Etoolio

Flight Delay Compensation Checker

Free flight compensation checker. Answer a few questions to see if a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight owes you up to 600 euros under EU261 or UK261, and get a ready-to-send demand letter. Keep 100%.

1Where did the flight depart from?
2Where did it arrive?
3Which airline operated the flight?
4How far was the flight?

Roughly, the straight-line distance.

5What went wrong?

Answer the questions to see if you have a claim.

Claim what your delayed flight owes you, and keep all of it

When a flight is badly delayed or cancelled, you are often owed a fixed cash payout, up to 600 euros per passenger, on top of any refund. Airlines rarely volunteer it, and claims companies take a quarter to a half of it for filing a form you could file yourself. This free tool checks whether you have a claim under EU261 or UK261, works out the amount, and writes the demand letter for you, so you keep 100 percent.

What you could be owed

  • EU261: 250 euros (up to 1,500 km), 400 euros (1,500 to 3,500 km), 600 euros (over 3,500 km).
  • UK261: 220, 350 and 520 pounds for the same distance bands.
  • Long-haul delays of 3 to under 4 hours are paid at half.

When you qualify

You may be owed compensation when your flight arrived 3 or more hours late, was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding through overbooking, and the cause was within the airline's control, such as a technical fault, a crew problem or overbooking. You are not owed it when the cause was an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control: severe weather, air-traffic-control restrictions, security alerts, or strikes by people other than the airline's own staff. Even then, the airline still owes you care such as meals and, if needed, a hotel.

Which flights are covered

EU261 covers any flight leaving an EU or EEA airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU or EEA on an EU or EEA airline. UK261 covers any flight leaving the UK on any airline, and flights arriving in the UK on a UK airline. If your flight does not fit, another country's rules might still apply, so it can be worth asking.

How to claim, for free

  • Use the checker to confirm your entitlement and amount.
  • Copy the demand letter, fill in your flight number, date and booking reference, and send it to the airline's customer relations.
  • Keep your boarding passes and booking confirmation, and give the airline 14 days to respond.
  • If they refuse unfairly, escalate to the national aviation authority or an alternative dispute resolution scheme.

Part of ClaimBack

This is general information to estimate a claim, not legal advice, and airlines often dispute the cause, so ask them in writing why the flight was disrupted. It is the first of the ClaimBack tools, a growing set that helps you claim what companies owe you but hope you never ask for: flight compensation, recalls, warranties and refunds, each with the exact letter to send.

Good to know

Flight Delay Compensation Checker, frequently asked questions

How much compensation am I owed for a delayed flight?

Under EU261 the fixed amounts are 250 euros for flights up to 1,500 km, 400 euros for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and 600 euros for longer flights, when you arrive 3 or more hours late for a reason within the airline's control. UK261 mirrors this at 220, 350 and 520 pounds. For long-haul flights (over 3,500 km), a delay of 3 to under 4 hours is paid at half. This tool asks a few questions and tells you which applies to you, per passenger.

When am I entitled to flight compensation?

You may be owed compensation if your flight arrived 3 or more hours late, was cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding due to overbooking, and the cause was within the airline's control (such as a technical fault, crew issue or overbooking). You are not owed compensation when the cause was an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline's control, like severe weather, air-traffic-control restrictions, security risks, or strikes by people other than the airline's own staff.

Which flights are covered by EU261 and UK261?

EU261 covers any flight departing from an EU or EEA airport, on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU or EEA if operated by an EU or EEA airline. UK261 covers any flight departing the UK, on any airline, and flights arriving in the UK on a UK airline. If your flight does not fit these, it may fall under another country's rules, so it can still be worth asking the airline.

Do I need a claims company like AirHelp?

No. Claims companies typically take 25 to 50 percent of your compensation for filing a claim you can make yourself for free. This tool gives you a ready-to-send demand letter citing the correct regulation and amount, so you keep 100 percent of what you are owed. Only if the airline refuses unfairly and you want to escalate might you consider further help.

How long do I have to claim?

It depends on where you claim. In the UK you generally have 6 years in England and Wales, and 5 years in Scotland. Across the EU it varies by country, roughly 2 to 6 years, for example about 3 years in Germany, 5 in France and up to 6 in Ireland. Either way, claim as soon as you can while you still have your boarding passes and booking details.

Is this an official ruling on my claim?

No. It is general information to help you estimate whether you have a claim and to draft a letter, not legal advice, and airlines often dispute the cause of a delay. Ask the airline in writing why the flight was disrupted, keep your evidence, and if they refuse unfairly you can escalate to the national aviation authority or a dispute-resolution scheme.

Is it free?

Yes, free with no signup. It runs entirely in your browser.

Keep going

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