EU261 Compensation Calculator
Calculate in seconds whether you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.
EU261 Compensation Overview
| Distance | Delay (3h+) | Cancellation | Downgrade% of ticket price for involuntary class downgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 1,500 km | 250 EUR | 250 EUR | 30% |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, or within the EU over 1,500 km | 400 EUR | 400 EUR | 50% |
| all other flights over 3,500 km | 600 EUR | 600 EUR | 75% |
Flights to the EU's outermost regions — such as the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores or Réunion — count as flights within the EU. The Regulation therefore provides 400 euros for them, even where the distance exceeds 3,500 km.
* Downgrade: Payment within 7 days (Art. 10 EU261)
This table covers EU261. For departures from the United Kingdom (UK261), the amounts are 220 / 350 / 520 GBP.
This calculator provides a non-binding estimate based on EU Regulation 261/2004. Not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions about the calculator
Is the calculator's result binding?
No — the calculator maps your details to the bands in Article 7 of EU Regulation 261/2004 and shows the amount that corresponds to that classification. Whether the airline actually has to pay also depends on the individual case, for example on extraordinary circumstances. The result is an initial assessment, not legal advice.
Why doesn't the calculator ask for the ticket price?
Because it is irrelevant to the compensation. Article 7 ties the amounts to the flight distance and to whether the flight is within the EU: EUR 250 up to 1,500 km, EUR 400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and all other flights up to 3,500 km, EUR 600 for all other flights. A cheap ticket does not reduce the claim, and an expensive one does not increase it.
How does the calculator measure the distance?
Using the great-circle method — the shortest line between departure and arrival airport, not the route actually flown. For a connecting itinerary on one booking, the distance from the first point of departure to the final destination counts.
What applies to departures from the UK?
For those, the calculator uses UK261, the British counterpart of the EU regulation: the same system, but its own amounts in pounds — £220, £350 or £520 depending on distance. The place of departure alone is decisive; the airline does not matter for this.
Why does the calculator show zero?
Usually because the arrival delay is under three hours — measured at the final destination when the aircraft doors open, not at touchdown. A cancellation the airline announced more than 14 days before departure also does not trigger compensation.
Can the calculator check for extraordinary circumstances?
No — no automated check can. Whether a storm or another exception actually applied is something the airline must prove in the individual case; under the ECJ ruling in Wallentin-Hermann (C-549/07), technical defects generally are not enough. The calculator therefore shows the amount that applies absent such an exception.