Flight delay compensation calculator: UK261 & EC261
Use the calculator to estimate the statutory fixed-compensation band for a delayed flight under UK261 or EC261. UK261 reference amounts range from £220 to £520 per passenger, while EC261 ranges from €250 to €600. The estimate is not a legal decision: route coverage, operating carrier, final arrival delay, cause and rerouting can change the result.
Check the specific flight →Flight delay compensation calculator
Estimate the fixed UK261 or EC261 compensation band from the legal framework, flight distance, final-destination delay and passenger count. The full AeroDue checker verifies the route, operating carrier and cause separately.
Select the facts above to estimate the statutory fixed-compensation band.
This is an estimate, not a decision on legal entitlement. Coverage, operating carrier, actual cause, connecting-flight structure and rerouting can change the result. Care, hotel, meal and refund rights are separate.
Verify the actual flight in AeroDue →How much compensation could be due?
Fixed compensation is only one part of passenger rights. The applicable regime, flight distance, final arrival delay, disruption cause and any rerouting can change the amount or remove fixed compensation entirely.
| Flight distance | Arrival delay | Reference amount |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | 3+ hours | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | 3+ hours | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | 3–4 hours | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km | 4+ hours | £520 |
These are UK Civil Aviation Authority reference amounts for qualifying delays. They are not an automatic entitlement: UK261 coverage and the cause of the disruption still need to be established.
| Flight distance / route | Reference amount |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 |
| Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km | €400 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | Up to €600 |
For long-haul EC261 delays, the amount can depend on the arrival delay and may be reduced in some rerouting situations. Extraordinary circumstances can also remove fixed compensation.
What this flight delay compensation calculator estimates
The calculator applies the current fixed-compensation bands published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for UK261 and by Your Europe for EC261. It uses the selected legal framework, flight-distance band, final-destination delay and number of passengers to show a statutory reference total.
It deliberately does not infer jurisdiction from an airport name or airline brand. That is a separate legal-coverage question and is why AeroDue routes the estimate into the full flight checker afterwards.
- UK261: £220, £350, £260 or £520 depending on distance and final arrival delay.
- EC261: €250, €400, €300 or €600 depending on route band and final arrival delay.
- Fixed compensation is per passenger when the legal conditions are met.
What the calculator cannot prove on its own
A fixed amount is only meaningful after the flight is shown to be within UK261 or EC261 and the cause is assessed. Qualifying extraordinary circumstances can remove fixed compensation, while connecting-flight structure, operating carrier and rerouting can also change the outcome.
Selecting 'not sure' keeps the result as a potential band rather than presenting it as an entitlement. The full AeroDue checker is designed to test those missing facts instead of turning a headline amount into an automatic claim.
Care, hotel, meals and refunds are separate from fixed compensation
A passenger can have care, rerouting or reimbursement rights even where fixed compensation is unavailable. Under UK261, a delay of at least five hours can create a refund option if the passenger chooses not to travel. EU261 also separates assistance and reimbursement from the fixed-compensation test.
Keep itemised receipts for reasonable meals, accommodation or necessary transport when the airline does not provide required care directly.
Official sources used for this guide
This page separates general editorial guidance from AeroDue's flight-specific checker. The sources below support the legal or operational framework described here.
Official guidance
Your Europe — EU air passenger rights and EC261 compensation
Related AeroDue guidance
Flight delay rights
Start with the broader disruption guide if you need the general framework before checking a specific flight.
Passenger rights
See how AeroDue keeps compensation, refunds, care and eligible expenses separate.
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