European UnionCan the airline reduce my compensation because they offered me an alternative flight?
No, airlines cannot reduce your EU flight compensation just because they offered an alternative flight — unless the re-routing gets you to your final destination within specific time limits set by law.
What the Law Says
EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 sets strict rules on passenger rights for denied boarding, cancellation, and long delays — including when compensation may be reduced.
Under EU law, if your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more at arrival, you’re generally entitled to fixed compensation — unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances caused the delay.
However, the regulation allows a 50% reduction in compensation *only if* the airline offers re-routing and you reach your final destination with a maximum delay that falls within legally defined tolerances: no more than 1 hour late for flights of 1,500 km or less; no more than 2 hours late for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all other flights between 1,500–3,500 km; and no more than 4 hours late for all other flights (over 3,500 km).
This reduction applies only to the compensation amount — not to your right to care (meals, refreshments, accommodation, communications) during the wait.
Statutory TextWhere a passenger reaches his or her final destination late by… (a) three hours or more in the case of all flights of 1 500 kilometres or less; (b) four hours or more in the case of all intra-Community flights of more than 1 500 kilometres and of all other flights between 1 500 and 3 500 kilometres; (c) five hours or more in the case of all other flights… the operating air carrier shall pay compensation…
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 6 — Right to compensation
Statutory TextIf the operating air carrier can prove that the passenger was informed of the flight cancellation at least two weeks before the scheduled time of departure, no compensation shall be due… [and] compensation shall be reduced by 50 % if the passenger is offered re-routing… and reaches his or her final destination… (a) no more than one hour after the scheduled time of arrival… for flights of 1 500 kilometres or less; (b) no more than two hours after the scheduled time of arrival… for all intra-Community flights of more than 1 500 kilometres and for all other flights between 1 500 and 3 500 kilometres; (c) no more than four hours after the scheduled time of arrival… for all other flights.
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(2) — Amount of compensation
What Courts Have Said
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has clarified that the 'final destination' and 'scheduled time of arrival' must be interpreted strictly — and that airlines bear the full burden of proving timely re-routing.
Confirmed that long delays of 3+ hours at final destination trigger compensation rights equivalent to cancellation — and that re-routing time limits under Art. 7(2) are strict conditions for any reduction.
Held that the 'scheduled time of arrival' refers to the original flight’s published arrival time — not the re-routed flight’s scheduled time — and that airlines must prove the actual arrival time of the alternative flight met the Art. 7(2) tolerances.
What to Do
Check your original flight’s scheduled arrival time and compare it to your actual arrival time on the alternative flight.
Calculate whether the delay falls within the Art. 7(2) tolerances (±1h / ±2h / ±4h depending on distance).
If your arrival was later than those limits, you’re entitled to full compensation — not reduced.
Submit a written claim to the airline citing Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(2), and include flight numbers, dates, and arrival times.
If denied unfairly, escalate to your national enforcement body (e.g., UK CAA, Germany’s Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, France’s DGAC).
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.