Flight Compensation Calculator UK261
Instantly estimate how much compensation you could be owed for a delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flight under UK261 air passenger rights rules.
Calculate Your UK261 Compensation
Enter your flight details below to get an instant estimate of the compensation you may be entitled to claim from the airline, based on official UK261 distance bands and delay thresholds.
Flight Details
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Compensation Estimate
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UK261 Compensation Bands
Fixed compensation amounts under UK261 are set by flight distance, not ticket price. Here’s how the official bands break down, with a few example routes for context.
| Distance Band | Example Route | Approx. Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short haul (≤1,500km) | London to Barcelona | ~1,140 km | £220 |
| Short haul (≤1,500km) | Manchester to Rome | ~1,720 km* | £220 |
| Medium haul (1,500–3,500km) | Manchester to Malaga | ~1,700 km | £350 |
| Medium haul (1,500–3,500km) | London to Reykjavik | ~1,900 km | £350 |
| Long haul (>3,500km) | London to Dubai | ~5,500 km | £520 |
| Long haul (>3,500km) | London to New York | ~5,570 km | £520 |
UK261 Compensation FAQ
Everything you need to know about claiming flight delay and cancellation compensation in the UK.
UK261 is the UK’s retained version of the EU261 air passenger rights regulation. It entitles passengers to fixed compensation of £220 to £520 when a flight departing the UK, or arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline, is significantly delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, provided the disruption was within the airline’s control.
Compensation is based on flight distance and how late you arrived. Flights of 1,500km or less pay £220, flights between 1,500km and 3,500km pay £350, and flights over 3,500km pay £520, though this may be reduced to £260 if the delay on arrival was under four hours. Compensation only applies for delays of three hours or more at arrival.
Extraordinary circumstances are events outside the airline’s control, such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security risks, or bird strikes. Airlines do not have to pay compensation for these, though they must still offer meals, accommodation, and rebooking. Technical faults and staff shortages are usually not considered extraordinary.
There is no fixed statutory deadline under UK261 itself, but claims are generally treated as subject to the standard six-year limitation period in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or five years in Scotland. It is best to claim as soon as possible while flight details and evidence are easy to gather.