The term “free ticket” often causes confusion. Many passengers assume that if they didn’t pay in cash, they have no rights. But it’s not true.

Under EU261, however, passenger rights do not depend on ticket price. What matters is whether the ticket was available to the public and whether the passenger had a confirmed reservation. This is why some free or reward tickets are protected, while others, such as staff or standby tickets, are not.

What Is Considered a “Free Ticket”?

The phrase “free ticket” is used loosely and often means different things to airlines and passengers, which is why confusion is so common.

Passengers usually call a ticket “free” when:

• it was booked using miles or points
• it was received as a promotion or goodwill gesture
• little or no cash was paid

Airlines, however, use the term more narrowly. From a legal perspective, what matters is not whether money changed hands, but how the ticket was issued and to whom.

Under EU261, the key distinction is whether the ticket was:

• available to the general public under normal commercial conditions, or
• issued outside the public fare system (for example, staff or industry tickets)

Tickets that are publicly available (even if they cost €0 or were booked with points) are generally covered by EU261. Tickets that are not available to the public are usually excluded.

Another critical requirement under EU261 is a confirmed reservation. To be protected, a passenger must have:

• a confirmed booking for a specific flight
• proof of reservation, such as an e-ticket or booking confirmation

Without a confirmed reservation, as is often the case with standby travel, EU261 rights usually do not apply.

Free Tickets That Are Covered by EU261

Not all “free tickets” are excluded from EU261.

In fact, several types of zero-fare or low-fare tickets are fully protected, as long as they meet the regulation’s core requirements.

Reward / Miles Tickets From Loyalty Programs

Flights booked using miles or points through airline loyalty programs are generally covered by EU261. Even though the base fare may be paid with miles, these tickets:

• are offered to the public through loyalty schemes
• come with a confirmed reservation
• usually require payment of taxes and fees

Because of this, reward tickets are treated the same as paid tickets under EU261.

Read more: Does EU261 Apply to Reward and Miles Tickets?

Promotional Tickets Available to the General Public

Some airlines offer promotional tickets with very low or even €0 fares as part of marketing campaigns. If these tickets are:

• openly available to the general public, and
• issued under normal booking conditions

they are covered by EU261, regardless of how much was paid.

If your cheap is disrupted, you have the following rights:

• Right to flight delay, flight cancellation, or flight overbooking compensation
• Right to care
• Right to rebooking or a refund

Tickets With a €0 Fare But Paid Taxes and Fee

Tickets that show a €0 base fare but include airport taxes, surcharges, or fees are also covered. EU261 does not require a minimum ticket price, only that the passenger holds a valid, confirmed booking.

Free Tickets That Are Not Covered by EU261

Some tickets are genuinely excluded from EU261 because they fall outside the regulation’s scope.

Airline Staff Tickets

Tickets issued to airline employees or their families as part of employment benefits are not available to the general public and are usually excluded from EU261 protection.

Standby Tickets

Standby travel typically does not include a confirmed seat.

Because boarding depends on availability, these tickets usually do not meet EU261’s requirement for a confirmed reservation.

Industry Discount (ID) Ticket

Industry or ID tickets offered to aviation staff or partners are issued under special conditions, not normal public fares, and are generally excluded from EU261.

Tickets Not Available to the General Public

Any ticket that cannot be purchased or redeemed by the public under normal commercial conditions, regardless of price, is usually excluded.

Flights Without a Confirmed Seat

EU261 requires a confirmed reservation for a specific flight.

Tickets without seat confirmation, such as some standby or priority-list tickets, are not protected under the regulation.

Why EU261 Treats Some Free Tickets Differently?

EU261 treats some free tickets differently because it is designed to protect passengers travelling on publicly available fares with confirmed reservations.

These bookings allow airlines to plan and control their operations. Tickets that are not available to the public or do not include a confirmed seat, such as staff or standby tickets, fall outside the regulation because they involve uncertainty and are not part of normal commercial travel.

How to Check If Your Free Ticket Is Covered by EU261

To check whether EU261 applies to your free ticket, start by looking at how the ticket was issued. If it were available to the general public, for example, through a loyalty program or public promotion, it is more likely to be covered. Tickets issued only to airline staff or industry workers usually fall outside the regulation.

Next, confirm whether you had a confirmed reservation. EU261 applies only to passengers with a confirmed booking for a specific flight. Tickets without a confirmed seat, such as standby travel, are generally not covered.

You should also identify which airline operated the flight, as EU261 responsibility depends on the operating carrier, not the airline that issued the ticket (marketing airline).

Finally, check where the flight departed from. Flights departing from the EU are usually covered, while flights operated by non-EU airlines departing from outside the EU are typically not.

Under EU261, a “free ticket” is not excluded simply because it costs nothing. What matters is public availability and a confirmed reservation.

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