Flight Compensation Calculator UK261
Check a likely UK261 flight compensation amount for delay, cancellation or denied boarding using distance band, arrival delay and passenger count.
Enter Flight Disruption Details
Likely Compensation
The likely compensation amount will appear here.
How To Use This UK261 Check
1Use Arrival Time
For delay claims, use the delay on arrival at your final destination, not the time the aircraft left the gate.
2Pick Distance Band
Compensation is based on flight distance bands. If unsure, use an airport distance checker and keep the route evidence.
3Check The Cause
UK261 compensation normally needs airline responsibility. Extraordinary circumstances can remove or reduce entitlement.
4Keep Evidence
Save boarding passes, booking reference, airline messages, arrival time evidence and receipts for care expenses.
What The Result Means
The calculator shows a likely fixed compensation amount based on the UK261 distance bands and your passenger count. It marks a claim as unlikely if the arrival delay is below 3 hours, if cancellation notice is more than 14 days, or if extraordinary circumstances are selected. For long-haul flights over 3500 km, a delay between 3 and 4 hours can lead to a reduced amount under the usual UK261 rules.
The result is a starting point for writing to the airline. It is not a decision by a court, adjudicator or regulator. Airlines may dispute the cause of the disruption, the arrival time, the operating carrier, the route, the legal regime or whether reasonable measures were taken. If the airline rejects a claim, the next route may be the airline’s approved alternative dispute resolution provider, the Civil Aviation Authority’s passenger advice route, or legal advice.
Compensation Bands And Method
Up to 1500 km = GBP 220 per passenger.
1501 km to 3500 km = GBP 350 per passenger.
Over 3500 km = GBP 520 per passenger.
Long-haul delay of at least 3 hours but under 4 hours = GBP 260 per passenger.
Total claim estimate = eligible per-passenger amount x passengers claiming.
No fixed compensation is shown when delay is under 3 hours, cancellation notice is over 14 days, or extraordinary circumstances are selected.
Worked UK261 Examples
Short Flight, Four-Hour Delay
Two passengers on a flight under 1500 km arriving 4 hours late may have a fixed-compensation estimate of GBP 440, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.
Long-Haul, Three And A Half Hours
A flight over 3500 km arriving 3.5 hours late can fall into the reduced long-haul amount. One passenger would see an estimate of GBP 260.
Cancellation With Long Notice
If cancellation notice was more than 14 days before departure, the calculator marks fixed compensation as unlikely, though refund and rerouting rights may still matter.
Evidence To Gather
| Evidence | Why It Helps | Where To Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Booking reference and ticket | Shows passenger, route and operating carrier. | Email confirmation, airline app or travel agent record. |
| Arrival time | Delay is usually judged at final destination arrival. | Airline messages, airport data, flight tracking or written confirmation. |
| Reason given | The airline’s explanation affects eligibility. | Text alerts, gate announcements, complaint reply or disruption notice. |
| Receipts | Care expenses can be separate from fixed compensation. | Meals, accommodation, transport and calls where reasonable. |
| Rerouting details | Cancellation compensation can depend on timing of replacement flight. | New boarding pass, itinerary and arrival information. |
When This Calculator Does Not Decide The Claim
It does not decide whether bad weather, air traffic control, airport closure, bird strike, security risk, medical diversion or strike action counts as extraordinary circumstances in your case. It also does not check limitation periods, package holiday rights, travel insurance, consequential losses or reimbursement of replacement tickets. Use it as a fixed-compensation checker, then read the airline response and official passenger guidance.
It also does not decide which airline is the operating carrier when a flight was sold by one airline but operated by another. Codeshare and connecting itineraries can make claim letters harder to prepare, so keep the booking confirmation, boarding pass and any operating-airline messages together.
If a claim is rejected, compare the airline’s reason with the evidence you hold. A short template complaint is often not enough if the dispute turns on arrival time, technical fault details or whether the airline took reasonable measures.
For missed connections, record the booked itinerary as one contract or separate tickets. UK261 treatment can differ when flights were bought separately, even if the practical delay to the traveller looks similar.
FAQ
Is UK261 the same as EU261?
UK261 is the UK retained passenger-rights regime. It is similar in structure, but UK guidance and courts apply in UK cases.
Does a two-hour delay qualify?
Usually not for fixed delay compensation. Arrival delay normally needs to be at least 3 hours, though care rights can apply earlier.
Can children claim?
Children with a paid ticket can often be included. Infants travelling free or at a nominal fare may be treated differently.
What if the airline says weather caused it?
Weather may be extraordinary, but facts matter. Ask the airline to explain the cause if rejecting the claim.
Are meals and hotel costs included?
No. Fixed compensation is separate from reasonable care and assistance expenses.
Should I use departure delay or arrival delay?
Use arrival delay at final destination for the fixed-compensation delay test.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Authority. (n.d.). Flight delays and cancellations. CAA. https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers/resolving-travel-problems/delays-and-cancellations/
- Civil Aviation Authority. (n.d.). Claiming compensation for a delayed flight. CAA. https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers/resolving-travel-problems/delays-and-cancellations/claiming-compensation/
- GOV.UK. (n.d.). Air passenger travel guide. Department for Transport. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-passenger-travel-guide