Flight Delay Compensation Calculator

EU Regulation 261/2004 applies to all flights departing from an EU airport (any airline), and all flights arriving at an EU airport operated by an EU-based airline. If you flew from London to Amsterdam on KLM, you're covered. If you flew from London to Amsterdam on a non-EU airline like Emirates, EU261 does not apply — though the UK has its own equivalent legislation (UK261) which gives identical rights.

The delay is calculated based on when you actually arrive at your final destination — specifically when the aircraft doors open — compared to your scheduled arrival time. Not when you land, not when you depart. If your flight departed late but made up time in the air and arrived within 3 hours of schedule, no compensation is owed.

Yes, if the delay or cancellation was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" that the airline could not have avoided — severe weather, ATC strikes, airport closures, or security alerts. However, airlines frequently claim extraordinary circumstances when the real cause was a technical problem (which is their responsibility). A formal legal letter forces them to provide written evidence of the extraordinary circumstances.

If the airline does not respond within 14 days or rejects your claim, you can escalate to the national aviation authority in the country of departure. They can investigate and order the airline to pay. In the Netherlands this is the ILT, in the UK it's the CAA, in Germany it's the LBA. You can also use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or, for claims under €5,000, the European Small Claims Procedure.

Yes. The time limit varies by country — 3 years in the Netherlands, 6 years in the UK, 3 years in Germany. Don't wait too long. If your flight was over a year ago, claim now.

No. EU261 claims are designed to be handled directly by consumers. A formal complaint letter citing the regulation is usually sufficient. If the airline continues to refuse after escalation to the regulator, you can use the small claims court without a lawyer for amounts under €5,000.

Yes. If you were travelling with family or colleagues on the same booking, each person is entitled to the same individual compensation. You can include all passengers in a single complaint letter.