Compensation checker
What is your delayed flight worth?
Three questions. Most travellers never claim, because the rules are unglamorous and nobody hands you a leaflet. The money is real.
The rules follow the airport you left from, or the airline when you were flying into the EU or UK.
What happened?
Covering 51 countries, each linked to its own regulator.
Questions people actually ask
How much compensation can I get for a delayed flight?
Under EU rules it is 250, 400 or 600 euros depending on the distance flown, and the UK equivalents are 220, 350 and 520 pounds. It is based on distance rather than what you paid, so a cheap fare on a long route can be worth more in compensation than the ticket cost. The United States has no mandated payout for delays.
Can I claim if the delay was caused by weather?
Usually not. Weather and air-traffic control strikes count as outside the airline's control, which removes the compensation. A technical fault or a strike by the airline's own staff usually does not, so it is still worth claiming and making them justify the refusal.
Is a refund the same as compensation?
No, and airlines rarely volunteer the difference. A refund returns your fare. Compensation is a separate payment for the disruption itself, and on a cancelled flight you can be entitled to both.
Do I need a claim company?
No. They keep 25 to 50 percent of what you win. Airlines have to respond to a direct claim and the first email costs you nothing, so it is worth trying yourself before handing over half.