The bands in full
| Flight distance | EU261 | UK261 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km, EU ⇄ non-EU | €600 | £520 |
| Over 3,500 km wholly within the EU | €400 | Not applicable |
| Over 1,500 km, UK domestic or UK ⇄ non-EU | Not applicable | £350 / £520 |
How the distance is measured
The measurement is the great-circle distance between the departure and arrival airports — the shortest path over the earth's surface, not the distance actually flown by the aircraft. A routing that zig-zags via a hub does not inflate your claim; each flight on the ticket is assessed on its own origin and destination.
Where a journey involves a connection, the total distance of the whole journey can matter for the band, assessed between the first point of departure and the final destination. This is why a short connecting hop followed by a long-haul sector can lift a claim into the top band.
When the amount is reduced by half
A 50% reduction can apply where the airline reroutes you and your arrival delay stays within specified limits — broadly, within two hours of the original scheduled arrival for shorter delays, and four hours for longer ones.
The reduction is not automatic
The airline must have offered you rerouting at the earliest opportunity and you must have arrived within the limit. If you arranged your own replacement travel, or the delay exceeded the limit, the reduction generally does not apply. Check the specific band before accepting a halved offer.
What does not change the amount
- The fare you paid. A €30 ticket and a €700 ticket on the same route attract the same statutory amount.
- The cabin class. Economy and business passengers are entitled to the same figure.
- Frequent flyer status. Loyalty tier does not increase the entitlement.
- Whether you used a voucher or points. Reward travel is generally covered where the booking was confirmed.
The amount is per passenger
This is the detail most often missed. Compensation is owed to each passenger individually, not once per booking. A family of four on a qualifying long-haul route may be looking at four times €600, not €600 shared.
If you are claiming for others, you will normally need their written authority to act on their behalf.
Currency and payment method
EU261 amounts are set in euro. Airlines may pay in local currency at a reasonable exchange rate, and should not use conversion to shrink the amount materially. Under UK261, amounts are set in sterling.
Payment should be in cash, by bank transfer or cheque. You can accept vouchers or travel credit instead, but you are not obliged to, and you should record in writing that you accepted them by choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is €600 the maximum for a family?
No. €600 is a per-passenger figure. The total for a group is the per-passenger amount multiplied by the number of qualifying passengers.
Are these amounts index-linked?
The EU amounts have not been revised since the regulation took effect. The European Commission has consulted on possible updates, so figures should be checked against current official guidance before relying on them, particularly for claims arising later.
Does a downgrade change my claim?
It is a separate entitlement. A downgrade can produce a reimbursement of 30–75% of the ticket price in addition to any delay, cancellation or denied boarding compensation. See denied boarding and downgrades.
Official sources
- Your Europe — air passenger rights and compensation amounts. europa.eu
- UK CAA — compensation entitlements. caa.co.uk
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Articles 7–9. eur-lex.europa.eu