Flight Compensation Calculator
Check What You Are Owed
You may be entitled to
€250
Per passenger, under EU Regulation 261/2004.
Check your claim with AirHelp →EU rules cover departures from the EU, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, and arrivals there on an EU-based airline. Distance bands: Athens–Rome is short, Athens–London medium, Athens–New York long. Guidance only, not legal advice.
Flight Compensation FAQ
How much compensation am I owed for a delayed flight?
€250, €400 or €600 per passenger, depending on distance: up to 1,500 km pays €250, between 1,500 and 3,500 km pays €400, and over 3,500 km pays €600. On the longest flights the amount drops to €300 if you arrived between three and four hours late.
Which flights are covered by EU rules?
Any flight leaving an EU airport, whichever airline you flew, plus flights arriving in the EU on an EU-based airline. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are included. Compensation is paid per passenger, not per booking, and the ticket price makes no difference.
How late does the flight have to be?
Three hours or more, measured by when the aircraft doors open at your final destination — not by the departure delay. A flight that leaves four hours late but makes up time in the air may not qualify.
When does the airline not have to pay?
Extraordinary circumstances. Severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security alerts and airport closures release the airline from paying. Technical faults, crew shortages and overbooking do not — those are the airline's own responsibility, and they are the most common causes.
What if my flight was cancelled?
The same amounts apply if the airline told you less than 14 days before departure. You are also entitled to a refund or a replacement flight — and that is separate from the compensation, not instead of it.
Do these rules still apply after the 2026 reform?
Yes. The reform agreed in June 2026 left the amounts and the three-hour threshold unchanged. The main change was to hand luggage: a free cabin bag will have to be included in the base fare, but that part only takes effect in 2027.
What about flights to and from the UK?
Nearly identical rules apply under UK law, with amounts of £220, £350 and £520 instead of euros. The distance bands and the three-hour threshold are the same.
How far back can I claim?
Years, in most countries. The limit is set nationally and runs from two years in some states to six in others. If the flight was within the last two years it is almost certainly still claimable, so an old boarding pass is worth checking.
Does a voucher or a free meal cancel my claim?
No. Meals, drinks, phone calls and a hotel are care the airline owes you anyway during a long delay. A goodwill voucher does not replace the compensation either — unless you signed something accepting it as full settlement, which is worth reading before you sign.
Do I have to pay to make a claim?
Not if you do it yourself. Writing to the airline is free, and national enforcement bodies handle complaints at no cost. Claim companies take a cut of the payout, typically 25–35%, in exchange for doing the chasing and absorbing the risk.
