EU261 Compensation Amounts Explained: €250, €400 or €600?
The amount you can claim under EU261 depends entirely on one thing: flight distance. Short flights pay €250, medium pay €400, long-haul pays €600. This guide explains how the tiers work, when the amount can be halved, and how to calculate exactly what you're owed.
Quick answer
€250 — flights up to 1,500 km (short-haul) | €400 — 1,500–3,500 km (medium-haul) | €600 — over 3,500 km (long-haul, non-EU only). Amounts are per person. Distance = Great Circle from origin to final destination.
Check if your flight qualifies for compensation
Fill in the form below to find out if you can claim up to EUR 600 for a delayed or cancelled flight. No upfront cost - you pay only if you win.
The Three Compensation Tiers
Example routes: London–Paris, Amsterdam–Munich, Madrid–Rome, Berlin–Warsaw
Reduction rule: Not applicable — full amount always due
Example routes: London–Cairo, Paris–Dubai (intra-EU 1500+), Amsterdam–Istanbul, Lisbon–Nairobi
Reduction rule: Can be reduced to €200 if re-routed and arrived within 2h of schedule
Example routes: London–New York, Paris–Toronto, Amsterdam–Bangkok, Frankfurt–Los Angeles
Reduction rule: Can be reduced to €300 if re-routed and arrived within 4h of schedule
Route Examples and Amounts
Not sure which tier your route falls into? Use this table for common routes:
| Route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow → Paris CDG | 340 km | €250 |
| Amsterdam → Marrakech | 2,360 km | €400 |
| Frankfurt → Cairo | 2,930 km | €400 |
| Paris → New York JFK | 5,840 km | €600 |
| London → Dubai | 5,490 km | €600 |
| Madrid → Casablanca | 680 km | €250 |
| Rome → Istanbul | 1,370 km | €250 |
| Brussels → Tunis | 1,660 km | €400 |
When Is the Compensation Halved?
Under EU261 Article 7(2), airlines can pay 50% of the standard amount if they re-route you and you still arrive relatively close to your scheduled arrival:
- For flights up to 1,500 km: no reduction is ever permitted (the regulation doesn't apply this rule to €250 flights)
- For intra-EU flights over 1,500 km (€400 tier): reduced to €200 if re-routed and arrived within 2 hours of scheduled arrival
- For non-EU flights over 3,500 km (€600 tier): reduced to €300 if re-routed and arrived within 4 hours of scheduled arrival
This reduction only applies when the airline actively re-routes you. If the flight is simply cancelled and you are not offered re-routing, or re-routing results in arrival more than 2/4 hours late, the full amount is due.
UK261 Amounts
UK261 (the retained version of EU261 after Brexit) uses the same distance-based framework but amounts are expressed in pounds sterling:
- £220 — up to 1,500 km
- £350 — 1,500–3,500 km
- £520 — over 3,500 km (non-UK flights)
These amounts were fixed at conversion rates at the time of Brexit and are not adjusted for inflation or exchange rate changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the flight distance measured for EU261?
The distance is measured using the 'Great Circle' method — the shortest straight-line distance between the departure airport and the final destination airport. This is not the actual flight path, which may be longer. The Great Circle distance is used to determine the compensation tier. You can check this using tools like gcmap.com (Great Circle Mapper).
For a connecting flight, which distance counts?
For a connecting itinerary booked as a single ticket, the relevant distance is from your origin airport to your final destination — not the distance of each individual segment. So a flight from London to Cairo via Istanbul (booked as one ticket) uses the London–Cairo distance (~3,490 km) to determine the €400 tier.
When can the compensation be halved?
EU261 Article 7(2) allows airlines to reduce compensation by 50% if they re-route you and you still arrive close to your scheduled arrival time. Specifically: €400 can become €200 if you arrived within 2 hours of the scheduled arrival on an intra-EU flight over 1,500 km. €600 can become €300 if you arrived within 4 hours of schedule on a non-EU flight over 3,500 km. This only applies to re-routing — not if the flight was simply cancelled without re-routing.
Is the €250/€400/€600 per person or per booking?
Per person. Each passenger on a disrupted flight is entitled to the full flat-rate compensation individually. A family of four on the same delayed flight would be entitled to 4 × €250/€400/€600 in total.
Does EU261 compensation cover my actual financial losses?
No — the flat-rate compensation (€250/€400/€600) is a statutory payment and is separate from any actual financial losses you suffered. You can claim both: the flat-rate compensation AND reimbursement of additional expenses caused by the disruption (meals, hotels, transport) under Article 9. For larger consequential losses (missed business meetings, prepaid hotels), you may need to rely on your travel insurance rather than EU261.
Does UK261 pay the same amounts as EU261?
UK261 uses the same framework as EU261, but amounts are expressed in GBP (£) not EUR (€): £220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km), and £520 (over 3,500 km for non-UK flights). These amounts were set at conversion rates when the UK left the EU and are not automatically adjusted for exchange rate movements.
Check again - are you entitled to compensation?
Free verification • Up to EUR 600 • Pay only on success
Related articles
LOT Flight LO163 Compensation: Can You Claim Up to EUR 400?
Looking for compensation for LOT Flight LO163 from Warsaw to Marrakesh? Learn when EU261 applies to LO163, how delays, cancellations, and denied boarding differ, and when compensation may reach EUR 400.
Czytaj więcej →LOT Flight LO80 Cancelled: Compensation Guide for Tokyo to Warsaw
Was LOT Flight LO80 from Tokyo to Warsaw cancelled? Learn when EU261 can still pay up to EUR 600, how the 14-day rule works on LO80, what rerouting changes, and when LOT still owes reimbursement or care.
Czytaj więcej →LOT Flight LO18 Overbooking Compensation: Denied Boarding Guide
Bumped from LOT Flight LO18 from Newark to Rzeszow because of overbooking? Learn when EU261 can still pay EUR 600, what rights you have at the airport, and why voluntary and involuntary denied boarding are not the same.
Czytaj więcej →