Free tool · Rules checked 20 October 2026

Flight Delay Compensation Checker (UK261 and EU261)

Find out whether your delayed or cancelled flight is covered, roughly how much you could claim per person, and get a free claim letter to send to the airline. Claiming directly from the airline is free.

General information based on the CAA's and the EU's published guidance, not legal advice. The airline decides first; if you disagree, you can escalate. This page has one labelled affiliate link. Disclosure.

This checker needs JavaScript. The rules in short: UK261 covers flights departing the UK on any airline, and flights arriving in the UK or EU on a UK airline (or in the UK on an EU airline). If you reach your destination three hours or more late and it wasn't extraordinary circumstances, you get £220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500 to 3,500 km) or £520 (over 3,500 km; £260 if three to four hours late). EU261 amounts are €250, €400 and €600 (€300). For cancellations, no compensation is due with 14 or more days' notice. See the CAA's guidance.

1. Your flight Flying from Flying to (your final destination) Airline that operated the flight

It's the airline that operated the flight that counts, not who sold it. Some brands fly under both UK and EU licences, so check the operator on your booking.

Distance band

2. What happened

Delayed Cancelled

How late did you reach your final destination?

Hours Minutes

Use your arrival time at the gate (when the doors opened), not take-off or landing.

Did the airline blame extraordinary circumstances (e.g. severe weather, air traffic control, security, airport staff strike)?

Your result

Fill in the form to see your result.

Free claim letter

A template only. Edit it before you send it, or copy the details into the airline's online claim form (most airlines prefer the form).

How to claim, step by step

Claim from the airline directly using its online claim form. It's free.
Claim reasonable expenses (meals, a hotel if you were stuck overnight) separately, with receipts.
If the airline says no, or doesn't reply within eight weeks, escalate to its alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme, or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team if it isn't in one. Read the CAA's guidance on delays and cancellations.
On a package holiday, the flight claim is still made to the airline; problems with the rest of the package go to your tour operator. See how to complain about a package holiday.

The rules we use

	UK261 (CAA)	EU261 (Your Europe)
Covered	Departing the UK (any airline); arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline; arriving in the EU on a UK airline	Departing the EU (any airline); arriving in the EU from outside on an EU airline
Up to 1,500 km	£220	€250
1,500 to 3,500 km	£350	€400 (also every flight within the EU over 1,500 km)
Over 3,500 km	£520, or £260 if 3 to 4 hours late	€600, or €300 if 3 to 4 hours late
Delay threshold	Reaching your final destination 3 hours or more late
Cancellations	Nothing with 14+ days' notice. With 7–13 days' notice, nothing if the replacement leaves no more than 2 hours early and arrives less than 4 hours late. With under 7 days' notice, nothing if it leaves no more than 1 hour early and arrives less than 2 hours late. If you're rerouted and arrive within 2, 3 or 4 hours (by distance band) of the original time, the amount can be halved.
Extraordinary circumstances	No compensation, but care and refund or rerouting rights still apply

Distances are great-circle distances calculated from airport coordinates. A new EU regulation (2026/2202) changes some EU261 rules from 23 October 2027; the compensation amounts above are unchanged. Sources: CAA delays and cancellations pages; Your Europe, air passenger rights; European Commission Q&A on Regulation 2026/2202.

FAQs

How much compensation can I get for a delayed flight from the UK?

Under UK261, if you reach your destination three hours or more late and the delay wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances: £220 per person for flights up to 1,500 km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £520 for longer flights (£260 if you arrive between three and four hours late). Source: the CAA.

What are the EU261 compensation amounts?

€250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, and €600 for longer flights (€300 if you arrive between three and four hours late). Source: the European Union's Your Europe passenger rights page.

Is London to Palma under 1,500 km?

Yes. London's airports are roughly 1,310 to 1,390 km from Palma by great-circle distance, so the UK261 amount for a 3-hour-plus delay is £220. From Manchester (about 1,580 km), Glasgow, Edinburgh or Newcastle it's over 1,500 km, so the amount is £350.

Do I need a claims company?

No. Claiming directly from the airline is free. If the airline refuses or doesn't reply within eight weeks, you can escalate to its alternative dispute resolution scheme or the CAA. Claims firms do the work for a share of the payout.

What are extraordinary circumstances?

Events outside the airline's control that couldn't have been avoided even if it had taken all reasonable measures, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks or airport staff strikes. The airline doesn't have to pay compensation then, but it must still look after you and offer a refund or rerouting.