Flight compensation calculator
EU261 pays a fixed amount set by distance, not by what your ticket cost: 250, 400 or 600 euro per passenger. You qualify if you arrived 3 or more hours late, your flight was cancelled with under 14 days notice, or you were denied boarding, and the cause was within the airline's control. One rule catches people out: on a flight where both airports are inside the EU, the maximum is 400 euro however long the flight is. The 600 euro band only applies to flights over 3,500 km that leave or enter the EU. Answer the three questions below for your estimate.
| Flight | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 250 euro | 220 pounds |
| Over 1,500 km, both airports inside the EU | 400 euro | not applicable |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, leaving or entering the EU | 400 euro | 350 pounds |
| Over 3,500 km, leaving or entering the EU | 600 euro | 520 pounds |
Amounts are per passenger, not per booking, and are the same for every seat class. UK261 applies to flights leaving the UK and to UK carriers arriving there.
How the distance is actually measured
This is where most estimates go wrong, and the regulation is specific about it. Distance is measured by the great circle route method, the shortest path over the globe, not the route the aircraft flew and not the miles your airline credits you. The regulation states plainly that the distances "shall be measured by the great circle route method".
It is also measured to your last destination, not leg by leg. On a connecting itinerary booked as one journey, you measure from the first departure airport to the final arrival airport, so a short first leg that caused you to miss a long-haul connection can still sit in the 600 euro band. The regulation defines the basis as "the last destination at which the denial of boarding or cancellation will delay the passenger's arrival". Source: Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 on EUR-Lex, checked August 1, 2026.
The other detail worth knowing: the clock that matters is your arrival delay, not your departure delay. A flight that pushes back two hours late but makes the time up in the air pays nothing, while one that leaves on time and lands three hours late does qualify.
How the estimate works
EU261 sets compensation by flight distance, not by what you paid. You qualify when you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late, the flight is cancelled on short notice, or you are bumped, and the disruption was within the airline’s control. Weather and air traffic control strikes are extraordinary circumstances that remove the cash payment, though you keep care rights. The calculator applies exactly these rules; the airline’s own account of the cause is the main thing that can change the outcome.
Frequently asked questions
How is flight compensation calculated?
Under EU261 the amount is fixed by flight distance, not ticket price: 250 euro up to 1,500 km, 400 euro from 1,500 to 3,500 km, and 600 euro over 3,500 km. One exception matters: if both airports are inside the EU, the maximum is 400 euro no matter how long the flight is. You qualify when you arrive 3 or more hours late, the flight is cancelled with under 14 days notice, or you are denied boarding, and the cause was within the airline's control.
How is the flight distance measured for compensation?
By the great circle route method, the shortest path over the globe, not the route flown or the air miles credited. It is measured to your last destination rather than leg by leg, so on a connecting itinerary booked as one journey you measure from the first departure airport to the final arrival airport. This is set out in Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004.
Does a departure delay or an arrival delay count?
Arrival. The three-hour threshold applies to when you reach your final destination, not when you left. A flight that pushes back two hours late but makes the time up in the air pays nothing, while one that departs on time and lands three hours late does qualify.
Is this calculator accurate?
It gives a reliable estimate based on the official EU261 distance bands and eligibility rules, but the final decision depends on your exact flight, the real cause of the disruption and whether the airline accepts liability. Use it as a guide, then confirm with a free eligibility check before claiming.
How far back can I use a claim?
Claim windows vary by country and the common "6 years in the UK" line is only true for England and Wales, under the Limitation Act 1980. Scotland runs on a five-year prescription under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and France allows five years under Article 2224 of the Code civil. Old delayed or cancelled flights may still qualify, so check a past disruption rather than assuming the deadline has passed.
See our full EU and UK flight compensation guide for the rules in detail. Once you know the amount, our Compensair review covers what the service costs, and our AirHelp alternative comparison puts the two claim services side by side.