Flight Delay Compensation Calculator

Our flight delay compensation calculator introduces a 7-step process that makes checking compensation straightforward for any traveler.

The tool covers all scenarios under EU261 regulation and instantly determines whether your specific flight qualifies for compensation.

The calculator eliminates guesswork by walking you through each critical factor that affects eligibility: route coverage, airline responsibility, delay duration, and flight distance.

Each step builds on the previous one to create a comprehensive picture of your compensation rights.

Note: The tool provides instant results, so you’ll know within minutes whether you’re entitled to compensation and exactly how much you can claim.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Flight Delay Compensation Calculator

Steps 1-2: Select Your Route

Departure Region: Choose where your flight originated from the dropdown menu. This includes all EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland, where EU rules apply.

Arrival Region: Select your destination to determine if EU Regulation 261 applies to your specific flight. The regulation’s coverage depends on this route combination—flights departing from covered regions always qualify if other conditions are met, while flights arriving in the covered areas only qualify if operated by EU airlines.

Steps 3-4: Identify Your Airline

Operating Airline: Select the company that actually ran the flight. This is the airline whose crew operated the aircraft and whose flight number appeared on your boarding pass.

Marketing Airline: Select the airline you booked with, if it differs from the operating carrier. Many flights involve codeshare agreements where you might book with Delta but fly on a KLM aircraft.

Both airlines matter for compensation eligibility because EU261 applies based on the operating carrier’s origin, not necessarily who you purchased your ticket from.

Step 5: Enter Your Delay Duration

Arrival Delay (Hours): Input the exact delay time based on when your flight actually arrived versus the scheduled arrival time. The calculator requires precise timing because compensation thresholds are strict.

The 3-hour minimum threshold is non-negotiable for EU261 compensation. Delays of 2 hours and 59 minutes don’t qualify, regardless of other factors. Longer delays may increase entitlements to additional care and assistance, though the base compensation remains the same.

Step 6: Specify the Delay Reason

This step significantly impacts eligibility, so choose carefully:

Airline Responsibility: Technical issues, crew problems, fuel shortages, aircraft maintenance, operational decisions, or overbooking situations.

Extraordinary Circumstances: Severe weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, airport security issues, political instability, or unannounced strikes.

Unknown/Not Sure: When the airline didn’t clearly communicate the delay cause, or you’re uncertain about the specific reason.

How this impacts eligibility: Airlines must prove extraordinary circumstances to avoid paying compensation. If you select airline responsibility, compensation is almost guaranteed (assuming other criteria are met). Unknown causes often default to airline responsibility unless the carrier can prove otherwise.

Step 7: Select Flight Distance

The distance between your departure and arrival airports determines your compensation amount:

Under 1,500 km: €250 compensation for short-haul flights within Europe or to nearby destinations.

1,500-3,500 km: €400 compensation for medium-haul flights, such as most intra-European routes or flights to North Africa.

Over 3,500 km: €600 compensation for long-haul flights to destinations like the United States, Asia, or other distant locations.

NOTE: Distance affects the compensation amount, not eligibility. A qualifying 1,000 km flight delay earns less than a qualifying 4,000 km delay, but both are eligible if other conditions are met.

When You’re Entitled to Flight Delay Compensation

The EU261 regulation coverage applies to specific flight scenarios that many passengers may not fully understand. The regulation covers flights departing from EU countries or flights operated by EU airlines arriving in the EU from non-EU destinations.

NOTE: This means a United Airlines flight from New York to Paris wouldn’t qualify, but a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to JFK would.

The basic requirements for compensation include 3+ hour delays, airline responsibility for the delay, and specific flight distance factors that determine your payout amount. Technical problems are not considered exceptional circumstances, according to the Court of Justice of the European Union, meaning airlines can’t use maintenance issues to avoid paying compensation.

Compensation ranges from €250-€600 based on flight distance:

• Under 1,500 km: €250 compensation
• 1,500-3,500 km: €400 compensation
• Over 3,500 km: €600 compensation

Extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather, air traffic control decisions, political instability, or security threats, can exempt airlines from their compensation obligations. However, airlines must prove that these circumstances directly caused the delay.