Can You Claim Compensation for a Flight from 2, 3 or 5 Years Ago?
In most cases, yes — but the window is closing. Limitation periods under EU261 and UK261 range from 1 to 6 years depending on the country. If your disrupted flight is approaching the deadline, act now.
Quick answer
Yes — in the UK (6 years), France (5 years) and Spain (5 years) you can claim for flights from several years ago. In Germany it is 3 years, the Netherlands and Greece 2 years, and Poland just 1 year. Check your deadline and file without delay.
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Limitation Periods by Country
EU261 itself does not set a limitation period — it defers to national law. The table below shows the statutory deadlines in key jurisdictions. The clock typically starts on the date of the disruption.
| Country / jurisdiction | Deadline | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| England & Wales (UK) | 6 years | Limitation Act 1980 |
| Scotland (UK) | 5 years | Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act |
| Northern Ireland (UK) | 6 years | Limitation (NI) Order 1989 |
| France | 5 years | Code civil Art. 2224 |
| Germany | 3 years | Ends 31 Dec of the year claim arose |
| Netherlands | 2 years | Civil Code Art. 8:1715 |
| Spain | 5 years | Código Civil Art. 1964 |
| Italy | 2 years | Codice della Navigazione Art. 949 |
| Greece | 2 years | Civil Code |
| Poland | 1 year | Aviation Law Art. 205 — act quickly! |
| Romania | 3 years | Civil Code |
| Belgium | 1 year | Act on contract of carriage |
Why Waiting Costs You More Than the Deadline
Even where a claim is technically still within the limitation period, older claims face practical challenges:
- Evidence degrades — emails get deleted, apps lose booking history, bank statement archives may be limited
- Airline records — some carriers delete internal delay logs after 2–3 years
- Flight tracking data — third-party sources (FlightAware, FlightRadar24) retain records for varying periods
- Memory — the more time passes, the harder it is to reconstruct the timeline for an ADR body or court
The best practice is to claim as soon as possible after the disruption. For older flights: act today, not next month.
How to Claim for an Old Flight
- Find your booking records — check email archives, OTA accounts (Expedia, Booking.com), bank statements
- Retrieve historical flight data — FlightAware.com and FlightStats.com allow you to look up actual arrival times for historical flights by flight number and date
- Write your claim letter citing EU261/2004 (or UK261), the flight details, the delay/cancellation, and the amount owed
- File with a claims company such as ClaimWinger, which can retrieve flight data independently and handle enforcement on your behalf
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I claim for a flight that was delayed 3 years ago?
It depends on which country's courts or enforcement bodies you use. In England and Wales the limitation period is 6 years, so a 3-year-old claim is well within time. In Germany, claims must be filed within 3 years (by 31 December of the third year). In Poland and Belgium the window is just 1 year. Check the table above for your jurisdiction.
Which country's limitation period applies to my claim?
Generally, the limitation period of the country where you bring the claim — typically where you live, where the flight departed, or where the airline is based. For practical purposes, most passengers use the courts or ADR of the country of departure or their home country.
Does it matter how old the disruption was when calculating the deadline?
The clock typically starts on the date of the disruption (the day the flight was delayed or cancelled), not the date you submitted your claim. A rejected claim letter to the airline does not pause the limitation clock — you need to formally file with a court or ADR body to stop the deadline running.
Will the airline still have records of the delay from 3 years ago?
Airlines are required to keep operational records, and flight tracking data (from sources like FlightAware or FlightRadar24) is usually available for several years. Most claims companies can retrieve historical delay data independently of what the airline provides.
My claim is close to the deadline — what should I do?
Act immediately. File your claim with the airline and simultaneously with a claims company or the relevant court/ADR body. The formal filing date is what stops the limitation clock — don't rely on the airline's response timeline.
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