ANSWER · UK 261 AND EC 261
I was denied boarding on the second leg. What applies?
Art. 4 applies to the leg you were refused, provided you presented for boarding under the Art. 3(2) conditions. On a single booking the compensation is calculated on the distance to the final ticketed destination, which is the measurement Folkerts confirmed, so a short second leg can carry the €600 band.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
Which distance the band uses
Art. 7(1) measures the flight to the last destination at which the passenger will arrive after the scheduled time. On a through booking that is the final ticketed destination, not the airport where the refusal happened.
That is the same logic Folkerts applied to delays: the single booking is the unit, so a €250 looking sector can carry the long haul band.
Where the refusal came after a late first leg
If the first leg arrived late and you were not boarded because the connection had closed, that is a missed connection rather than denied boarding, and the analysis moves to Art. 6 read with Sturgeon and Folkerts.
The distinction is factual: were you refused a seat you held, or did you arrive after the gate closed?
Assistance on the connecting leg
Art. 4(3) brings in Articles 8 and 9 in full, so re-routing to the final destination and care while you wait remain due at the connecting airport, not only at the original departure point.
THE JUDGMENTS BEHIND THIS ANSWER
SOURCES
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 4(3) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(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
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