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Flight compensation rules: EU, UK, Canada and US

Which rule set applies depends on the route and the airline. Each page below gives the amounts, the scope and the legal source.

Updated

Four rule sets decide what an airline owes you. Which one applies depends on where the flight starts, where it ends and which airline flew it.

The four rule sets
Rule setWhat it paysApplies to
EU261EUR 250, EUR 400 or EUR 600Departures from the EU on any airline. Arrivals into the EU on EU airlines.
UK261GBP 220, GBP 350 or GBP 520Departures from the UK on any airline. Arrivals into the UK on UK or EU airlines.
Canada APPRCAD 400 to CAD 1,000 (large carrier)Flights that start or end in Canada, when the cause was in the airline’s control.
US refundsA refund, no cash compensationFlights to, from or within the US that are cancelled or significantly changed.

Some flights fall under two rule sets, for example Dublin to London Stansted on Ryanair. You can claim under one. Pick the one that pays more or that the airline answers faster.

Check a flight

Where the trip started. For one booking with connections, the first airport.

Where the trip ended: the final destination.

The operating airline, not the one on the ticket. A boarding pass or the flight status page names it.

What happened

At the final destination, when the aircraft door opened.

We read this to explain the result. We never decide whether it counts as extraordinary.

Carried into the claim letter. It does not change the amount.

Results

Enter both airports and the airline to see a result.

Loading the airport list

Choose where the trip started, where it ended, the airline and what happened. The result updates as you type.

Information, not advice

Hours Late is not a law firm and not a claims company. It does not file claims for you. The results are estimates from published rules and the details you enter. They are not legal advice. Airlines and courts decide each case.