AER LINGUS · MISSED CONNECTION · EI · UK 261 AND EC 261
What is a missed connection on Aer Lingus worth?
A missed connection on one Aer Lingus booking is measured at the final destination: the Court of Justice held in Folkerts (C-11/11) that compensation of €250, €400 or €600 or £220, £350 or £520 is due where you arrive 3 hours or more late overall, even if the first leg's delay was short. Distance is measured to the final ticketed destination.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
Which delay counts on a connection?
The arrival at your final ticketed destination, on a single booking. In Folkerts the first leg left about two and a half hours late, the passenger missed the connection, and arrival was around eleven hours late: the Grand Chamber held the Art. 7 sum was due. Distance is measured to the final destination, so a short feeder that costs a long haul connection can carry the long haul band.
| DISTANCE BAND | EC 261 | UK 261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 | £520 |
Common questions
Aer Lingus rebooked me. Can I still claim compensation?
Rerouting satisfies one duty; compensation is a separate one. On a cancellation with under 14 days notice, compensation can still be due where the replacement flight fell outside the departure and arrival windows in Art. 5(1)(c). The free check applies those windows to your times.
I accepted a refund. Is compensation gone?
No. The Art. 8 refund covers the unused ticket; Art. 7 compensation is a separate claim for the disruption itself. Accepting one does not waive the other.
Can Aer Lingus pay the compensation as a voucher?
Art. 7(3) requires payment in money (cash, transfer or cheque) unless the passenger signs an agreement to accept travel vouchers or other services. You can decline a voucher and ask for the cash amount.
What about meals and hotels while I waited?
Care under Art. 9 (meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the wait, plus accommodation and transfers where an overnight stay becomes necessary) is a separate duty, and it applies even where the cause was outside the airline's control. Keep receipts.
SOURCES
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 5(3) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 8(1) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Case C-11/11 Air France v Folkerts, judgment of 26 February 2013 (Grand Chamber, ECLI:EU:C:2013:110) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
OTHER AER LINGUS DISRUPTIONS
The free check applies these rules to your Aer Lingus flight and shows the amount before any personal details.
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