How to claim Vueling delay compensation: amounts, steps and excuses that don’t hold up
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
If your Vueling flight reached its final destination 3 or more hours late, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 entitles you to €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. This guide covers what you’re owed, how to file the claim and what to do if Vueling doesn’t reply.
Was your Vueling flight delayed?
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Check my flight1When EU261 applies to a Vueling flight
Vueling is a Spanish airline, so an EU carrier. The Regulation covers:
All its flights departing an airport in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, including domestic ones.
Its flights arriving in the EU from outside it, such as Marrakesh–Barcelona.
Connections on a single booking: what counts is the delay on arrival at your final destination.
Flights with a Vueling number operated by another airline: you claim from the operating airline.
Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances Vueling can prove, such as a storm or an air traffic control decision that affected your flight.
2How much Vueling pays for a delay
EU261 compensation per passenger
Up to 1,500 km
Barcelona–Madrid, Barcelona–Paris, Barcelona–Rome
Over 1,500 km within the EU, or 1,500–3,500 km
Barcelona–Tenerife, Barcelona–Athens, Barcelona–Reykjavík
Over 3,500 km outside the EU
Vueling operates few routes this long
The amounts are set by the Regulation and are the same for every airline. Distance is measured in a straight line between the departure airport and your final destination.
Check how much I’m owed3How to claim from Vueling, step by step
- 1
Keep your documents
Booking with its reference, boarding pass and Vueling’s notices about the delay. Keep receipts for food or transport you paid for too.
- 2
Check the actual arrival time
What counts is when the aircraft door opened at your destination, not the landing time (CJEU, C-452/13). You can look it up on tracking services such as FlightAware.
- 3
File your claim on vueling.com
In the customer service section, with your booking reference, flight number and date, the hours of delay on arrival and the amount you’re claiming. Keep the case number.
- 4
Give it a month
If it doesn’t reply or rejects the claim, you can complain free of charge to AESA when the flight departed Spain or arrived in Spain from outside the EU.
- 5
Escalate: AESA, court or AviFly
You can pursue it with AESA, sue yourself (no lawyer up to €2,000) or let AviFly handle the claim with nothing to pay upfront.
4Common excuses and what the law says
To avoid paying, Vueling has to prove an extraordinary circumstance that affected your flight and that it couldn’t have avoided with reasonable measures.
"It was due to extraordinary circumstances"
Ask in writing for the specific cause and its evidence (weather report, air traffic control notice). A generic phrase isn’t enough.
"There was a technical problem"
A fault from maintenance or normal use of the aircraft doesn’t exempt the airline (CJEU, Wallentin-Hermann C-549/07).
"There was a strike"
A strike by Vueling’s own staff is not an extraordinary circumstance (CJEU, C-28/20). One by controllers or airport staff can be, if it proves the strike affected your flight.
"The aircraft arrived late from its previous flight"
That only exempts the airline if the previous flight was hit by an extraordinary circumstance, there’s a direct link to your delay and Vueling took reasonable measures (CJEU, C-74/19).
5What to do if Vueling doesn’t reply or rejects your claim
A rejection doesn’t close the case. You have three options:
AESA
A free online complaint. Attach your claim to Vueling and its reply, or proof that a month passed with no answer.
Going to court
No lawyer or court agent up to €2,000. In Spain the generally accepted time limit is 5 years from the flight (Art. 1964 of the Spanish Civil Code).
AviFly
We handle the claim, the negotiation and, if needed, the lawsuit. We only charge if you get your money: 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT in court.
AviFly claims from Vueling for you
Nothing upfront. We only charge if you recover your compensation.
Claim from VuelingFrequently asked questions about claiming from Vueling
How long a delay before Vueling pays compensation?
From 3 hours’ delay on arrival at your final destination. Below that there’s no cash compensation, though you’re entitled to food and drink from 2 hours on flights up to 1,500 km.
How long does Vueling take to reply?
There is no fixed legal deadline. If it hasn’t answered your claim within a month, you can go to AESA or to court.
Can I claim if I bought the ticket through an agency?
Yes. Compensation is paid by the airline operating the flight — Vueling — even if you bought through an agency (Art. 3(5) of the Regulation).
Do I have to accept a voucher or points instead of money?
No. Compensation is paid in money; it can only be paid in vouchers if you agree in writing (Art. 7(3) of the Regulation).
Does EU261 cover a Vueling flight departing outside the EU?
Yes, if it arrives in the EU: Vueling is an EU airline, so a Marrakesh–Barcelona flight is covered.
What if Vueling cancelled my flight?
On top of compensation, you can choose between a ticket refund within 7 days and an alternative flight. Our Vueling cancellation guide explains how.