Family Flight Compensation: How to Claim for Every Passenger (Including Children)
Travelling as a family? Learn how EU flight compensation works for groups, per-passenger rules, and whether children qualify. Claim up to €600 per person.
Family Flight Compensation: How to Claim for Every Passenger (Including Children)
When a flight delay or cancellation hits a family of four, the disruption is multiplied — restless children, missed hotel check-ins, ruined holiday plans. But here's the good news: so is the compensation. Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, compensation is calculated per passenger, and that includes children.
A family of four on a delayed medium-haul flight could be owed €1,600 (€400 × 4). That's not a typo. This guide explains exactly how family flight compensation works, who qualifies, and how to make sure you claim for everyone.
Compensation Is Per Passenger — Always
The most important rule for family claims: EC 261 compensation is an individual right. Every passenger with a confirmed booking and a seat is entitled to their own compensation. This applies regardless of:
- Who paid for the tickets
- Whether they're on the same booking reference
- Their age
- Whether they're related
So if grandma, two parents, and three kids all flew together on the same delayed flight, that's potentially six individual compensation claims.
Do Children Qualify for Flight Compensation?
Yes. Children of any age who had a confirmed seat on the flight are entitled to the same compensation as adults:
| Flight Distance | Per Person | |---|---| | Up to 1,500 km | €250 | | 1,500 – 3,500 km | €400 | | Over 3,500 km | €600 |
What About Infants?
Here's the one exception: infants travelling on a parent's lap (typically under 2 years old) without their own seat usually don't qualify. If the infant didn't have a seat reservation and flew for free or on a heavily discounted "infant fare," they generally aren't covered.
However, if you purchased a seat for your infant (some parents do for comfort or safety, using a car seat), they are a ticketed passenger with a seat — and they qualify.
Check your booking: If your child has their own booking reference or seat assignment, they qualify. If they're listed as a "lap infant" with no seat, they likely don't.
How to File a Family Compensation Claim
Option 1: One Claim for the Whole Family
Most airlines allow you to submit a single claim that includes all passengers on the same booking. This is the simplest approach:
- Go to the airline's claims section
- Enter your booking reference
- Select all passengers on the booking
- Submit the claim for the full group
Make sure you list every eligible passenger by name, including children.
Option 2: Individual Claims
If family members were on separate bookings (common when booking with points, or when grandparents booked separately), you'll need to file separate claims for each booking.
Option 3: Use a Claims Service
For families, using a service like FlightOwed can be especially valuable. We ensure every eligible passenger is included, handle all correspondence, and chase the airline if they stall. No paperwork headaches while you're managing the family.
Common Mistakes Families Make When Claiming
Mistake 1: Only Claiming for One Person
This is the biggest one. The parent who booked the tickets files a claim for themselves and forgets (or doesn't realize) that every family member qualifies. On a family of four, this could mean leaving €750–€1,800 on the table.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the Children
Airlines won't remind you to claim for your kids. Some parents assume children don't qualify or that the compensation amount is reduced for minors. It's not — a 5-year-old gets the same €250/€400/€600 as an adult.
Mistake 3: Accepting a Lump Sum
Some airlines offer a quick settlement that seems generous until you do the maths. If an airline offers a family of four €500 for a flight where each person is owed €400, that's €1,100 less than you're entitled to. Always calculate the per-person amount and multiply.
Mistake 4: Missing Passengers on Separate Bookings
Family trips often involve mixed bookings — parents on one reservation, grandparents on another, or teens booked separately. Each booking needs its own claim, and it's easy to overlook one.
Group Travel: Same Rules Apply
Travelling with friends, colleagues, or an organised group? The per-passenger rule applies identically:
- Stag/hen party of 8 on a delayed flight: 8 individual claims
- School trip: Every student and teacher with a seat qualifies
- Corporate travel group: Each employee can claim individually
For large groups, designating one person to coordinate the claims (or using a service) avoids duplication and ensures nobody is missed.
Who Receives the Money?
Compensation belongs to the passenger, not the person who booked or paid. In practice:
- For adults: Each person receives their own payment (or it goes to whoever the airline has bank details for, if filed as a group)
- For children: The parent or legal guardian claims on behalf of the minor. The money is the child's entitlement, but the parent handles the process and typically receives the payment
If multiple adults are on the same booking, the airline may send the total to one bank account. Sort out distribution among yourselves — the airline's obligation is simply to pay the correct total.
Special Family Situations
Split Family at the Airport
If a flight is overbooked and the airline bumps some family members but not others, the bumped members are each entitled to denied boarding compensation. If young children are separated from parents, this is also a serious duty of care issue — airlines should not separate minors from their guardians.
Unaccompanied Minors
Children travelling alone (as unaccompanied minors) have the same EC 261 rights. The parent or guardian files the claim on their behalf.
Family on Different Flights
If you split up to get to the destination — say mum and one child on an earlier flight, dad and another child on a later one — only the passengers on the disrupted flight qualify for compensation.
Pregnant Travellers
If an airline denies boarding to a pregnant passenger on medical grounds (varies by airline and stage of pregnancy), this may not be treated as "overbooking" under EC 261. However, if the denial is not based on a clear medical policy communicated in advance, it could still be challengeable.
Maximising Your Family Claim
- List every passenger before filing. Go through the booking confirmation and count heads.
- Include children by name. Don't file a claim for "2 adults" — use full names and booking details for all four (or more) passengers.
- Check infant status. Did your baby have a seat? If yes, include them.
- File for the right amount. Calculate: number of qualifying passengers × compensation per person based on distance.
- Keep one set of documentation. One boarding pass photo, one delay screenshot — it applies to all passengers on the same flight.
- Don't accept less. If the airline offers a total that doesn't match your per-person calculation × number of passengers, push back.
Real Example: What a Family Claim Looks Like
The situation: A family of four (two adults, two children aged 7 and 11) booked a Ryanair flight from Dublin to Málaga. The flight was delayed by 4 hours and 20 minutes at arrival.
The distance: Dublin to Málaga is approximately 1,850 km.
Per-person compensation: €400 (1,500–3,500 km bracket)
Total family compensation: €400 × 4 = €1,600
That's €1,600 for one delayed flight — enough to cover a significant portion of the holiday itself.
Check Your Family's Eligibility
Don't leave money on the table. Every member of your family with a seat on a disrupted EU flight has the right to compensation. Check your flight now →
Have questions about how compensation works for your specific situation? Visit our FAQ or explore our airline guides for carrier-specific information.