps With Air France Compensation Claims

If your Air France flight is delayed or canceled, you could be owed up to €650 per person in compensation and a refund of the ticket cost.

Many passengers are surprised to learn that compensation claims under EU261 can often be filed for flights that happened years ago, depending on where the claim is submitted. In many EU countries, the statute of limitations for these claims ranges from two to six years, which makes services like AirHelp particularly useful for older or previously denied cases.

If this sounds confusing and you need help understanding your rights and potential refund amount, AirHelp specializes in helping you get the compensation you are entitled to.

It’s always best to first check with the airline directly, but if they are not helpful, you can use a claim company like AirHelp to help resolve the claim. Check out their compensation per airline page to find out what you’re owed.

AirHelp specializes in flight delay and cancellation claims and works on a no-win, no-fee basis. They handle:

• Claim submission
• Follow-ups with the airline
• Legal escalation when required

This can be especially helpful for older claims or cases involving missed connections or airline denials.

You can learn more about how the service works in our AirHelp review and compensation guide.

When Compensation May Not Apply

Even under EU261, compensation is not required in every situation.

Air France is generally not obligated to pay compensation when delays or cancellations are caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as:

• Severe weather
• Air traffic control restrictions
• Airport security or safety issues

In Summary

Air France passengers generally enjoy strong protections under EU261, including cash compensation and assistance when flights are significantly delayed or canceled. The key factors in any claim are:

• Where your flight originated or arrived
• How long you were delayed
• Whether the airline was at fault

If you need help or want someone to handle the logistics of a claim, a reputable service like AirHelp can assist — especially in more complex or denied cases.

For a higher-level look at how passenger compensation works in general, check out our global flight delay and cancellation compensation guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions