Disclosure: This page contains a sponsored link to a flight compensation claims service. We may earn a commission if you use it, at no extra cost to you. You never need a claims service: you can claim from the airline yourself for free.
Last reviewed: by the Smart Savings Guides editorial team. How we research and update articles.
Not legal advice. This checker gives a general guide to the main US, EU and UK rules based on what you enter. It can't see your booking, the airline's reason for the delay or every exception. The airline, the national regulator or a court decides your actual entitlement. The checker runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent or stored.
Want help with an EU or UK claim?
Sponsored link: we may earn a commission if you use it, at no extra cost to you.
Most airlines have a free online claim form, and many pay valid claims without a fight. If yours refuses or ignores you, a claims service can do the paperwork. Compensair says its flight check is free; if it wins, it keeps a 30% fee, plus up to 10% more if legal action is needed, so you'd receive 60% to 70% of the payout.
How the checker decides
US flights: refunds, not compensation
The US Department of Transportation's refund rule, 14 CFR Part 260, covers US and foreign airlines on flights to, from and within the US. If the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant change, including a departure or arrival change of 3 hours or more on domestic flights or 6 hours or more on international flights, and you don't accept the alternative, you're owed a refund in your original form of payment. The cause doesn't matter. US law doesn't require cash compensation for delays. See the DOT's refunds page and our guide to US flight delay refund rights.
EU261 and UK261: fixed compensation
Under EU Regulation 261/2004 and the UK's retained version, you can usually claim fixed compensation if you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late, or your flight is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, unless the airline shows extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather or air traffic control restrictions.
| Distance | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km (and EU flights over 1,500 km) | €400 | £350 |
| More than 3,500 km | €600 (€300 if 3 to 4 hours late) | £520 (£260 if 3 to 4 hours late) |
You also have a right to care (meals, refreshments and a hotel if needed) from a 2-, 3- or 4-hour delay depending on distance, and to a refund if the delay reaches 5 hours and you choose not to fly. Official guidance: Your Europe: air passenger rights, the UK Civil Aviation Authority on delays, cancellations and extraordinary circumstances. More detail in our flight delay compensation guide.
Coming change: the EU has amended EU261 with Regulation (EU) 2026/2202, published in October 2026. Most of its changes apply from 23 October 2027. The 3-hour threshold and the €250/€400/€600 amounts stay the same; it adds things such as automatic refunds and a nine-month deadline for compensation claims. This checker uses the rules in force today.
Other countries: Canada has its own Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which this checker doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is the checker's answer final?
No. It's a general guide based on the main rules. The airline decides first, and if you disagree you can escalate to the national enforcement body, an approved dispute resolution scheme or a court.
Do I get compensation for a delayed US domestic flight?
Not under federal law. You're owed a refund if the delay is 3 hours or more and you choose not to travel, and some airlines offer meal or hotel vouchers under their own customer service plans.
Does EU261 cover a flight from the US to Europe?
Only if it's operated by an EU airline. A flight leaving the EU is covered on any airline.
Is the delay measured at departure or arrival?
For EU and UK compensation, it's your arrival time at the final destination. The US refund rule looks at a change to either the departure or the arrival time.
Do I need a claims company?
No. You can claim from the airline directly for free. A claims service can help if the airline refuses a valid claim, but it keeps a share of the payout.
We may earn a commission if you use the sponsored link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Claims service fees come from the provider's published terms and can change. Prefer to compare Compensair (sponsored) with claiming yourself? Read the airline's claim page first.
Sources
Official sources this article relies on, checked October 15, 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm details at the source.
Planning another trip? Read the main travel connectivity guide, or see whether self-transfer flights are worth the risk.