Use this to find the exact amount for your flight before sending a delay, cancellation, or denied-boarding letter.
Verify before relying on it. These figures are current as of 2026 and checked against the regulation, the European Commission, and the UK CAA — but rules and amounts change. Confirm with the relevant national enforcement body or the UK CAA for your exact itinerary. This is general information, not legal advice.
EU261 — compensation by distance (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 7)
| Flight distance (great-circle, to final destination) | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or any other flight 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Non-EU flight over 3,500 km | €600 |
- Intra-EU flights are capped at €400 no matter how long — the €600 band is only for flights between an EU and a non-EU airport over 3,500 km.
- 50% reduction (Article 7(2)): the airline may halve the amount (to €125 / €200 / €300) if it re-routes you to arrive within 2 / 3 / 4 hours of your original arrival, by band.
UK261 — compensation by distance (UK CAA)
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 (or £260 if you arrive 3–4 hours late on a long-haul flight) |
What triggers compensation
- Delay: you reach your final destination 3+ hours late.
- Cancellation: the airline gave less than 14 days’ notice (and didn’t re-route you on a near-identical schedule).
- Denied boarding: you were involuntarily bumped (no minimum delay needed).
In all cases the airline can avoid compensation only by proving extraordinary circumstances.
Which flights are covered
| Your flight | EU261? | UK261? |
|---|---|---|
| Departs an EU airport (any airline) | ✅ | — |
| Arrives in the EU on an EU airline | ✅ | — |
| Departs a UK airport (any airline) | — | ✅ |
| Arrives in the UK on a UK or EU airline | — | ✅ |
| UK → EU on a UK airline | — | ✅ |
| Arrives in EU/UK on a non-EU/non-UK airline from outside | ❌ | ❌ |
EU261 also applies in Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Always owed, regardless of extraordinary circumstances
- Right to care — meals, refreshments, hotel and transport for an overnight stay (claim it with the expenses letter).
- Refund or re-routing — your choice on a cancellation or 5+ hour delay (refund letter).
Time limit to claim
There is no single EU-wide deadline — it’s set by each country’s national law (the CJEU confirmed this in Cuadrench Moré, C-139/11). The UK is 6 years in England & Wales and 5 years in Scotland. Other countries range from about 1 to 5 years.
Don’t sit on it, but don’t panic about a short window either. Limits are generally measured in years, not days — unlike baggage claims, which have strict 7- and 21-day deadlines (see the Montreal Convention guide). Still, file while you have the boarding passes and evidence.
US flights follow an entirely different system — see US passenger rights.