What Documents Do You Need for an EU261 Claim?
Less than you might think. A booking confirmation and a bank statement cover most cases. This guide lists every document that helps — and which ones are truly essential versus nice-to-have.
Quick answer
You need: (1) booking confirmation showing your name, flight number and route, and (2) proof of payment (bank/card statement). A boarding pass helps but is not required. For denied boarding, also get the written denied boarding notice at the airport.
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Document Checklist
| Document | Essential? | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Booking confirmation / e-ticket | ✅ | Proves you held a confirmed reservation on the flight |
| Boarding pass (paper or screenshot) | ☑️ | Helpful but not required — especially for cancellations |
| Bank / card statement | ✅ | Confirms you paid for the flight |
| Airline cancellation / delay notification | ☑️ | Supports your case but not mandatory — airlines have their own records |
| Photo of departures board | ☑️ | Very useful evidence of the delay at time of disruption |
| Receipt for meals / hotel / transport | ☑️ | Required only if claiming additional expense reimbursement |
| Denied boarding notice | ✅ | Required for denied boarding claims — request it in writing at the airport |
| Passport / travel ID | ☑️ | May be requested to confirm identity for payment |
✅ Essential | ☑️ Helpful
How to Prove the Delay or Cancellation
EU261 compensation is based on actual arrival time at the final destination — not departure time. To prove the delay, use any of:
- FlightAware.com — free historical flight data by flight number and date; shows actual gate arrival time
- FlightStats.com — similar service, good for older flights
- Airline delay notification — the email or SMS the airline sent you
- Photo of arrivals board — taken at destination airport on the day
- Hotel receipt — if the delay forced an overnight stay, this is circumstantial evidence of the disruption length
What to Collect at the Airport on the Day
The most valuable evidence is gathered in real time. If your flight is disrupted:
- Photograph the departures board showing the new time or "cancelled" status
- Ask airline staff for a written explanation of the disruption — this also documents extraordinary circumstances (or lack thereof)
- Keep all meal and hotel vouchers provided by the airline
- Keep receipts for any expenses you paid yourself (meals, hotel, taxi)
- For denied boarding: insist on the written denied boarding notice before leaving the desk
Retrieving Documents You No Longer Have
If you have lost or deleted your booking confirmation, you can recover it via:
- Your email search — try the airline name, booking reference, or "your booking"
- OTA accounts (Booking.com, Expedia, Skyscanner) — past trips section
- GDPR data subject access request to the airline — they must provide all your personal data, including booking records, within 30 days
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum I need to make an EU261 claim?
At minimum: your booking confirmation (name, flight number, date, route) and proof of payment (bank statement). That establishes you were a confirmed passenger. For cancellations, this is often all you need. For delays, add evidence of the actual arrival time — either from FlightAware or an airline notification.
Does the airline need my passport number?
Not for the claim itself. Your booking reference (PNR) and name are enough for the airline to locate the reservation. Some airlines request a passport copy for identity verification before payment — this is a standard AML check, not a barrier to the claim.
What if I booked through Ryanair's app and have no email confirmation?
Log into the Ryanair app and download your booking confirmation from 'My Trips'. If you no longer have access to the app, use a GDPR data subject access request (DSAR) — Ryanair must provide your booking data within 30 days.
Can I use a screenshot of my bank statement?
Yes. A screenshot clearly showing the airline name, amount, and date is acceptable. You do not need an official bank-stamped statement.
What evidence proves the delay at arrival?
The most credible sources are: (1) FlightAware or FlightStats historical flight data — both are free and show actual gate arrival times; (2) the airline's own delay notification email; (3) a photo of the arrivals board at the destination. Any one of these is usually sufficient.
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