Vueling compensation: how to claim
Vueling is registered in Spain, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Spain (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Barcelona (BCN), Madrid (MAD), Paris (ORY)
- Typical first response
- About 45 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 5 years (Spain)
Vueling is registered in Spain, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Vueling is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How Vueling handles claims
Vueling has a long-standing reputation for slow and unresponsive claims handling, and AESA has received a high volume of complaints about them. Document everything and escalate promptly once the 14 days pass.
Barcelona is their main base and their summer schedule is dense, which produces heavy knock-on delays. "The aircraft arrived late" is not an extraordinary circumstance on its own.
Spain’s five-year window means an old Vueling claim is very often still live, and passengers who gave up in year one can still write.
AESA will issue a formal opinion on the merits, which is a genuinely useful escalation with this airline in particular.
What a delay on Vueling is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona (BCN) → Madrid (MAD) | 483 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Barcelona (BCN) → Paris (ORY) | 826 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Madrid (MAD) → Paris (ORY) | 1,030 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Barcelona (BCN) → Paris (CDG) | 858 km | EU261 | €250 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Vueling, by what happened
- Vueling: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Vueling: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Vueling: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Vueling: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Vueling flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Vueling yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Vueling: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Vueling?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Vueling is registered in Spain, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does Vueling have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Vueling?
In Spain, where Vueling is based, the limit is 5 years, counted from the date of the flight. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to Vueling?
Vueling takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Vueling Airlines S.A., Atención al Cliente, Parc de Negocis Mas Blau II, Pla de l’Estany 5, 08820 El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Vueling flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.