EU261 and Connecting Flights: The Single-Booking Rule Explained
Missed a connection and arrived hours late? Whether you can claim EU261 compensation depends on one critical question: were your flights booked as a single itinerary? This single-booking rule is the most important factor in connecting flight compensation claims.
Quick answer
Single booking (one PNR): EU261 applies to the final destination delay — if you arrived 3+ hours late, you're entitled to compensation based on the full origin-to-final-destination distance.
Separate tickets: No EU261 protection for the missed connection — each flight is assessed independently.
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The Single-Booking Rule
EU261 was confirmed by the CJEU to apply to connecting itineraries booked as a single contract (one booking reference). In this case:
- The relevant delay is the final destination arrival delay, not each individual leg's delay
- The relevant distance is from origin to final destination (not the distance of each individual leg)
- The airline is responsible for getting you to the final destination — missing a connection is their problem, not yours
For separate tickets, EU261 treats each flight as a separate transaction. If the first flight is delayed and you miss the second flight on a different ticket, the first airline has no obligation to your second flight, and the second airline (if the second flight departed on time) has no liability either.
Connecting Flight Scenarios — Protected or Not?
Single booking: first leg delayed, connection missed, arrived 4h late
Full €250/€400/€600 compensation based on total origin-to-destination distance
Single booking: both legs on time, but connection window was too short
Claim based on final arrival delay — airline's responsibility as single booking
Separate tickets: first flight delayed, missed second flight
No EU261 connection protection — treat as two separate flights; each assessed individually
Separate tickets: first flight cancelled, second ticket lost
EU261 cancellation rights on first ticket only. Second ticket: contract with separate airline — no EU261 missed connection
Single booking: codeshare flights on different airlines
Still a single booking — EU261 applies to final destination delay. Claim from the operating carrier or the ticketing carrier.
Self-connect (DIY connection on separate tickets)
No EU261 protection for the connection. Each flight assessed individually.
Distance Calculation for Connecting Flights
For single-booking connecting flights, the compensation amount is based on the Great Circle distance from origin to final destination. Individual leg distances are not added together — the direct distance between the departure airport and the final destination airport is used.
Example: London → Frankfurt → Cairo, booked as one ticket. The relevant distance is London to Cairo (~3,490 km) — which puts it in the €400 tier, not the €250 tier that would apply to London–Frankfurt alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my connecting flights were a single booking?
Check your booking confirmation and boarding passes. A single booking will show one booking reference (PNR) covering both flights, or tickets showing the same overall journey as one contract. If you received separate confirmation emails from different airlines with different booking references, these are likely separate tickets. A single-airline connection via a hub (e.g., Lufthansa Frankfurt connection) is almost always a single booking.
The connection was booked via Skyscanner/Kiwi — is that a single booking?
It depends on the booking method. Some OTAs (especially Kiwi.com) offer 'self-connect' or 'virtual interlining' products that combine separate tickets. These are typically NOT single bookings for EU261 purposes. However, if Kiwi or another OTA issued tickets under a single itinerary with a guarantee of connection, they may offer their own compensation scheme (Kiwi has a 'Kiwi Guarantee'). Always check the booking terms.
I missed my connection due to a short layover that the airline sold me — is this their fault?
Yes, if it was a single booking. If the airline sold you a connection with an insufficient layover (called a 'minimum connection time' violation), the missed connection is the airline's responsibility. The standard minimum connection time varies by airport (typically 45–90 minutes at most European hubs). If the booked layover was shorter than the published minimum, you have a strong case.
Which airline do I claim from if two different carriers were involved?
For a single booking covering two airlines, you can typically claim from the airline that issued the ticket (the ticketing carrier), as your contract is with them. They then sort out liability with the operating carriers internally. Alternatively, you can claim from the operating carrier who caused the initial delay that led to the missed connection.
What if the first leg was covered by EU261 but the second wasn't (non-EU airline from non-EU airport)?
If the first leg delay caused the missed connection, your claim is against the carrier responsible for the first delay. The EU261 protection follows the first flight's eligibility. If the entire itinerary was booked as one ticket on an EU carrier, the EU carrier's obligations cover the whole journey's outcome.
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