Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Work out what your flight could be worth in under a minute. Compensation under UK261 (the retained UK version of EC 261/2004) is fixed by law, so once you know your flight distance and how late you arrived, the amount is straightforward.
This page gives an informational estimate and isn't legal or financial advice. Amounts align with UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance. Eligibility is decided case by case, and you can always claim directly from your airline for free first.
Estimate your compensation
Flight delay compensation calculator
Fixed UK261 amounts by distance and delay.
Fixed amounts under UK261. The airline does not have to pay where the disruption was caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances (e.g. extreme weather, air traffic control restrictions) — but technical faults and crew shortages usually do qualify. You can claim directly from your airline for free. Claims can go back up to 6 years.
Check my flight claimHow much is a delayed flight worth?
Compensation depends on two things only: the distance of your flight and how late you arrived at your final destination.
| Flight distance | Arrival delay | Compensation per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km (e.g. UK to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin) | 3 hours or more | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. UK to Athens, Canary Islands, Istanbul) | 3 hours or more | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. UK to New York, Dubai, Bangkok) | 3–4 hours | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km | 4 hours or more | £520 |
The amounts are per passenger, not per booking — a family of four on a long-haul flight delayed more than four hours could be owed £2,080.
Am I eligible at all?
Three quick checks before the amounts above apply:
- The flight departed from the UK on any airline, or arrived into the UK on a UK or EU airline.
- The delay was within the airline's control — technical faults, crew shortages and scheduling problems count; extreme weather, air traffic control strikes and genuine "extraordinary circumstances" don't.
- Timing: you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late (this is measured at arrival, not departure), and the flight was within the last 6 years.
Cancellations and denied boarding
Cancelled with less than 14 days' notice? The same distance-based amounts apply, unless the airline rerouted you to arrive close to your original time. If you were denied boarding because the flight was overbooked, you're entitled to compensation on the spot at the same rates.
What about food, hotels and expenses?
Separately from compensation, airlines must provide care during a long delay: meals and refreshments after 2–4 hours (depending on distance), plus a hotel and transfers if you're delayed overnight. Keep receipts if the airline fails to provide these — reasonable costs are reclaimable on top of any compensation.
