Air France: what to check and what to do next.

Before you send a request

Record what happened in your own words. Keep the itinerary, payment receipts and the airline’s explanation. Separate a refund of a charge from reimbursement of an expense and from statutory compensation: qualifying for one does not settle the others.

Check the airline that actually operated the affected flight. A logo on your ticket does not by itself establish the operating company or governing law. Act promptly on baggage problems; initial reporting and a later written claim can have different time limits.

Delay

For a qualifying EU-covered departure delay of two hours or more, request meals and necessary overnight hotel/transport.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Section 2.1

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• The notice’s territorial, reservation and check-in conditions apply; arrival-delay compensation is separate.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Cancellation

For a qualifying EU cancellation, choose rerouting or eligible reimbursement and request necessary care.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Section 1.1

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Notice, alternative arrival and extraordinary circumstances separately affect compensation.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Denied boarding

For qualifying involuntary denied boarding, request assistance, replacement travel or reimbursement, and compensation review.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Section 3

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Meet reservation/check-in requirements; a volunteer agreement or justified refusal is a different case.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Downgrade

For a qualifying EU cabin downgrade, request the applicable reimbursement for the downgraded flight segment.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Section 4

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Distance and affected-segment price determine the request; not every seat reassignment is a downgrade.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Refund dispute

For a qualifying EU delay of at least five hours, ask for eligible reimbursement if you decide not to continue.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Section 2.1

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Unused travel, journey purpose and any return to origin matter; cancellation has a separate refund choice.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Meals and accommodation

Request meals, necessary overnight accommodation and hotel transfers for a qualifying EU disruption.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Sections 1.1 and 2.1

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Care relates to waiting time and necessity. Keep itemized receipts if arrangements are unavailable.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Voucher dispute

For compensation under this EU notice, Air France offers a choice of cash or a non-refundable travel voucher.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited notice; departure, carrier and local-law exceptions apply.

Provision: Sections 1.2 and 2.2

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Identify the offer; voucher value and restrictions differ from cash. Do not confuse compensation with a ticket-refund voucher.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU assistance and compensation notice

Missed connection

If an Air France delay disrupts a connection on one ticket, request onward travel under the applicable passenger-rights rules. Its contract treats the itinerary as one carriage contract.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Articles12.2 and17 — single contract and successive carriage

Next step: Show the full itinerary at the transfer desk and request the available rerouting; keep the delay notice.

• A single contract differs from separate tickets. The cause, route and operating carrier determine additional care or compensation.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Missing paid extras

Air France’s Seat Option terms allow refunds for qualifying airline seat reassignments or when a canceled flight’s paid option cannot be honored on the replacement.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Seat Option refund conditions

Next step: Request the Seat Option refund through Contact Us with the payment and replacement-seat records.

• Paid seats only. Voluntary changes, failure to meet seat requirements and complimentary cabin upgrades have separate conditions.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Delayed baggage

Report your missing bag to Air France before leaving the airport, or online where available. Necessary toiletries and replacement clothing may qualify for reimbursement.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Missing baggage and basic necessities

Next step: Keep the PIR and receipts; submit expense claims within 21 days after your bag is returned.

• Online reporting is available at eligible airports within7 days of arrival, but report immediately. Necessity, trip circumstances and liability limits affect reimbursement.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Lost baggage

If Air France has not found your bag after 72 hours, complete the detailed contents inventory. After 21 days from your report, that inventory becomes the basis for a loss claim.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Missing bag after72 hours and21 days

Next step: Update the baggage tracker with item values and purchase evidence; request assessment of the missing bag and contents.

• Compensation depends on proven loss and applicable liability limits, not an automatic maximum. Keep the PIR and original baggage tag.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Damaged baggage

Notify Air France of checked-bag damage immediately and send a written complaint no later than 7 days after the bag is made available to you.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Articles19.2.3 and20.1 — baggage liability and written notice

Next step: Keep photos, bag tag and purchase or repair evidence; request a damage assessment through Air France.

• Checked-bag damage differs from cabin property, inherent defects and ordinary wear. Do not wait for a tracing case to close before sending the damage complaint.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Air France source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Keep your request clear

Ask for the specific remedy supported by your records, attach copies rather than irreplaceable originals, and keep your submission confirmation. If an airline declines, save its reason before choosing an escalation route. Do not send full credit-redemption codes or account passwords to CoinTravel.

General policy information, not legal advice or an eligibility decision. Published terms may have changed and may differ from those on your travel date. Applicable law may provide additional rights. No payment is guaranteed.