Flight compensation checker
Simplified UK261 distance bands for delay/cancellation education. Extraordinary circumstances and airline arguments can change outcomes.
Indicative care/compensation band often discussed: €400 (or sterling equivalent under UK261 practice).
It estimates whether a delay, cancellation or denied-boarding event may fall under EU261/UK261-style passenger rights and which payout band often applies by distance. Enter your flight details and disruption length to see the likely band before you file a claim with the airline. Live tool: /tools/compensation-checker.
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Key takeaways
- It estimates whether a delay, cancellation or denied-boarding event may fall under EU261/UK261-style passenger rights and which payout band often applies…
- Enter the route, what went wrong, and how late you arrived at final destination.
- Three sketches: a long-haul arrival over three hours late; a short-haul cancellation with rebooking next day; and a weather event that may be extraordinary…
- We map route distance bands and disruption types to commonly published EU261/UK261 amount tables, with hedges for extraordinary circumstances and out-of-scope…
- Use the checker to triage claims, then decide DIY versus AirHelp.
What does the flight compensation checker do?
It estimates whether a delay, cancellation or denied-boarding event may fall under EU261/UK261-style passenger rights and which payout band often applies by distance. Enter your flight details and disruption length to see the likely band before you file a claim with the airline. Live tool: /tools/compensation-checker.
Full rule context: EU261 compensation complete rules and flight delay compensation rights. DIY letters: how to claim flight compensation DIY.
Extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, some ATC events, security closures) can remove compensation even when care duties remain. The checker flags likelihood bands; airlines still adjudicate.
How do you use the compensation checker?
Enter the route, what went wrong, and how late you arrived at final destination. Read the band, then gather boarding passes and delay timelines before you contact the airline or a claim partner.
Missed connections usually measure arrival delay at the final ticketed destination on the same reservation — not the first delayed leg alone. your PNR and operating carrier.
If you prefer a paid intermediary, AirHelp is linked as a partner. Compare their fee with the hours a DIY claim would take.
- Keep boarding passes and delay emails
- Note final arrival time, not only departure delay
- Check whether the flight is in scope for EU/UK rules
- Mind claim deadlines in your jurisdiction
What are three worked compensation examples?
Three sketches: a long-haul arrival over three hours late; a short-haul cancellation with rebooking next day; and a weather event that may be extraordinary circumstances.
Teaching cases for July 2026 — not case outcomes.
| Example | Event | Checker focus | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Long delay | EU long-haul +4h arrival | Distance band + eligibility | File with airline; keep proof |
| 2 — Cancel + overnight | Short-haul cancel, arrive +20h | Care vs compensation split | Claim meals/hotel docs too |
| 3 — Severe weather | Storm ground stop | Extraordinary circumstances flag | Still claim care; compensation may fail |
What methodology does the compensation checker use?
We map route distance bands and disruption types to commonly published EU261/UK261 amount tables, with hedges for extraordinary circumstances and out-of-scope carriers.
UK261 largely mirrors EU261 logic for many post-Brexit itineraries, but scope details differ by route and airline establishment. official CAA/EU summaries for your ticket.
Keep a notes file beside /tools/compensation-checker with the exact inputs you used. When plans change, you can re-run without reconstructing dates from memory.
Share the result screenshot with travel partners so everyone argues from the same numbers. Most trip conflicts start from mismatched assumptions, not bad tools.
If two official pages disagree, prefer the destination government or carrier page over a secondary blog. the primary source the week you travel.
Build a small time buffer after using any planning tool: rules, catalogues and lounge hours move faster than evergreen articles admit.
Treat affiliate or partner links as convenience paths only. Your decision still rests on official wording, sizer boxes, policy PDFs or border officers.
Re-run the tool after you add a side trip, change airlines or extend a stay. Yesterday’s green result can turn amber without drama — only maths.
Keep a notes file beside /tools/compensation-checker with the exact inputs you used. When plans change, you can re-run without reconstructing dates from memory.
Share the result screenshot with travel partners so everyone argues from the same numbers. Most trip conflicts start from mismatched assumptions, not bad tools.
If two official pages disagree, prefer the destination government or carrier page over a secondary blog. the primary source the week you travel.
Build a small time buffer after using any planning tool: rules, catalogues and lounge hours move faster than evergreen articles admit.
Treat affiliate or partner links as convenience paths only. Your decision still rests on official wording, sizer boxes, policy PDFs or border officers.
Re-run the tool after you add a side trip, change airlines or extend a stay. Yesterday’s green result can turn amber without drama — only maths.
Keep a notes file beside /tools/compensation-checker with the exact inputs you used. When plans change, you can re-run without reconstructing dates from memory.
Share the result screenshot with travel partners so everyone argues from the same numbers. Most trip conflicts start from mismatched assumptions, not bad tools.
Compensation checker — common questions
Use the checker to triage claims, then decide DIY versus AirHelp. Results are estimates, not court findings.
Desk research for July 2026.
- Is a 2-hour delay enough? — Often not for cash compensation; care rules differ.
- Do non-EU airlines ever pay? — Sometimes when departing the EU/UK under scope rules.
- Can I claim and keep the rebooked flight? — Usually yes for compensation vs refund choices; read options.
- Package holidays? — Organiser rules may interact; keep all vouchers.
- Where is the live tool? — /tools/compensation-checker.
- Strike by airline staff? — Often still compensable; external strikes differ.
- How long to claim? — Limitation periods vary; do not wait years casually.
Primary sources and further checks
Official and independent sources worth checking alongside this guide. We are not paid for these links.
UK Civil Aviation Authority
Use the UK aviation regulator for the current UK261 framework, airline obligations and escalation routes. The operating airline and the facts of the disruption still determine an individual claim.
Your Europe
Your Europe: official EU air-passenger rights guidance (opens in a new tab)
The European Commission’s citizen portal explains EU261 eligibility, assistance, reimbursement and compensation. Check the route, carrier and disruption circumstances against the current official text.
FlightLogic
FlightLogic: independent airline ratings built on measured data (opens in a new tab)
FlightLogic rates carriers on measured cabin data — real Wi-Fi speeds, seat comfort and dietary reliability — rather than marketing claims. Useful alongside our policy pages when you are choosing between two airlines on the same route.