Travel tool
Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
What is a delayed flight worth? Calculate EU261, UK261, or US denied-boarding compensation based on distance and delay hours. All figures sourced to the regulation.
Select your departure and arrival airports, enter the delay, and the calculator determines which compensation regime applies and what you are owed. All amounts are sourced to Regulation (EC) 261/2004, the UK CAA, and the US DOT.
How the tiers work
EU261 (Regulation EC 261/2004)
| Distance | Delay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1,500 km | 3h+ | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (intra-EU or other) | 3h+ | €400 |
| > 3,500 km | 3–4h | €300 |
| > 3,500 km | 4h+ | €600 |
Halved if you accepted re-routing and still arrived late. Downgrade: 30–75% of ticket refunded.
UK261 (UK CAA)
| Distance | Delay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| < 1,500 km | 3h+ | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | 3h+ | £350 |
| > 3,500 km | 3–4h | £260 |
| > 3,500 km | 4h+ | £520 |
Same tiering as EU, in pounds. Distance via great-circle method.
US (DOT denied boarding only)
| Delay | Domestic | Intl |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1h | — | — |
| 1–2h dom / 1–4h intl | 200% fare | max $1,075 |
| 2h+ dom / 4h+ intl | 400% fare | max $2,150 |
Involuntary bumping only. No cash for delays. DOT withdrew its delay-compensation rulemaking 17 Nov 2025.
Frequently asked questions
- How is distance calculated?
- Great-circle distance (haversine formula) between the two airport coordinates. This is the same method the UK Civil Aviation Authority uses for UK261. For EU261, the distance is measured from origin to final destination, including connections.
- What counts as "the airline's fault"?
- Technical faults, crew shortages, and operational issues are the airline's responsibility. Weather, air traffic control strikes, and security incidents are "extraordinary circumstances" that exempt the airline. The tool assumes the airline is at fault — check the reason for your delay before claiming.
- Does this apply to all flights?
- EU261 applies to flights departing from an EU airport (regardless of airline nationality) and flights arriving at an EU airport on an EU-registered carrier. UK261 applies to flights departing from a UK airport. US denied-boarding compensation only applies to involuntary bumping, not delays.
- What if I accepted re-routing?
- If you accepted re-routing and still arrived late, the compensation can be halved — €125/€200/€300 for EU flights depending on distance band. The tool shows the full amount; halve it if you accepted a re-route.
- Why does the US pay nothing for delays?
- The US has no mandatory cash compensation for flight delays. The DOT withdrew its proposed passenger rights rulemaking on 17 November 2025. The only US cash compensation is for involuntary denied boarding (bumping) — 200% or 400% of one-way fare, capped at $1,075 or $2,150.