Free Calculator for Flight Delay Compensation: How Much Compensation Can You Claim for a Delayed Flight?
This post tells you exactly how our Compensation Calculator for flight delay works and why you should use it when your plane is late.
So you've had a delayed flight, huh? We've all been there.
You were stuck at the airport, wondering whether the plane would ever take-off, or you’d end up with a flight cancellation on your hands.
Hopefully, you made it home, despite the flight disruption, and now you’re wondering: shouldn’t I get compensation for this terrible travel experience?
Well, yes, you just might be entitled to flight delay compensation. And knowing if you can get that cash back may take just 2 minutes with our flight delay compensation calculator.
Intrigued? Stick around, because in the world of air travel, knowledge is not just power, it's also potentially money in the bank.
How to Use Our Free Flight Compensation Calculator for Delays and Cancellations
Compensation claims for delayed flights can be as complex as the in-flight meal options on a budget airline. Our EU flight compensation calculator simplifies the process like a charm. Fill out your flight details, and voilà, you'll know whether you’re entitled to delayed flight compensation, and how much.
- Fill out your flight information
- Know whether you’re entitled to compensation in 2 minutes and how the airline owes you
- (optional) Submit a compensation claim for your flight delay
Benefits of Using a Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Consider this calculator the "eligibility checker" of the flight world. One instant check and you'll know whether you're eligible for a compensation claim or not. No essays, no pleading emails, just straightforward answers.
Here are some of the features of our compensation calculator:
- Free instant check for overbooked, delayed, or canceled flights
- Easy-to-use, for a great user experience
- Personalized for the airline(s) you flew with and your flight route
- Know the compensation amount you’re entitled to
- No win no fee claims (= no financial risk for you)
- No need to contact the airline yourself
Why ClaimCompass?
First off, we’re experts in air passenger rights and a leader in getting flight compensation claims, whether their flight was delayed, canceled, or overbooked.
Specifically, we dig deep into the gritty details of European air travel—be it a canceled flight, overbooking, or denied boarding. We know EU Regulation 261 like it’s a hit song, and we work on a no win no fee basis. So basically, we get paid only when you get paid.
If you care about that sort of thing, we’ve been featured in big name publications like Forbes, the Washington Post, or Bloomberg Business.
- No fees unless YOU get compensated: if we don't succeed in our fight for your compensation you won't have to pay for our services.
- We take 100% of the risk: if the airline refuses to comply, we'll take them to court.
- Get up to 600€ per passenger in compensation: passengers who choose ClaimCompass receive an average of 400€ in compensation. We make it happen!
- Information about your rights: we give you all the necessary information on passenger rights for free on our website, including how to write a flight delay compensation letter, if you want to claim on your own.
Which Documents And Information Do I Need To Use A Compensation Calculator?
We make it as simple as can be. All you need are your flight details—like your flight number and other flight information. Because some airlines require that we send a copy of your booking reservation, ideally, we’ll need a copy of your flight ticket to submit a claim for you. It should include the flight date, the itinerary, as well as the booking number.
How Much Can I Get in Compensation When My Flight Is Delayed?
Depending on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay, you could be looking at 250€, 400€, or even a whopping 600€.
Whether it's an intra-community flight within Europe or a flight that's departing from an EU airport or with an EU airline, the length of the delay and the distance of your flight are key. And remember, we're talking cold, hard cash here, not vouchers that tie you to the same airline that just ruined your weekend.
Here’s a handy summary of how much flight delay compensation you can get:
- All flights under 1,500 km: up to 250€ per passenger (£220)
- Internal EU flights over 1,500 km: up to 400€ per passenger (£350)
- Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km: up to 400€ per passenger (£350)
- Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km: up to 600€ per passenger (£520)
Note that these are the compensation amounts prescribed by the EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261): conversions in other currencies than euros (€) may differ slightly depending on the exchange rate.
Why You Need to Use a Compensation Calculator When Your Flight is Delayed
1) To know if your flight is under EC261's jurisdiction
US regulations do not protect you when your flight is delayed. But in Europe, the EU Regulation 261/2004 (known as EC261) defends your passengers rights.
The flights for which EC261 is applicable are:
- flights between EU member states (
- flights departing from the EU, no matter which airlines operates them
- flights departing from outside the EU and arriving in the EU, operated by an airline which is headquartered in the EU
This can quickly get complicated, especially with the latter case. Not to mention that there are a few territory exceptions.
A Flight Delay Compensation Calculator automatically takes all these rules and exceptions into account to determine whether or not your flight falls under the jurisdiction of EC261.
2) To calculate the exact compensation amount you're owed
The general rule, as described above, states that you're entitled to a compensation between 250€ and 600€, depending on the distance of your flight.
But there are, here again, a few exceptions, which allow the airline to reduce this amount by 50%, based on the length of the delay.
A Compensation Calculator for Flight Delays takes this into account as well, to determine exactly how much you can hope for.
3) Airlines aren't always honest with you
Passengers have been lied to by airlines when seeking compensation directly with them. Usually, this happens when the airline tries to exonerate itself by justifying the delay with a reason that isn't regarded as an "extraordinary circumstance" by the EU law.
With an ever increasing amount of delayed flights, you need to be armed properly if this happens to you: unfortunately, some airlines make a habit of arriving late.
Your best chance at getting what your owed is undoubtedly to use ClaimCompass to submit your flight compensation claim:
What to Do When My Flight Is Delayed?
- Keep your travel documents (boarding pass, flight ticket) and other travel documents.
- Ask why the flight was delayed or canceled.
- After a 2-hour delay, you may request food, drinks, and if necessary, wi-fi access as well as a phone call (that’s your “right to care”).
- After a 5-hour delay, if you missed a connecting flight, you may demand a partial or full refund as well as a return flight to your point of departure.
- After a 6-hour delay, you’re entitled to free transport and hotel accommodation.
- If the delay turns into a canceled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.
- Keep the receipts of your extra expenses, including food, clothing, toiletry, etc.
- DO NOT sign any waivers or accept vouchers as flight compensation if they require you to waive your right to compensation.
Conclusion
The moral of the story? Use ClaimCompass and our flight delay compensation calculator.
We're not just another pretty interface; we actually know our stuff, and we make the process easier than packing a carry-on (seriously, how does anyone decide what goes in there?).
You don’t have to submit a claim if you don’t want to: you can simply use the flight delay compensation calculator to check whether you’re entitled to compensation as well as the compensation amount, then decide whether to claim compensation yourself or with us.
In any case, I hope the perspective of getting money sweetens this bitter experience!
FAQs on Flight Delays and Compensation Calculators
Do airlines compensate for flight delays?
Yes, they do. To be eligible, however, the airline must be responsible for the delay.
If the flight was disrupted because of extraordinary circumstances, such as air traffic control restrictions, adverse weather conditions, or security risks at the airport, then the airline is not obligated to compensate passengers.
How long does a flight have to be delayed for compensation?
You need to arrive at your final destination at least 3 hours late to claim a compensation for your delayed flight.
Note that it's the delay at arrival that matters (not the delay at departure): for example, if your flight departed 3h15 late, but caught up on the delay during the flight and arrived "only" 2h58 late, then you are not eligible to a compensation.
If your journey includes a connection and the first flight is delayed but you still arrive at your final destination less than 3 hours late, you are not entitled to a compensation either.
How Do I File a Complaint Against an Airline?
This is where a Flight Delay Compensation Calculator will come in handy. It lets you fill out your flight details and a couple of additional info in a few simple steps. In less than 3 minutes, you'll know 1) if you're entitled to compensation and 2) how much you're entitled to.
If you want to do it yourself, you'll need to write a letter (or email) to the airline explaining why you're entitled to compensation. Make sure to include a copy of your travel documents, because the airline will ask for them. It's possible, lay, likely, that the airline will deny compensation. If that's the case, be sure to quote the relevant paragraphs of EC 261 to justify why you are within your right to claim compensation.
How does a Compensation Calculator for flight delays work?
All you need to do is input the details of your delayed flight.
This includes:
- your airport of departure and arrival (as well as any other stop if you had connecting flights)
- the nature of the disruption (in your case, flight delay) along with the reason for the flight delay
- the length of the delay at your final destination (whether it's less or more than 3 hours)
- the airline which operated the flight(s), with the flight(s) number(s) and date(s)
Based on this, the Calculator will tell you whether you're eligible to a compensation for flight delay or not.
If you are, it will automatically tell you how much the airline owes you, according to EC261.
Does the compensation amount depend on the price of my flight ticket?
No. The amount of compensation is not tied to how much you paid for your seat, but the distance of your flight and the length of the delay.
How much does your flight have to be delayed to get compensation?
If you reached your arrival airport more than 3 hours past the scheduled arrival time, you might be eligible.
How to calculate flight delay?
Ah, the art of calculation. That’s why a compensation calculator is so handy: it does all the work for you.
You need to consider:
- The length of the delay: what was the arrival time at your final destination versus the scheduled arrival time?
- The total distance of your flight: what was the distance of the flight between the departure airport and the arrival airport?
But things get more complicated depending on whether you flew within the EU (e.g. Paris, France to Vienna, Austria), from the EU to outside the EU (e.g. Madrid, Spain to New York, United States), or from outside the EU (Doha, Qatar to Frankfurt, Germany).
And wait, there’s more: in some cases, the “nationality” of the airline also matters. In particular, whether it is an EU airline like KLM or Air France, or a non-EU airline like Emirates or American Airlines.
More complicated yet are cases of missed connections: it’s not the delay of the first flight that matters, but the delay at your final destination. Only, there are specificities, depending on the exact journey and whether you booked a single or separate tickets.
When am I not entitled to flight compensation?
In short, if the cause of the flight delay is beyond the airline's control, you’re not entitled to compensation. When it’s the airline’s fault, you are entitled to compensation
In cases of extraordinary circumstances like bad weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, security risks, or technical issues that aren’t the airline’s fault, EC261 rules that the airline doesn’t have to pay.
What happens if my flight is delayed 5 hours?
Well, if you're stuck for 5 hours or more, you could be looking at a full or partial refund on your original ticket and a return flight to your point of departure. Plus, you will still qualify for compensation.
What is the best app for flight delay compensation?
Not to toot our own horn, but...toot toot! ClaimCompass is where it's at. Our flight delay compensation calculator is free-to-use, gives you the answer you need in minutes, and, if you so wish, lets you submit a compensation claim.