Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, known as EU 261, a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight can be worth €250, €400 or €600 per passenger, depending only on the distance of the flight. Pick your airports below and answer a few questions.
How much
| Flight | Compensation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | Up to €250 | Madrid – Barcelona, 484 km |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km | Up to €400 | Madrid – Berlin, 1,852 km |
| Over 3,500 km, to or from outside the EU | Up to €600 | Paris – Baku, 3,807 km |
With connecting flights on one booking, the distance is from your first departure airport to your final destination.
When you are owed it
- Delay: if you reach your final destination 3 hours late or more. On flights over 3,500 km to or from outside the EU, 3 to 4 hours pays half: €300.
- Cancellation: if you were told less than 14 days before departure and the airline did not offer you a flight with almost the same times.
- Denied boarding: if you were refused against your will, usually because of overbooking.
- Downgrade: if you flew in a lower class than you paid for, you get back 30, 50 or 75 % of the price of that flight, by distance.
When you are not
If the cause was extraordinary, like bad weather, air traffic control, a security risk or an airport strike, there is no compensation. Technical faults and strikes by the airline's own staff do not count as extraordinary. Either way, while you wait you are entitled to meals, drinks and, if needed, a hotel.
Which flights
- Flights departing from the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, with any airline.
- Flights arriving there from outside, only with a European airline.
- Flights from the United Kingdom fall under its own copy, UK 261, with £220, £350 and £520.
How to claim
Claim from the airline that operated the flight; the time limit depends on the country. The calculator gives an estimate based on the Regulation, not legal advice. You can also put it on your own site.