I booked through Booking.com/Expedia — can I still claim against the airline?

Short answer: yes, completely. EU261 compensation is a right you have as a passenger against whichever airline actually operated the flight — it has nothing to do with who you booked through. Booking.com, Expedia, a travel agent, or the airline's own website all lead to the exact same claim.

Last updated: 30 September 2026.

Who you actually claim against

EU261 compensation is owed by the operating airline — the airline whose aircraft and crew actually flew you, regardless of where the ticket was purchased. Booking.com, Expedia, and similar sites are just booking intermediaries: they sell you a ticket on someone else's flight, the same way a travel agent would. They're not the ones who delayed or cancelled your flight, so they're not who you claim against.

This surprises some passengers, because these sites present themselves as the one handling your whole trip — but once you're past the point of booking, your relationship for delay/cancellation compensation purposes is with the airline, full stop.

Why the confusion happens

A few things feed the misconception that you need to go through the booking site:

The booking confirmation email comes from Booking.com/Expedia, so it feels like "their" booking rather than the airline's;
Some OTAs have their own customer service for changes and refunds of the booking itself, which can make it seem like they're also the right channel for delay compensation — they're not;
If you paid the OTA for a bundled "flight protection" or insurance add-on, that's a separate, optional product — it doesn't replace or interfere with your statutory EU261 rights, and you can pursue both.

What if it was a package holiday (flight + hotel together)?

If you booked a genuine package holiday — flight and accommodation bundled as a single product, typically covered by the EU Package Travel Directive — the tour operator does carry some responsibility for the overall trip. But EU261 compensation specifically, for a delayed or cancelled flight, still comes from the operating airline, not the tour operator. The two sets of rights exist side by side and don't cancel each other out.

What you need to make a claim, regardless of how you booked

Your booking confirmation or e-ticket, showing your name, the flight number, and the date — this exists no matter which site you booked through;
Your boarding pass, if you have it, as extra proof you actually took (or tried to take) the flight;
The actual arrival time, for a delay claim, or the notice you received, for a cancellation.

None of this depends on the booking channel. The airline's obligation is to you as the passenger named on the ticket, not to whoever processed the payment.

What to actually do

Contact the airline directly, not Booking.com or Expedia, for the compensation claim itself.
Keep your OTA booking confirmation as proof — most airlines' claims forms accept a booking reference from any source, not just their own site.
If the ticket is technically in the agency's name (rare, mostly with certain group or consolidator fares), you may need the agency to confirm you were the actual passenger — but this is a paperwork step, not a reason to give up the claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to contact Booking.com or Expedia at all?

Only if you have a separate issue with the booking itself (a refund for a cancelled hotel, a payment dispute, etc.). For the flight delay or cancellation compensation, go straight to the airline.

What if I can't find my booking reference for the airline, only the OTA's reference number?

Most airlines can look up your booking using your name, flight number, and date instead. The OTA's own reference number sometimes works too, but isn't always recognized by the airline's system — have the flight details ready either way.

Does it matter if I bought "flexible" or "flight protection" add-ons from the OTA?

No — those are separate commercial products (usually covering changes, cancellations you initiate, or travel insurance) and don't affect your statutory EU261 compensation rights, which exist independently of anything you bought alongside the ticket.

Want the complete rules, not just this one situation? See our full EU261 guide, or check your flight directly below.

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