EU261 Flight Compensation Calculator

What is a free EU261 compensation calculator online?

A free EU261 compensation calculator online tells you whether you qualify for compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 after a flight delay, cancellation or denied boarding, and if so, how much. The regulation entitles passengers to fixed compensation of €250, €400 or €600 depending on the flight distance and the length of the arrival delay. It also covers meals, refreshments, accommodation and communication costs during the disruption, and — for cancellations — a full refund or re-routing.

This EU261 calculator goes beyond a simple amount table. It calculates the great-circle distance between your airports, determines the correct compensation tier, checks the delay threshold, helps you assess whether the airline can claim extraordinary circumstances based on the reason given, and generates a claim letter you can send to the airline. Everything runs in your browser — no sign-up, no account, no upload, no tracking.

How to use this free flight compensation calculator

1. Enter your departure and arrival airports using IATA codes. The tool calculates the great-circle distance.
2. Select the disruption type: delay, cancellation or denied boarding.
3. Enter the arrival delay in hours (for delays) or the notice period in days (for cancellations).
4. Select the reason the airline gave. This affects whether extraordinary circumstances may apply.
5. Confirm whether the flight is covered by EU261 (EU/UK carrier, or departing from the EU/UK).
6. Enter your name and click Calculate. The tool shows the compensation tier, the amount, and a claim letter.

EU261 compensation amounts

The delay threshold is based on arrival delay — the time the aircraft door opens at the destination — not departure delay. A flight that leaves three hours late but makes up time in the air is not eligible. A flight that leaves on time but arrives three hours late is eligible.

What are extraordinary circumstances?

Article 5(3) of EU261 exempts airlines from paying compensation when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Recital 14 of the regulation gives examples: political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the flight, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings, and strikes that affect the operation of the air carrier.

The EU Court of Justice has interpreted this strictly. The following are generally not extraordinary circumstances:

• Technical faults. A technical problem discovered on the day of the flight is a normal part of airline operations and does not exempt the airline, unless it stems from a hidden manufacturing defect or sabotage.
• Airline staff strikes. Strikes by the airline's own staff are generally not extraordinary; the airline is expected to negotiate with its unions.
• Crew shortages. Insufficient crew is an operational matter, not an extraordinary circumstance.
• Bird strikes. A bird strike can be extraordinary, but only if the airline took all reasonable measures to avoid and mitigate it.

Circumstances that may qualify include severe weather that makes the specific flight unsafe, air traffic control restrictions, a wildcat strike by external workers (such as air traffic controllers), and security threats. Even when a circumstance qualifies, the airline must prove it took all reasonable measures to avoid the disruption.

Coverage: when does EU261 apply?

EU261 applies to:

• Any flight departing from an airport in the EU, regardless of the airline's nationality.
• Any flight arriving in the EU on an EU carrier, if departing from outside the EU.
• Flights within the EU on any carrier.
• Since Brexit, UK261 applies to flights departing the UK and to flights arriving in the UK on UK or EU carriers.

It does not apply to flights between two non-EU airports on a non-EU carrier. A flight from Bangkok to Singapore on a Thai airline is not covered; a flight from Bangkok to Paris on Air France is covered.

How to claim

1. Gather your booking reference, boarding pass, and any evidence of the delay (a photo of the departure board, an email from the airline, or a screenshot of the arrival time).
2. Submit a claim directly to the airline first. Most airlines have an online claim form. Use the claim letter generated by this tool as your template.
3. If the airline refuses or does not respond within 8 weeks, escalate to the national enforcement body (NEB) in the country of departure, or to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme.
4. You can also use a claim management company, but they typically take 25–35% of the compensation. Claiming directly is free and often just as fast.

Common mistakes

• Confusing departure and arrival delay. Only arrival delay counts toward the threshold.
• Accepting a voucher instead of cash. Airlines often offer travel vouchers. You are entitled to cash compensation under EU261; a voucher is only valid if you accept it.
• Waiting too long. Limitation periods are 2–6 years depending on the country. Claim promptly.
• Giving up after the first refusal. Airlines frequently reject valid claims. Escalate to the NEB or ADR.
• Using a claim company unnecessarily. Direct claims cost nothing and are usually just as effective for straightforward cases.
• Forgetting the extra expenses. EU261 also entitles you to meals, refreshments, accommodation and communication costs during the disruption, separate from the fixed compensation.

Frequently asked questions