An EU261 compensation calculator is really a legal triage tool. The amount you may be owed depends on three main things: whether the regulation applies to your route, whether the disruption qualifies, and which distance band covers the journey. Once those are clear, most passengers can estimate the claim value quickly.
That is the good news. The part that trips people up is not the math. It is using the correct arrival delay, the correct final destination, and the correct cause of disruption. A proper calculator should help you answer those questions before it shows a euro amount.
The EU261 compensation table
Start with the fixed payment bands:
| Flight distance | Compensation amount |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
These are the headline amounts for eligible delay, cancellation, and denied boarding claims. They are not based on what you paid for the ticket. They are based on the seriousness of the disruption and the length of the route.
In some rerouting cases, the airline may reduce the amount by 50% if your replacement journey reached the destination with only a limited delay. That is why the calculator should not stop at distance alone.
How to calculate whether you may be owed compensation
1. Check whether EU261 applies to the route
The regulation generally covers flights departing from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland on any airline, and many arrivals into that area on an EU carrier.
2. Identify the disruption type
The most common qualifying events are:
- arrival delay of 3+ hours
- cancellation on short notice
- involuntary denied boarding
3. Measure the right journey
If your itinerary had a protected connection on one booking, use the final destination on that booking. A missed connection can turn a short first-leg delay into a much larger final-arrival delay.
4. Test the cause
Ordinary technical faults, crew problems, and operational disruption often support compensation claims. Severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, or other extraordinary events may not.
5. Pick the distance band
Once the route and disruption qualify, use the table above to estimate the likely amount.
What a good EU261 calculator should ask you
A shallow calculator only asks for airports and a delay length. A useful one asks a bit more:
- departure airport
- destination airport
- whether there was a connection
- whether it was one booking
- whether the issue was a delay, cancellation, or denied boarding
- what reason the airline gave
- whether you accepted rerouting
Those extra facts matter because two passengers on the same route can end up with different results depending on arrival time and disruption cause.
Common mistakes when estimating EU261 value
The most common mistake is using departure delay instead of final arrival delay. Another is measuring only the disrupted segment instead of the protected booking's final destination. Passengers also underestimate the importance of the airline's stated reason. The calculator value is only as good as the facts put into it.
You should also treat refund and compensation as separate issues. A cancelled flight can generate both. Likewise, expense reimbursement for meals, hotel, or ground transport is separate again.
If you want a practical next step rather than a rough guess, use our checker to screen the route and facts before generating the demand letter.
What to keep next to the calculator
Your estimate will be far better if you have the booking confirmation, boarding pass, airline messages, and actual arrival time in front of you. A calculator gives you the likely band. Good documents let you turn that estimate into a credible claim.
FAQ
How much can I claim under EU261?
Usually €250, €400, or €600, depending on flight distance and eligibility.
Is the amount based on ticket price?
No. It is fixed by regulation and distance band.
Do I count departure delay or arrival delay?
For most delay claims, final arrival delay is the key measure.
What if I had a connection?
Use the final destination on the same protected booking, not just the first disrupted leg.
Can a cancelled flight still qualify if I was rebooked?
Yes. Rebooking does not automatically remove compensation rights.
What if the airline says the cause was extraordinary?
That may defeat compensation, but the explanation should be specific. Generic wording is not the end of the analysis.
Check your eligibility
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