Flight Delay & Cancellation Compensation Calculator

Quick Answer

Can I claim compensation for my flight?

Flight delay and cancellation compensation under UK261 depends on your route, timings and the cause. Qualifying claims can pay up to £520 per passenger, with reductions in some rerouting cases. This free calculator explains the result, separates care and refund rights, and helps you prepare a letter to the airline.

Free checker · No account · Claim directly

Check your flight disruption

Get an explained UK261 assessment, an evidence checklist and an editable letter. Your answers stay in this browser. No flight number or personal details are needed for the check.

Your journey

Which route and operating airline apply? Use the operating airline, which may differ from the airline that sold the ticket. Your booking Flight distanceUse great-circle distance between the first and final airport on the relevant booking, not the sum of connecting legs. Passengers included in your claim

What happened? Disruption

Departure delay in minutes (optional) Arrival delay in minutes (optional)Use final arrival on the relevant booking. For a replacement, use its offered timings. Enter 0 if on time or early; leave blank if unknown. What is known about the cause?A weather or technical label alone does not decide a claim. The facts and reasonable measures matter.

Rules, scope and sources · Checked 3 October 2026

This tool covers UK261, not a separate EU261 award. Amounts are conditional, in pounds, per eligible passenger. Cancellation notice, replacement offers and involuntary boarding conditions are assessed separately. Exact reduction boundaries, unknown facts and complex connections are flagged for review.

Claim directly with the operating airline first. After a final response or eight weeks without resolution, check the airline’s ADR route and scheme terms, or the CAA if no scheme applies. Scheme costs and court routes vary.

1. Check the factsAnswer journey questions. No account or personal details.
2. Prepare your letterUse the explained result and gather supporting evidence.
3. Submit to the airlineYou send and manage your direct claim. Using our free tools carries no claims-service fee.

Three rights to check separately

Fixed compensation

A conditional payment for inconvenience. Your ticket price does not set the band. This is the amount assessed above.

Care and reasonable expenses

Refreshments, communication and necessary accommodation can apply even when the cause prevents a fixed compensation claim. Keep receipts and ask the airline for help.

Refund or replacement travel

A cancellation can give a choice of refund or rerouting. A long departure delay can allow you to abandon the trip. Check the consequences before accepting a refund if you still need to travel.

Evidence and escalation

Keep original and replacement itineraries, airline messages and a dated claim. Use the free templates and check the scenario guides for further detail.

Flight compensation by airline

Choose your operating airline for delay and cancellation claim guidance. Check the company that flew the service, which can differ from the name on your booking.

Airline not listed? Use the full airline directory and the UK261 coverage guide. A UK departure can be covered on any airline; an arrival into the UK has different operator rules. This is UK guidance, not a promise of worldwide compensation.

Understand your flight compensation rights

Questions about the checker

Does a cancelled flight always qualify for compensation?

No. At least 14 days’ notice removes fixed cancellation compensation. With shorter notice, the offered replacement timings and the cause matter. Refund or rerouting rights are a separate question.

What if I do not know why the flight was disrupted?

Choose “Unknown”. The result asks for more evidence instead of assuming the airline owes money. You can prepare an enquiry letter asking for the reason and relevant evidence.

Is this also an EU261 calculator?

This tool assesses UK261 in pounds. It includes the UK-law routes described by the CAA. EU261 may also cover a journey, but this tool does not calculate a separate euro award or justify duplicate compensation.

Can I claim for a connection on separate tickets?

Separate tickets do not automatically protect your onward journey. Check the rights for the disrupted flight on its own. For protected connections on one booking, the final destination and arrival delay matter; complex routes may need individual review.

Do I need to pay a claims company?

You can claim directly with the operating airline for free. This site provides an assessment and editable letter, but does not submit or manage the claim. Keep a copy and check the airline’s complaints and escalation process.

Why does the checker sometimes give no cash amount?

Unknown facts, disputed causes, complex connections and exact reduction boundaries can change the answer. “More information needed” is not a rejection. Verify the facts and official guidance before requesting a specific sum.

Planning your next journey? Build a personal trip checklist and check your travel documents.

Flight delay and cancellation compensation calculator