ANSWER · UK 261 AND EC 261
I arrived late at the gate and was refused boarding. Do the rules cover me?
Generally no. Art. 3(2) applies the regulation only to passengers who present for check-in at the time indicated by the carrier or, where no time is stated, not later than 45 minutes before the published departure time. A passenger outside that window falls outside the regulation, whatever happened at the gate.
REVIEWED AGAINST RULE SET V6 AND THE CITED PRIMARY SOURCES · UPDATED 7 AUGUST 2026
The condition in Art. 3(2)
The passenger must have a confirmed reservation and present for check in as stipulated and at the time indicated in advance and in writing by the carrier, the tour operator or an authorised travel agent, or, if no time is indicated, not later than 45 minutes before the published departure time.
Where the answer can change
- You checked in on time and reached the gate late because of a queue the airport or the airline controlled.
- The gate closed earlier than the time printed on the boarding pass.
- A first leg on the same booking arrived late, which makes this a missed connection rather than a late arrival at the gate.
- You were checked in and the airline offloaded you before the stated gate closing time.
Why this one is stated plainly
Answering it honestly is more useful than hedging. A claim that fails Art. 3(2) costs the passenger time and the airline a rejection letter, and it is the kind of claim a no win no fee model should decline rather than file.
SOURCES
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 3(2) · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 4 · EUR-Lex · checked 7 August 2026
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