Which compensation calculator do I start with?

Match the tool to the loss. Cancelled flight: DOT refund. 3+ hour delay: DOT or EU261/UK261 depending on route. Lost bag: baggage calculator. Out-of-pocket expenses: insurance calculator.

Do these calculators give me exact amounts?

Yes for statutory amounts (EU261 EUR 250/400/600, UK261 £220/£350/£520, DOT 1x to 4x fare). Insurance amounts are estimates pending claim review.

Can I stack outputs from multiple calculators?

Yes if they cover different losses. Airline refund (DOT calc) + insurance hotel/meal reimbursement + credit card trip delay all stack for one disruption.

Does the calculator work for codeshare flights?

The calculations are the same, but the carrier responsible depends on the operating carrier, not the marketing carrier. See codeshare guides for responsibility rules.

What if my delay was partially covered by an airline voucher?

Deduct the voucher value from your out-of-pocket before inputting to insurance calculator. DOT/EU261 amounts are unaffected by voucher amounts.

Which tool handles denied boarding?

DOT denied boarding calculator. Inputs: delay length of replacement flight, ticket fare, domestic/international. Output: 1x, 2x, or 4x fare capped at $1,075 or $2,150.

Are these calculators accurate for 2026 regulatory updates?

Yes. DOT 2024 refund rule, EU261 case law updates through Q1 2026, UK261 as retained EU regulation with 2026 CAA guidance.

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Compensation TipsApril 21, 2026•7 min read

Compensation Calculators and Tools: 2026 Guide

The 2026 compensation calculator guide maps the complete toolkit: DOT refund calculators, EU261 amount lookups, UK261 GBP tables, baggage compensation estimators, and insurance payout worksheets. Here is the full set and which to use when.

The 2026 Calculator Inventory

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DOT refund calculator: 3-hour domestic, 6-hour international threshold, ticket amount input.
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EU261 compensation lookup: EUR 250/400/600 by distance tier.
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UK261 compensation lookup: £220/£350/£520 by distance tier.
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DOT denied boarding calculator: 1x to 4x fare per passenger, capped $2,150.
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Baggage compensation calculator: $3,800 domestic cap, Montreal SDR international.
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Trip delay insurance calculator: 6-hour threshold, covered expense calculator.
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CFAR reimbursement calculator: 50 to 75 percent of non-refundable trip cost.
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Class action vs individual estimator: break-even analysis.

All these calculators use different inputs. DOT refund needs route and delay. EU261 needs distance. Baggage needs contents + receipts. Match the tool to the situation.

Which Calculator to Use When

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Flight cancelled: DOT refund calculator.
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Delayed 3+ hours US / 6+ hours international: DOT refund.
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Delayed 3+ hours EU departure: EU261.
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Delayed 3+ hours UK departure: UK261.
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Denied boarding: DOT denied boarding calculator.
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Bag lost or damaged: baggage calculator.
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Passenger-side expenses during delay: trip delay insurance.
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Planning future trip: CFAR upgrade calculator.

Input Requirements

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Route: origin and destination airport codes.
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Distance: great-circle miles or km.
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Scheduled and actual times: departure and arrival.
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Ticket price: full fare including taxes.
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Delay cause: airline or extraordinary.
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Number of passengers: per-ticket multiplier.
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Baggage contents: with receipts for full payout.

Distance Tiers (EU261/UK261)

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Up to 1,500 km: EUR 250 / £220.
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1,500 to 3,500 km: EUR 400 / £350.
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Over 3,500 km: EUR 600 / £520.
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50 percent reduction if airline re-routes within arrival tolerance.

Stacking Across Tools

Airline refund + insurance trip delay + credit card coverage stack for the same disruption. Each tool returns a different amount for a different loss. See baggage compensation calculator by airline, compensation calculators and tools winter 2026 edition, and compensation calculators and tools spring break edition.

Common Calculator Errors

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Using flown distance vs great-circle: great-circle is correct.
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Including extraordinary-cause flights: DOT refunds apply regardless of cause; EU/UK cash compensation does not.
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Forgetting 50 percent reduction: when airline re-routes within tolerance.
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Double-counting refund and compensation: on EU261, you get either re-routing and refund, or compensation and keep seat. Not all three.
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Using wrong fare class: denied-boarding formula uses total fare, not base.

Pillar Link and Authority Sources

For the pillar see How Much Is Your Delayed Flight Worth: Calculator. For primary texts see DOT Aviation Consumer Protection, UK CAA Passenger Rights, and European Commission EU261.

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