Flight claim in France
Delayed or cancelled flight: what follows a complaint to the airline in France?
After a delay, cancellation or denied boarding, first make a written airline claim and keep travel and expense evidence. For proceedings brought from 7 February 2026 under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, consumer mediation is generally required before court, subject to the transitional exceptions in Decree 2025-772. Reporting to the Direction générale de l’aviation civile (DGAC) does not replace referral to the Médiateur Tourisme et Voyage. This page organizes the route; it does not calculate compensation or jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction: France · French law
Official route map
Follow the checkpoints in order without treating this map as a deadline calculator.
- 01Have you already complained to the airline in writing?
Proof of a written complaint is the first document in this route.
- 02Which flight evidence should be kept?
Keep the booking, boarding pass, disruption notice, timings and documented expenses.
- 03Did the airline reject the claim or fail to respond?
Keep the complete reply or proof of no answer after the official period.
- 04When is prior mediation mandatory?
For proceedings brought from 7 February 2026 under Regulation 261/2004, mediation is generally required before court, subject to statutory exceptions.
- 05Which 2026 transition must be checked?
Check whether a complaint pre-dates 7 August 2025, the incident is at least four years old, or access to mediation was legitimately impossible within the statutory periods.
- 06Does a DGAC report replace mediation?
No. Reporting to the DGAC is separate from prior consumer mediation.
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Have you already complained to the airline in writing?
Proof of a written complaint is the first document in this route.
Verify this route against the cited official source and the complete document.
- CLAIM_FIRST · Proof of a written complaint is the first document in this route.
- MEDIATION_VERIFY · Keep the booking, boarding pass, disruption notice, timings and documented expenses.
- TRANSITION_EXCEPTION_VERIFY · Keep the complete reply or proof of no answer after the official period.
- NON_FRENCH_COURT_ROUTE · For proceedings brought from 7 February 2026 under Regulation 261/2004, mediation is generally required before court, subject to statutory exceptions.
Have you already complained to the airline in writing?
Proof of a written complaint is the first document in this route. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Which flight evidence should be kept?
Keep the booking, boarding pass, disruption notice, timings and documented expenses. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Did the airline reject the claim or fail to respond?
Keep the complete reply or proof of no answer after the official period. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
When is prior mediation mandatory?
For proceedings brought from 7 February 2026 under Regulation 261/2004, mediation is generally required before court, subject to statutory exceptions. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Which 2026 transition must be checked?
Check whether a complaint pre-dates 7 August 2025, the incident is at least four years old, or access to mediation was legitimately impossible within the statutory periods. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Does a DGAC report replace mediation?
No. Reporting to the DGAC is separate from prior consumer mediation. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
What happens if mediation fails?
A French court claim may then be considered under the applicable procedure and jurisdiction rules. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.
Does this page calculate compensation?
No. It prepares the documentary route, not personalized entitlement or an amount. Read the complete current document and preserve the underlying evidence before applying this point to a case.