EU261 compensation calculator
Check EU flight delay compensation from €250 to €600
Check a preliminary EU261 compensation band for a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight. Test route, carrier, distance, arrival delay and exceptions.
Short answer
EU261 can provide €250, €400 or €600 per passenger on a qualifying delay, cancellation or involuntary denied-boarding path. The amount starts with distance, but route coverage, the operating airline, final-arrival delay, notice, rerouting and extraordinary circumstances can change the result.
Facts that change the result
Departure coverage
A flight departing the EU, EEA or Switzerland normally starts inside the EU261 route test, regardless of the operating airline's home country.
Inbound coverage
A flight arriving from outside the covered area usually requires an EU, EEA or Swiss operating carrier. The ticket seller or code-share brand may not be the operator.
Distance bands
The reference bands are €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 for the middle band and longer intra-EU journeys, and €600 for qualifying long-haul journeys.
Final arrival matters
For delay claims, record how late you reached the final ticketed destination. A late departure alone does not establish the compensation band.
How to check your journey
- 1
Enter the complete route
Use the first departure and final ticketed destination, especially when all connecting flights were on one booking.
- 2
Choose the operating airline
Check the boarding pass and flight notice. A marketing airline and operating airline can be different.
- 3
Add the disruption facts
Select delay, cancellation or denied boarding; record notice, rerouting and final-arrival timing.
- 4
Read the conditional result
Use the displayed amount as a preliminary statutory band, then check the airline's recorded cause and official guidance.
Check the route and disruption facts
The calculator is free, needs no signup and keeps compensation, care, refund and rerouting questions separate.
Common questions
How much EU261 compensation can I receive?+
The standard distance bands are €250, €400 and €600 per passenger. A qualifying long-haul reroute arriving three to four hours late can reduce €600 to €300.
Is a three-hour departure delay enough?+
Not by itself. The usual delay assessment uses arrival at the final ticketed destination, together with route coverage and the airline-recorded cause.
Do extraordinary circumstances remove every right?+
No. They can defeat statutory compensation when the airline proves the required test, but care, refund and rerouting questions can remain.
Can I contact the airline myself?+
Yes. Use the free calculator and direct-letter toolkit, retain your evidence and submit through the operating airline's current official channel.
Official sources
Content reviewed 3 September 2026. Check the authority's current wording and the airline's current official channel before acting.