EU Regulation 261/2004

Flight Delay Compensation Calculator

Was your flight delayed, cancelled, or overbooked? You could be owed up to €600 under EU law. Check your claim in 2 minutes — free, no win no fee.

Covers 150+ airlines · EU261 & UK261 · Works on flights up to 6 years old

€600
Max payout
3h+
Delay threshold
0%
Upfront cost
150+
Airlines covered

Step 1 — Enter your flight details

Check Your Compensation

fixed by law

How Much Can You Claim?

EU261 compensation amounts are set by regulation — airlines cannot negotiate them down.

€250
Short-haul
Flights up to 1,500 km
e.g. London → Paris, Berlin → Amsterdam
€400
Medium-haul
Flights 1,500 – 3,500 km
e.g. London → Cairo, Frankfurt → Tenerife
€600
Long-haul
Flights over 3,500 km
e.g. London → New York, Paris → Dubai

the four scenarios

When Are You Eligible?

EU261 covers four main disruption types. Check if yours qualifies before you claim.

Delayed 3+ hours

Measured at final-destination arrival, not departure.

Flight cancelled

Less than 14 days notice with no reasonable re-routing offered.

Denied boarding

Bumped due to overbooking against your will.

EU route covered

Departing any EU airport, or arriving EU on an EU-based carrier.

how it works

Three Steps to Your Payout

No paperwork, no chasing airlines yourself. The whole process takes under 5 minutes.

01

Enter Your Flight

Type in your flight number and travel date. The system looks up the disruption record automatically — no boarding pass digging required.

02

Get Your Eligibility Check

Compensair checks EU261 rules against your route, airline, delay duration, and reason. You see instantly whether you have a valid claim.

03

Collect Your Money

If eligible, Compensair handles everything — negotiation, legal pressure, and payout. You pay nothing unless money lands in your account.

alternative option

Try AirHelp — 10M+ Claims Filed

AirHelp has helped over 10 million passengers since 2013. AI-powered claim processing, legal teams in 30 countries, support in 16 languages. 35% fee only if you win.

know your rights

What Airlines Use as an Excuse

You Can Still Claim

  • Technical fault. Aircraft mechanical issues are the airline's responsibility, not extraordinary.
  • Staff shortage. Crew rostering failures and strikes by airline staff are not extraordinary.
  • Overbooking. Selling more seats than available is a commercial decision — airlines cannot use it as an excuse.
  • Late incoming aircraft. If the previous leg was also delayed, the cause still matters — if it was technical, you can still claim.

Genuine Exemptions

  • Severe weather. Storms, fog, or ice that ground aircraft across an entire airport — not just inconvenient rain.
  • Air traffic control strikes. ATC industrial action is outside the airline's control and typically exempts them.
  • Airport security breach. Events like a runway incursion or terminal evacuation count as extraordinary.
  • Political instability. Sudden airport closures due to civil unrest or government order at the destination.

common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much compensation am I entitled to for a delayed flight?
Under EU261, you can claim €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for 1,500–3,500 km, and €600 for over 3,500 km — provided the delay exceeded 3 hours and was not due to extraordinary circumstances.
Which flights are covered by EU261?
All flights departing from an EU airport, and all flights arriving in the EU operated by an EU-based airline. Non-EU airlines flying into Europe are also partially covered.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Usually 3–6 years from the flight date, depending on the country. UK: 6 years. Germany, France, most of the EU: 3 years.
What if the delay was caused by bad weather?
Weather can be an 'extraordinary circumstance' that exempts the airline. However, technical faults, crew shortages, and overbooking are not extraordinary and still qualify for compensation.
Is there any upfront cost?
No. Both Compensair and AirHelp work on a no-win, no-fee basis. You only pay a success fee if your claim is paid out.
How long does a claim take?
Airlines that settle quickly can pay out in 4–8 weeks. If the airline disputes the claim, Compensair and AirHelp escalate to legal action — this can take 6–12 months, but you pay nothing extra.