Two things set an Air France claim apart. The airline offers a voucher worth more than the legal cash amount, and you have to decide which you want. And in France the route to court changed in 2026: mediation now comes first.
Which Air France flights are covered
Air France holds an EU licence, so EU261 applies to:
- every flight leaving an EU or EEA airport, including the French overseas departments (Art. 3(1)(a), Regulation 261/2004);
- flights into the EU from outside it, such as São Paulo to Paris, because the operating carrier is an EU airline (Art. 3(1)(b));
- flights leaving the UK fall under UK261.
Connections through Paris count as one journey when booked together. That rule comes from a case against Air France itself (CJEU, Folkerts, C-11/11). See missed connection.
Cash or voucher
You qualify when you arrive 3 or more hours late (CJEU, Sturgeon, C-402/07), when the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure (Art. 5(1)(c)), or when you are denied boarding. Air France publishes two scales:
| Flight distance | Cash (Art. 7) | Air France voucher |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 | €350 |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | €500 |
| All other flights | €600 | €800 |
The cash column is the law.
Watch out
The voucher is Air France’s alternative, and the regulation requires your signed agreement before compensation is paid that way (Art. 7(3)). If you fly Air France rarely, take the money.
The cash amount is halved when you are rerouted and arrive within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original time, depending on the band (Art. 7(2)).
Good to know
A reform of EU261 adopted in 2026 keeps the three-hour threshold and the amounts; its new rules do not apply yet.
Air France does not owe compensation if it proves extraordinary circumstances (Art. 5(3)).
- A strike by air traffic controllers usually qualifies.
- A strike by the airline’s own staff usually does not (CJEU, Krüsemann, C-195/17). See strikes.
Where to file
Use Air France’s online claim form. You can log in to a Flying Blue account or search for the booking with the booking reference and the passenger’s first and last name.
Air France’s claims page uses this form for requests about Air France, KLM and Delta flights.
Before you start, gather:
- Booking reference and flight number.
- The names of the passengers.
- Receipts for meals, hotel or transport you paid for.
- Bank details, if you want cash.
Tip
Air France says that once you have a reference number you should not open a second claim for the same request. Use the “track or modify an existing claim” option instead.
If Air France refuses
Mediation. The Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage (MTV) handles disputes with Air France free of charge for consumers.
Deadline
Under MTV’s rules you can apply after a written complaint to the airline has been refused or left unanswered for 60 days, and within one year of that complaint.
Since 7 February 2026 this step is also a legal condition for an EU261 court claim in France (Decree No 2025-772).
The regulator. The DGAC is the enforcement body for flights departing France. It has an online reporting portal. It can sanction the airline but does not settle individual claims, and it asks you to wait two months for the airline’s answer first.
Flights from the UK. The Civil Aviation Authority lists Air France as a member of AviationADR.
Flights to or from the United States. Air France’s claims page points to the US Department of Transportation for complaints about those flights.
For the wording of a first demand, use our claim letter. The rights calculator gives the amount for your route.