Flight Compensation Calculator

Find out how much compensation you could receive under EU Regulation 261/2004. Free instant calculation — no registration required.

What happened to your flight?

Flight distance

Approximate distance between departure and arrival airports

Number of passengers

passenger(s)

Was the disruption caused by extraordinary circumstances?

e.g. severe weather, political unrest, security threats (NOT technical issues or strikes)

Your estimated compensation

€0

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*This is an estimate based on EU261 regulation. Actual compensation may vary. Our legal experts will verify your exact entitlement.

📋 EU261 Compensation Amounts

Under EU Regulation 261/2004, compensation is determined by flight distance, not ticket price:

Distance	Example Routes	Compensation
Up to 1,500 km	London–Paris, Berlin–Rome, Madrid–Lisbon	€250
1,500 — 3,500 km	London–Athens, Paris–Istanbul, Berlin–Tenerife	€400
Over 3,500 km	London–New York, Paris–Bangkok, Frankfurt–Dubai	€600

⚠️ When Are You NOT Eligible?

Airlines don't have to pay compensation if the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances — events beyond the airline's control such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, political instability, or security risks. However, technical problems, crew shortages, and most strikes are NOT considered extraordinary circumstances.

Calculator FAQ

Does the ticket price affect compensation?+

No. EU261 compensation is based solely on flight distance, not on how much you paid for your ticket. A €20 budget ticket has the same compensation rights as a €2,000 business class ticket.

Can each passenger in my group claim separately?+

Yes! Each passenger on the same booking is entitled to individual compensation. A family of 4 on a cancelled flight over 3,500 km could receive €2,400 total (€600 × 4).

How far back can I claim?+

In most EU countries, you can claim for flights up to 3 years back. In the UK and Ireland, the limit extends to 6 years. Check your specific case with our free eligibility tool.

What if the airline offered me a voucher?+

Accepting a voucher doesn't necessarily waive your right to cash compensation under EU261. However, if you voluntarily accepted alternative arrangements, it may affect your claim. Contact us for a free assessment.

How long does the claim process take?+

Most claims are resolved within 8-12 weeks. If the airline disputes the claim and court action is needed, it may take 3-6 months. You'll be kept informed at every step.

Does the calculator account for connecting flights?+

Use the distance from the first departure airport to the final destination of the whole booking — that is how the regulation measures it, even if the delayed leg was short.

Why does a 4,000 km flight inside the EU only show €400?+

Because the €600 band applies only to flights that are not between two EU airports. Intra-EU flights are capped at €400 regardless of distance.

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How the Calculator Works Out the Distance

The regulation uses the great-circle distance — the shortest line over the Earth's surface — between the departure airport and the final destination on your booking, not the distance the aircraft actually flew and not the sum of connecting legs. For a direct flight, look the route up on any great-circle calculator; for a connection, measure from the first airport to the last. The three bands are: up to 1,500 km (€250 / £220), 1,500 to 3,500 km (€400 / £350) and over 3,500 km (€600 / £520). Intra-EU flights over 3,500 km — Lisbon to the Canary Islands is under, Helsinki to Tenerife is not — still pay only €400, because the top band applies to non-intra-EU flights only.

Reference Distances

Route	Distance	Compensation
London – Paris	≈ 340 km	€250 / £220
Berlin – Rome	≈ 1,180 km	€250
Dublin – Faro	≈ 1,900 km	€400
Manchester – Antalya	≈ 3,100 km	€400 / £350
Warsaw – Tenerife	≈ 4,200 km (intra-EU)	€400
London – New York	≈ 5,570 km	€600 / £520
Frankfurt – Bangkok	≈ 8,990 km	€600

When the Calculator Says "Possible Extraordinary Circumstances"

If you told us the airline blamed weather, air traffic control, a strike or security, the calculator shows €0 with an asterisk — not because the claim is lost, but because it needs evidence rather than arithmetic. In our experience about half of "extraordinary circumstances" refusals do not survive a request for the operational record: the weather was fine, the ATC restriction affected a different hour, or the "strike" was the airline's own staff. Submit the flight anyway; the assessment is free.

Amounts That Can Be Reduced or Added

Halved compensation: the airline may reduce the amount by 50% if it re-routed you and you arrived within 2 h (short-haul), 3 h (medium-haul) or 4 h (long-haul) of the original schedule.
Expenses on top: meals, hotel nights, transport and a replacement ticket you had to buy are refundable in addition to the fixed compensation — the calculator does not include them.
Per passenger: infants without a seat are excluded; every other passenger, including children, is counted individually.