Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation Calculator (EU261, UK261 & US DOT)
Calculate your mandatory cash compensation (€250 / €400 / €600 or £520 per passenger) plus automatic US DOT cash refund entitlements.
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2. Your result Live Output
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3. How the rule works
Who this is for
Passengers whose flight to, from or within the EU or UK was delayed or cancelled and who want to estimate fixed compensation, and US passengers checking refund rights after a cancellation or major schedule change.
EU and UK compensation is a fixed amount per passenger. US rules give refunds, not compensation.
What to have ready
- Your booking confirmation and boarding passes.
- The scheduled and actual arrival times.
- Any message from the airline giving the reason.
- Receipts for meals, hotels or transport.
The rule
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 covers flights departing from an EU airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline. Article 7 sets compensation by distance: €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for longer flights within the EU and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights. The Court of Justice held in Sturgeon (2009) that an arrival delay of three hours or more is compensable like a cancellation. No compensation is due if the airline proves extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided (Article 5(3)); ordinary technical faults generally do not qualify. The UK kept the rules after Brexit with amounts of £220, £350 and £520.
In the US, 14 C.F.R. Part 260 requires airlines to refund the ticket automatically if a flight is cancelled or significantly changed (a change of three hours or more for domestic flights, six hours or more for international) and the passenger does not accept the alternative. Refunds are due within seven business days for card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payments.
Read the official text:
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (EUR-Lex)
- UK Civil Aviation Authority: delays and cancellations
- 14 C.F.R. Part 260 (eCFR)
- U.S. DOT: refunds
Worked example: London to New York, 5 hours late
Two passengers fly from London Heathrow to New York (about 5,570 km). They arrive 5 hours late because of a fault found during pre-flight checks.
Applies? = yes, departure from a UK airport (UK261) Distance band = over 3,500 km -> £520 per passenger Delay = 5 hours at arrival (over 4, so no 50% reduction) Technical fault = generally not extraordinary Claim = 2 x £520 = £1,040
Common mistakes
- Measuring the delay at departure. It is the arrival time at the final destination, when the doors open.
- Assuming US airlines are exempt on flights out of Europe. Departure from the EU or UK is enough.
- Accepting a voucher instead of cash without realising it replaces the compensation.
- Forgetting that on flights over 3,500 km, a delay of three to four hours can reduce compensation by half.
Limits of this tool
- Passenger rights vary by country; the US has no fixed delay compensation.
- Whether circumstances were extraordinary is decided case by case, often by an enforcement body or court.
- Connecting flights on separate tickets are treated as separate journeys.
Sources were last checked in October 2026. Statutes are amended often; if the official text differs from this page, the official text controls.
4. Clear Next Steps & Statutory Action Plan
- Record the scheduled and actual arrival times and the reason the airline gave.
- Claim directly with the airline in writing.
- If refused, use the approved dispute body (UK ADR or the CAA) or the national enforcement body in the EU.
5. Frequently Asked Statutory Questions (EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; UK APR / UK261; US DOT Automatic Refund Rule (14 C.F.R. Part 260))
Does EU261 apply to a US airline flying from Paris to New York?
Yes. Any airline departing from an EU airport is covered. A US airline flying from New York to Paris is not covered by EU261.
Are staff shortages extraordinary circumstances?
Generally no. Courts have treated problems within the airline's own operations, including strikes by its own staff, as part of normal business.
When is a US refund due?
Within seven business days for credit card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payments, once the passenger is entitled under 14 C.F.R. Part 260.
How long do I have to claim EU or UK compensation?
The regulation does not set a time limit, so national limitation rules apply. In England and Wales that is generally six years; in some EU countries it is much shorter.
Am I also owed meals and a hotel?
Under Article 9, the airline must provide care during long delays: meals and refreshments, and a hotel and transfers when an overnight stay is needed. This is in addition to any compensation.