Find out what the airline owes you.
Delay, cancellation, overbooking or lost baggage. See what you can claim in two minutes.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Official sources
- Based on official regulationsEU261, UK261, Brazil, the US and the Montreal Convention.
- Amounts, not guessesThe figure the rule sets for your route.
- Step by stepClaim on your own, or with help if you prefer.
- Checked and datedEvery page shows when it was last verified.
Explore by situation
Common flight problems
Most commonFlight delay
Three hours late at arrival on an EU or UK flight means €250–€600 per person, unless the cause was extraordinary.
Up to €600Cancellation
A cancelled flight means a refund or a new flight, and €250–€600 if you were told less than 14 days before.
Paid on the spotOverbooking
Bumped against your will: €250–€600 in the EU, up to $2,150 in the US, 250 or 500 SDR in Brazil, paid at once.
21-day ruleLost baggage
Up to 1,519 SDR per passenger for a lost, late or damaged bag, with written deadlines of 7 and 21 days.
How much
What a late arrival is worth
Fixed amounts under EU and UK rules, per passenger, set by the distance of the flight.
- Up to 1,500 kmMadrid → Paris
- 1,500 to 3,500 kmLondon → Athens
- Over 3,500 kmFrankfurt → New York
Owed for arrivals 3 hours or more late, cancellations at short notice and denied boarding, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. See the delay rules →
The rights calculator
Answer a few questions and get a clear answer.
The rules change with the country of departure, the country of arrival, the airline, the distance and the cause. The calculator works that out for you.
- 1Tell us about the flightDeparture, arrival, airline, what happened and for how long.
- 2We find the rule that appliesEuropean Union, United Kingdom, Brazil, United States or the Montreal Convention for baggage.
- 3You get the amount, the deadline and two ways to claimEach answer cites the article of the regulation behind it.
By cause
Can the airline refuse to pay?
That depends on what caused the disruption.
- StrikeAirline staff strikes are the airline's problem and compensation is due. Air traffic control strikes are not.Depends on who strikes
- Bad weatherUnsafe weather removes compensation, not care, re-routing or refund. The airline must prove it.Airline may refuse
- Technical problemMost technical faults are part of running an airline, so €250–€600 is still due under EU and UK rules.Airline usually pays
- Extraordinary circumstancesThe airline must prove an event outside its control and that it did everything reasonable to avoid the disruption.Airline must prove it
One rule for each route
What each regulation gives you
Amounts and conditions taken from the official text. Nothing here goes without a source.
- EUEU flights
EU261
€250–600Delays of 3 hours or more, cancellations and denied boarding, by distance. Care from 2 hours.
Reg. (EC) 261/2004, Art. 4–9 - UKUK flights
UK261
£220–520Same structure as EU261, kept in UK law after Brexit, in pounds.
Retained Reg. 261/2004 (UK) - BRBrazil
ANAC 400 (Brazil)
AssistanceFood from 2 hours of waiting, hotel from 4. A new flight or a refund after 4 hours. Damages through the consumer courts.
ANAC Resolution 400/2016 - USUS flights
US DOT rules
RefundsAutomatic refunds for cancellations. Up to 400% of the fare for involuntary bumping. No fixed amount for delays.
14 CFR Parts 250 and 260 - MCBaggage
Montreal Convention
1,519 SDRThe limit for lost, delayed or damaged bags on international flights.
Montreal Convention 1999, Art. 17–22
At the airport
What to do right now
- Ask for the reasonWrite down what the staff tell you and photograph the departures board.
- Ask for meals and a hotelOn EU and UK flights, care is owed after 2 to 4 hours of waiting, whatever the cause.
- Keep everythingBoarding pass, booking confirmation, baggage tag and every receipt.
- Note the real arrival timeWhat counts is the moment the aircraft doors open at your final destination.
- Think before taking a voucherCompensation is paid in money unless you agree in writing to something else.
Two ways to claim
Do it yourself for free, or let someone do it for you.
We always show both. You decide.
Claim directly with the airline
- A ready-to-send claim letter citing the right article
- The airline's official complaint page and what to attach
- What to do if they refuse or go silent
- You keep 100% of the compensation
Hand it to a claims company
- They deal with the airline, and with the court if needed
- Useful when the airline argues "extraordinary circumstances"
- You pay nothing if the claim fails
- They keep a share of the payout, so check the fee before you sign
By airline
How to claim with your airline
The official complaint page, which rules apply and where to escalate.
Guides
Claim it step by step
- 1How to claimFrom the gate to the court: evidence, the claim to the airline, and where to escalate in the EU, UK, Brazil and US.
- 2Claim letterThree ready-to-copy letters: delay or cancellation, denied boarding, and baggage under the Montreal Convention.
- 3Claims companiesAn honest look at no win, no fee claims firms: what they charge, when they help and what to read before signing.
Quick answers
Questions passengers ask at the gate
How much compensation can I get for a delayed flight?
On flights covered by EU261 you get €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance when you arrive 3 hours or more late, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. UK261 gives £220, £350 or £520. The US and Brazil set no fixed amount for delays.
Does EU261 apply to my flight?
It applies to every flight departing from an airport in the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, whatever the airline, and to flights arriving there from outside when the operating airline is from the EU. The price of the ticket does not matter.
Can the airline refuse to pay because of bad weather?
Yes, if the weather really made the flight impossible and the airline took all reasonable measures. It has to prove it. Even then it still owes you meals, a hotel when needed, and a refund or a new flight.
Do I need a claims company?
No. You can claim directly from the airline for free with a short letter. A claims company makes sense when the airline refuses and you do not want to go to court yourself. It will keep a share of the money.
Is TripRights free?
Yes. The calculator, the guides and the letter templates are free, and there is no account to create. Nothing you type in the calculator is sent to us.
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