Applicable regime
First establish whether EU261, UK261, Türkiye passenger-rights rules or another framework covers the journey.
Airdelay Help Guide
Flight Compensation Claim Deadline
How long you have to claim is not one universal number. The deadline can depend on the passenger-rights regime, the country whose limitation rules apply and how the claim is pursued.
EU261, UK261 and Türkiye-related claims can involve different legal and procedural time limits. Starting early is safer than waiting for a deadline.
How long do you have to claim?
The useful answer starts with the legal framework, not a generic number.
Do not assume every flight-compensation claim has the same deadline. EU261 creates compensation rights but does not set one EU-wide limitation period for bringing those claims. UK court time limits depend on the jurisdiction. Türkiye-related claims also require the correct legal basis and procedure to be identified.
That is why a flight from several years ago may still deserve checking, while another route or procedure may face a different deadline.
Why flight compensation deadlines differ
Three questions determine the timing analysis.
Limitation law
The time allowed to enforce a claim can come from national procedural or limitation law rather than the passenger-rights regulation itself.
Procedure used
An airline complaint, ADR route, regulator escalation and court proceedings do not necessarily share identical procedural deadlines.
EU261: there is no single EU-wide claim deadline
National limitation rules can determine how long an action may be brought.
The Court of Justice of the European Union has held that Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 does not itself set the time limit for bringing compensation actions. The applicable period is determined by the rules of the relevant Member State.
Important: the Montreal Convention’s two-year limitation period does not automatically govern a standard EU261 compensation action. Avoid blanket statements such as “EU261 claims always expire after two years” or “always after three years.”
For eligibility under the regulation itself, read our EU261 compensation guide. If you are unsure which framework covers your journey, compare EU261, UK261 and Turkish passenger rights.
UK261: court time limits depend on the UK jurisdiction
The legal deadline should not be confused with the airline’s processing time.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority explains that, where a passenger needs to take a claim to court, the time limit is generally six years in England and Wales and five years in Scotland. Different routes can have their own requirements, so passengers should not wait until the end of the period before contacting the airline.
See the UK261 compensation guide for the underlying eligibility rules. For journeys between the UK and Türkiye, our UK–Türkiye flights and UK261 guide explains route coverage in more detail.
Türkiye-related claims: identify the route and procedure first
There is no safe one-number answer for every Türkiye-related compensation claim.
Türkiye’s passenger-rights framework and complaint process require careful route and jurisdiction analysis. SHGM’s passenger complaint process directs passengers to apply to the airline first before escalating an unresolved complaint through the authority’s system.
Start with our Türkiye flight compensation guide. AJet passengers can also use the AJet compensation claim guide for airline-specific guidance.
Practical rule: do not wait for a guessed limitation date. Preserve the flight records, make the airline claim promptly and check the legal framework that applies to the route.
Can you claim for an older flight?
Possibly. The flight date alone does not answer the question.
Identify the flight
Find the date, route, operating airline and booking reference.
Identify the framework
Work out whether EU261, UK261, Türkiye rules or another regime may apply.
Check the limitation period
Use the relevant country and procedure rather than a generic online number.
Act promptly
If the claim may still be in time, gather evidence and submit it rather than waiting.
Evidence to keep before a deadline becomes an issue
Older claims become much easier to assess when the original records still exist.
✓Booking confirmation, ticket or boarding pass
✓Flight number, date and route
✓Delay or cancellation notices and airline messages
✓Claim submissions, replies and dates
For a fuller checklist, see documents needed for a flight compensation claim. A claim deadline is also different from processing time; if you already submitted a claim, read How Long Do Claims Take?
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about older flights and limitation periods.
Can I claim flight compensation after one year?
Potentially. One year is not a universal cut-off. Whether the claim is still in time depends on the applicable passenger-rights regime and limitation rules.
Is the EU261 deadline always three years?
No. EU261 does not establish one EU-wide limitation period for compensation actions. National rules determine the relevant time limit.
Does the Montreal Convention’s two-year limit apply to EU261 compensation?
Not automatically. The CJEU has held that the Montreal Convention’s two-year period does not govern actions seeking the standard compensation created by Regulation 261/2004.
What if the airline already rejected my claim?
A rejection does not by itself establish whether a legal claim is out of time. Check the applicable limitation period and any available complaint, ADR or court route promptly.
Is a claim deadline the same as claim processing time?
No. A limitation period concerns how long you have to pursue a right. Processing time concerns what happens after a claim has been submitted.
Related Airdelay guides
Continue with the part of your claim you need to resolve next.
Think your flight may still qualify?
Check the flight details now. Eligibility and timing depend on the route, disruption, circumstances and applicable passenger-rights rules.
Check your compensation →This guide provides general passenger-rights information, not legal advice. Limitation rules can depend on jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
