Aer Lingus compensation for delayed and cancelled flights

Aer Lingus is an Irish airline, which means EU261 protects you on almost every Aer Lingus flight: from Ireland and other EU airports, and on flights into Ireland from the UK or North America. On flights leaving the UK, the UK's own version of the rules (UK261) applies as well. Here is when Aer Lingus owes compensation, how to claim it yourself, and where to turn if the airline says no.

01Which rules apply to your Aer Lingus flight

• Flights from Ireland or another EU airport, for example Dublin to Paris or Cork to London, are covered by EU261.
• Flights into Ireland from outside the EU, for example New York or Boston to Dublin, are covered by EU261 because Aer Lingus is an EU airline. The only exception is where you already received compensation and assistance under local rules in the country you left.
• Flights from the UK, for example Heathrow to Dublin, are covered by UK261. Because Aer Lingus is an EU airline landing in the EU, EU261 can cover the same flight too. You can claim under one or the other, not both.
• Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Emerald Airlines. The regulation makes the operating airline responsible, so check "operated by" on your booking.
• Codeshares sold with an Aer Lingus flight number but flown by a partner, such as British Airways or American Airlines, are the partner's responsibility.

02Aer Lingus delay compensation

You can claim compensation when you reach your final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, unless Aer Lingus shows the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances. If your trip had a connection on one booking, for example Boston to Dublin to Lisbon, what counts is the delay at Lisbon, and the distance is measured from Boston to Lisbon.

The amount is fixed per passenger and set by distance: up to 1,500 km, 1,500 to 3,500 km, or over 3,500 km.

• EU261 (flights from the EU, or into the EU on an EU airline): €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, by flight distance.
• UK261 (flights from the UK, or into the UK on a UK or EU airline): £220, £350 or £520 per passenger, by flight distance.

One detail matters on the transatlantic network. As the Irish Aviation Authority explains, on flights over 3,500 km the amount can be reduced by half if you arrive between three and four hours late. From four hours, the full long-haul amount applies.

03Aer Lingus cancellation compensation

If Aer Lingus cancels your flight, you can always choose a full refund (paid within seven days) or a replacement flight, and the airline must look after you with meals, refreshments and, if needed, a hotel while you wait. Compensation is due on top of that unless:

• you were told at least 14 days before departure; or
• you were told 7 to 14 days before and offered a replacement leaving no more than two hours earlier and arriving less than four hours later; or
• you were told less than 7 days before and offered a replacement leaving no more than one hour earlier and arriving less than two hours later; or
• the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances.

Planned network changes follow the same rule. Aer Lingus has said it is winding down its transatlantic services from Manchester in 2026. Where a cancellation like this was announced at least 14 days ahead, there is no compensation, but the refund or re-routing rights still apply.

04Strikes, weather and technical problems

The question that decides most Aer Lingus claims is whether the cause was within the airline's control.

• Industrial action by Aer Lingus staff. When Aer Lingus pilots took industrial action in summer 2024, the Irish Aviation Authority advised that industrial action by the airline's own staff is considered within its control. This matches the EU Court of Justice ruling in Airhelp v SAS (C-28/20).
• Strikes by others, such as air traffic controllers in another country or airport staff, are usually extraordinary circumstances. So is weather that makes flying unsafe. You still keep your rights to care and to a refund or re-routing.
• Technical faults are generally not extraordinary. The EU Court of Justice ruled in Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07) that problems arising from normal aircraft operation and maintenance are the airline's responsibility.

05How to claim from Aer Lingus directly

Claiming yourself is free and doesn't take long.

1. Open the EU Regulation 261 page on aerlingus.com. It has separate routes for compensation, expenses and group bookings.
2. Use the compensation claim form for the fixed compensation. Add meals, hotels and transport through the expenses form, with receipts.
3. Have your booking reference, flight numbers and date, and the names of all passengers ready.

Compensation should be paid in money. The regulation allows vouchers or other services only with your signed agreement, so you can say no to them.

06If Aer Lingus says no

• Ireland's regulator: Aer Lingus's own notice names the Irish Aviation Authority as Ireland's national enforcement body for EU261. Under the EU complaint procedure, you first complain to the airline. If it hasn't replied within six weeks, or you disagree with the answer, you send the complaint to the enforcement body in the country where the problem happened. For a flight that left from outside the EU, such as the US, that means the country of arrival.
• Flights from the UK: Aer Lingus is not a member of a dispute resolution scheme approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Once you have complained in writing and either disagree with the outcome or had no reply within eight weeks, the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team can review the case. Its view is not binding on the airline.
• Court: the time limit depends on the country whose courts hear the claim (EU Court of Justice, Moré, C-139/11). Ireland's Statute of Limitations 1957 sets a general six-year period for contract claims and sums due under legislation. In England and Wales the limit is six years and in Scotland five.

A revised EU regulation (2026/2202) applies from 23 October 2027 and asks passengers to submit compensation requests within nine months of the flight. Until then, the current rules apply.

07Where Aer Lingus claims tend to get stuck

A few things make these claims harder than they need to be. Compensation and expenses travel on different forms, and group bookings on others again. Regional and codeshare flights belong to the airline that operated them. Routes between the UK and Ireland sit under two sets of rules at once. And on long-haul flights, the difference between arriving three and a half hours late and four hours late changes the amount.

08How StopDelay can help with your Aer Lingus claim

If you'd rather hand it over, or Aer Lingus has already refused, we can take the claim on. We check your flight against arrival data and the reason given, send the claim to Aer Lingus, respond to objections, take it to the right regulator and go to court where it makes sense. You sign an authority so we can act for you.

If the claim doesn't succeed, you pay nothing. If it does, our success fee applies; it's shown below and again before you sign. See also our passenger rights guides.

09Questions

How do I claim Aer Lingus compensation?

Use the Flight Disruption Compensation Claim Form linked from the EU Regulation 261 page on aerlingus.com. Expenses such as meals or hotels go on a separate expenses form, and group bookings have their own forms.

Is my Aer Lingus flight from New York to Dublin covered?

Yes. Aer Lingus is an EU airline, so EU261 covers its flights into the EU from outside, unless you already received compensation and assistance under local rules in the country you left.

How long does an Aer Lingus delay have to be?

Three hours or more at your final destination. On flights over 3,500 km, such as transatlantic routes, an arrival delay of between three and four hours can mean half the usual amount.

Do Aer Lingus strikes count as extraordinary circumstances?

Not when it is Aer Lingus’s own staff. During the 2024 pilots’ industrial action, the Irish Aviation Authority said that industrial action by an airline’s own staff is within its control, so compensation can be payable.

My flight was Aer Lingus Regional. Who do I claim from?

Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Emerald Airlines. The regulation places the duty on the operating airline, and your booking confirmation shows who operated the flight.

Can I claim on a reward ticket?

Yes. The regulation excludes free and non-public fares but expressly includes tickets issued under frequent flyer programmes.

Who do I complain to if Aer Lingus rejects my claim?

For flights from Ireland, or into Ireland from outside the EU, Ireland’s national enforcement body is the Irish Aviation Authority. For a flight from another EU country, it is that country’s body. For flights from the UK, it is the CAA’s complaints team.

How long do I have to claim?

It depends on the country whose courts hear the claim. Ireland’s Statute of Limitations sets a general six-year period for this type of claim; in England and Wales it is six years and in Scotland five.

Our fee: 30% incl. VAT, only if you get paid (+15% only if court action is needed).