Flight delay compensation calculator

What you're actually owed when a flight is delayed

US and EU rules differ dramatically, and within each, compensation depends on delay length, reason, and whether it's the airline's fault. Most travelers accept a $12 meal voucher and move on. Under EU 261 or US DOT rules, you may be owed 50–100x that.

EU 261 (applies to flights departing EU, or on EU airlines arriving to EU)

• 3+ hour delay or cancellation: €250 short-haul (under 1,500 km), €400 medium-haul (1,500–3,500 km), €600 long-haul (over 3,500 km).
• Paid regardless of ticket class. Paid even if you bought a $99 fare.
• Exceptions: “extraordinary circumstances” (weather, air traffic control, security) — no compensation, but still entitled to meals and hotel.
• Right to care: 2+ hour delay triggers meals, communication, and hotel if overnight.

US DOT rules (as of 2026)

Still much weaker than EU. Recent rules (2024) require refunds for cancellations or “significant changes” (3+ hour domestic, 6+ hour international delay). No guaranteed cash compensation like EU 261. Individual airlines publish their own customer commitments — Delta, JetBlue, United now offer meal vouchers and hotel for overnight delays within airline control.

Denied boarding (overbooking)

US: 200% of one-way fare up to $775 for 1–2 hour domestic delay after bumping; 400% up to $1,550 for longer. EU: same as flight delays (€250–€600). Don't accept a $400 voucher when $1,550 is the legal minimum.

How to actually collect

Email the airline with the EU 261 or DOT reference, flight number, and scanned boarding pass. Most airlines stall; file via AirHelp, ClaimCompass, or Flightright (they take 25–35% fee but handle the fight). Small claims court in the airline's home country is another route. Credit card trip delay coverage (Chase Sapphire Preferred) reimburses up to $500 per delayed traveler for a 6+ hour delay.

Worked examples: real delay compensation payouts

Example 1 — Lufthansa LH441 FRA-IAD canceled day-of, rebooked for next day. 24-hour delay. EU 261 long-haul (over 3,500km): €600 per passenger. Family of 4 = €2,400. Plus hotel, meals, ground transport covered. File via AirHelp if airline stalls — they'll take 25% ($150 per passenger), leaving $450 each.

Example 2 — British Airways LHR-JFK delayed 5 hours for mechanical (airline-controlled). EU 261 applies since departing EU. €600 per passenger × 2 = €1,200. Add Chase Sapphire Preferred trip delay coverage (6+ hour delays): up to $500/traveler for meals, hotel, essentials. You can stack both because CSP covers out-of-pocket, EU 261 is statutory.

Example 3 — United UA100 EWR-LHR delayed 8 hours due to crew timing out. US DOT requires refund if passenger opts out. If they fly, there's no guaranteed US compensation. But on a US-EU flight, EU 261 does NOT apply (airline is US, originating outside EU). Chase Sapphire Preferred: $500 reimbursement if 6+ hour delay.

Example 4 — Delta DL123 ATL-DEN overbooked, involuntarily bumped. 3-hour delay reaching DEN. Compensation: 200% of one-way fare, capped $775. Fare was $380 one-way, so you're owed $760 in cash. Airline will offer a $400 voucher first — decline and demand cash.

Example 5 — Weather cancellation, no rebooking for 2 days. EU 261 exception: no compensation. But right to care applies: hotel, meals covered. Travel insurance (Allianz OneTrip Prime, $180 for 10-day trip) kicks in for trip delay up to $800.

Airline-specific customer commitments (2026, US)

• Delta: hotel, meal voucher, rebooking on partner airlines for controllable 3+ hour delays. $200-$500 eCredits for 3-6 hour delays (varies).
• United: similar hotel/meal guarantees. Miles compensation 5K-25K per incident for goodwill.
• American: weaker than Delta/United. Hotel and meal vouchers yes; cash compensation rare without persistence.
• JetBlue: Customer Bill of Rights — $50 credit for 3-4 hour delay, $150 for 4-5 hours, $300 for 5-6 hours (controllable).
• Southwest: no change fees ever. No cash compensation system for delays. Reward points for major disruptions case-by-case.
• Alaska: 5,000 miles for 3+ hour controllable delay if you email about it.

Credit card trip delay coverage

• Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 AF): 12+ hour delay or overnight, $500/person reimbursement for meals/hotel/essentials.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 AF): 6+ hour delay, $500/person.
• Amex Platinum ($695 AF): 6+ hour delay, $500/trip total.
• Capital One Venture X ($395 AF): 6+ hour delay, $500/person (trip must be paid with card).
• United Club Infinite ($695): 12+ hour delay, $500/person.

FAQ on flight delay compensation

• Does EU 261 apply to code-share flights? Yes, if the operating carrier is EU-based or the flight departs EU. Marketing carrier doesn't matter.
• What counts as "extraordinary circumstances"? Weather, air traffic control, strikes by third parties, security alerts. Not: mechanical issues (unless hidden manufacturer defects), crew timing out, bird strikes (contested, some courts sided with passenger).
• Can I get compensation AND a refund? Yes, EU 261 compensation is separate from your refund/rebooking right.
• How long do I have to file? EU 261: 2-6 years depending on country (6 in UK, 3 in Germany, 2 in Netherlands). US DOT: no specific deadline, but file within 120 days.
• Does credit card trip delay stack with EU 261? Generally yes. EU 261 is statutory; CC coverage is insurance. Some CC policies exclude overlap — read fine print.
• What if my connecting flight is missed due to first flight's delay? Single reservation = airline rebooks and delay compensation applies to final destination. Separate tickets = you're on your own.
• Are baggage delays compensated separately? Yes, separate from flight delay. Typically $50-$100/day of delay, $500-$1,500 for lost.
• What about weather during non-severe events? If the airline claims weather but your flight is the only one canceled while others operate, challenge the classification. Screenshot other departures.
• Can I file under both US DOT and EU 261? No, pick the stronger one. EU 261 is always stronger if it applies.
• Do low-cost carriers follow EU 261? Legally required, but Ryanair, Wizz, and EasyJet notoriously stall. AirHelp exists for a reason.

Troubleshooting: airlines stalling your claim

Step 1: polite email with all documentation (flight number, dates, boarding pass scan, delay screenshots, EU 261 reference). Airlines have 30 days to respond. Step 2: if denied or ignored after 30 days, file with the national enforcement body — CAA in UK, DGAC in France, LBA in Germany. Step 3: small claims court — about $50-$100 filing fee, airlines rarely fight and settle. Step 4: AirHelp/ClaimCompass if you can't be bothered — 25-35% cut, but they'll pursue through courts. Your €600 becomes €400; better than the €0 most passengers get by accepting vouchers.

Worked compensation claims on 3 real scenarios

EU 261 scenario — Lufthansa FRA–JFK delayed 5 hours, mechanical: passenger entitled to €600 compensation per passenger (over 3,500 km + >4 hour delay). Family of 4 = €2,400 = $2,600. Mechanical qualifies (airline responsibility). File within 6 years. Use AirHelp or direct to Lufthansa customer care. US DOT scenario — United SFO–JFK delayed 6 hours due to crew shortage: No federal compensation requirement. United Contract of Carriage (Rule 25) offers meal voucher ($15) after 4 hours, hotel if overnight. Chase Sapphire Reserve trip delay protection: $500/ticket after 6 hours, covers meals + hotel + toiletries. File with Chase insurance (eClaimsLine). Canada scenario — Air Canada YVR–HKG delayed 12 hours weather: Weather = “outside airline control” = no Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) compensation. Airline must provide accommodation + meals + rebooking. Chase Sapphire Reserve delay protection covers. EU 261 denied boarding: Air France CDG–JFK overbooked, bumped. €600 compensation + rebooked on next available + meal vouchers + hotel if overnight.

EU 261/2004 payout matrix

Delays of 3+ hours arrival: €250 for flights under 1,500 km (Lisbon–Paris, Rome–Madrid), €400 for 1,500–3,500 km (Lisbon–Athens, Warsaw–Madrid), €600 for over 3,500 km non-EU (Madrid–JFK, Frankfurt–LAX). Cancellations same amounts, reduced 50% if rebooked within 2 hours of original. Denied boarding (overbooking): same amounts plus rebooking. Missed connection that causes 3+ hour delay at final destination: full compensation. Applies to: flights departing EU regardless of airline, or flights arriving EU on EU-based airline (Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Iberia, Ryanair, easyJet). Doesn't apply: “extraordinary circumstances” — weather, strikes by non-airline staff (ATC, airport), political unrest. Mechanical failures NOT extraordinary per 2018 ECJ ruling.

Credit card trip delay protection comparison

Chase Sapphire Reserve: trip delay 6+ hours or overnight = $500/ticket covers meals, lodging, toiletries. Chase Sapphire Preferred: same $500 at 12+ hours. Amex Platinum: $200 trip delay after 12 hours. Capital One Venture X: $300 trip delay after 6 hours. Citi Premier: removed trip delay 2019. Must pay for flight with the card to qualify. Document: boarding pass showing delay, receipts for meals/hotel/etc. File within 20–60 days of event. Travel Insurance supplemental (Allianz, Travel Guard): pays on top of card benefit, additional $1,000–$2,500 for longer delays. Stack: card primary, buy travel insurance for $50–$150/trip to cover gaps.

Schengen-specific delay scenarios

Intra-Schengen flight delays often fall through cracks: no customs (not a “customs-eligible” protection), short distances keep compensation low (€250 for <1,500km), and airlines (Ryanair, Wizz) famously obstruct claims. Best practice: budget extra day between long train connection and short flight hop. Example: flying Lisbon–Budapest on Ryanair, missed Frecciarossa Rome–Venice 3 days later = not covered by Ryanair (their liability ends at landing). Chase Sapphire Reserve covers this via trip delay up to $500/ticket if delay cascades into other trip costs. UK-specific: CAA takes EU 261 complaints for flights ex-UK until the end of 2024; post-Brexit UK-only flights governed by UK 261 (effectively identical amounts but separate filing).

FAQ on flight delay compensation (expanded)

How long until I get paid? EU 261 airline direct: 1–6 months typically. AirHelp: 1–3 months, they take 25%. Chase Sapphire Reserve: 7–21 days after claim. Amex Platinum: 30–60 days. US equivalents to EU 261? No federal equivalent. DOT rule 14 CFR 250 on denied boarding only: $775 for 2-hour delay, $1,550 for 2+ hours, max $1,550 or fare whichever less. Tarmac delay rule: 3+ hour tarmac = airline must deplane. AirHelp / Flightright / ClaimCompass? Take 25–35% contingency. Useful for contested claims where airlines deny; 70%+ success rate. Direct to airline first; escalate to these services only if denied. Weather exclusion loopholes? If weather caused earlier flight delay that cascaded to yours, that's compensable. Document exact cause. Mechanical always compensable post-2018 ECJ. Credit card + EU 261 stacking? Yes, collect both. Card covers immediate expenses; EU 261 is punitive cash payout. Connecting flights? If connecting is delayed and misses onward flight, full compensation applies if both booked on single ticket. Separate tickets = no connection protection. Food/hotel obligations? EU 261 airlines must provide meals (2+ hour delay), 2 phone calls (3+ hour), hotel accommodation (overnight delay). US airlines Contract of Carriage vary. Pet travel delays? Compensation per passenger; pet owner as passenger qualifies. Documentation critical. Upgrade to business on delay? Not obligatory. Gate agent discretionary. Frequent flyer status helps. UK flights post-Brexit? UK 261 mirrors EU 261 for flights departing UK. Separate file to UK CAA. Is Ryanair obligated like Lufthansa? Yes, EU-based carriers equally liable under EU 261 regardless of budget vs premium. Ryanair historically obstructs; persistence and AirHelp recover at ~80% rate.

Troubleshooting: the airline is dodging your EU 261 claim

Common. Ryanair, Wizz, and British Airways frequently deny initial claims claiming “extraordinary circumstances” on what are actually mechanical failures. Fix sequence. 1) Request the “delay code” from airline — codes 14, 19, 41 are extraordinary; codes 11, 22, 31 are compensable. 2) Submit to national enforcement body: DGAC (France), BADAC (Germany), UK CAA, AESA (Spain). Takes 2–6 months; success rate 70%. 3) Chargeback via credit card under Section 75 (UK) or MasterCard/Visa chargeback rules — sometimes triggers airline to settle to avoid chargeback. 4) Small claims court — easy in UK (£70 filing fee), recoverable. 5) Handoff to AirHelp or Flightright — 25% commission, they handle everything. Pro tip: photograph the delay information board + boarding pass timestamp + any crew explanation. Email airline customer relations within 48 hours while memory is fresh. Keep receipts for meals/hotel/taxi separately for credit card delay claim (parallel process, different payout).

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