Flight Delay Compensation Guide (UK 2026)

Your Rights Under UK261

UK261 applies to all flights: departing from a UK or EU airport (regardless of airline), arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline (including from outside the EU), and arriving in the EU on a UK airline. The regulation entitles you to three types of rights depending on the situation: Right to care — if your flight is delayed by 2+ hours, the airline must provide meals, drinks, and (if needed) hotel accommodation and transfers. This applies regardless of the reason for the delay. Right to rerouting or refund — if your flight is cancelled or delayed by 5+ hours, you can choose between a full refund (including the return leg if you no longer wish to travel) or rerouting to your final destination at the earliest opportunity. Right to financial compensation — if the delay or cancellation is the airline's responsibility and not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you are entitled to fixed-rate compensation of £220 to £520 depending on the flight distance. The compensation is per passenger, not per booking. If you were travelling as a family, each person (including children) can claim individually. The airline must inform you of your rights at the airport and provide claim forms.

When You Are Entitled to Compensation

You are entitled to compensation if: your flight arrives at your final destination 3 or more hours late (calculated from the scheduled arrival time to the actual arrival time), your flight is cancelled and you were informed less than 14 days before departure, or you are denied boarding against your will (overbooking). For cancellations, the amount of compensation depends on how far in advance you were told. If informed 14+ days before departure — no compensation (the airline only owes care). If informed 7–13 days before — compensation is reduced by 50% unless the airline reroutes you to arrive within 2 hours of the original schedule. If informed less than 7 days before — full compensation unless the airline reroutes you to arrive within specific time windows. Compensation is calculated by flight distance: up to 1,500km — £220; 1,500–3,500km — £350; over 3,500km — £520. Distances are measured using the Great Circle method (the shortest distance between airports). The airline must pay compensation within 28 days of your claim. If you were rebooked on an alternative flight and arrived later, your compensation is based on your final arrival time to the original destination.

How Much Compensation You Can Claim

Compensation amounts under UK261 are fixed by distance bands. For flights of up to 1,500km (e.g. London to Paris, Manchester to Dublin) — £220 per person. For flights of 1,500–3,500km (e.g. London to Greece, Edinburgh to Egypt) — £350 per person. For flights over 3,500km (e.g. London to New York, Manchester to Dubai) — £520 per person. These amounts are reduced by 50% for cancellations with certain notice periods as described above. The compensation is in addition to the right to care (meals, accommodation, etc.) — you do not have to choose between care and compensation; you are entitled to both. If the airline provided meals or hotel vouchers and you incurred additional expenses (e.g. taxi to the hotel), keep all receipts. The airline must reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. You can claim compensation for each passenger on the booking separately. Children and infants are entitled to the same amounts as adults. The compensation must be paid in British pounds (GBP) or the currency of your choice, without any deductions. Some airlines try to offer travel vouchers instead of cash — you are entitled to cash compensation, and vouchers can only be accepted if you voluntarily agree. Do not accept vouchers if you want the money.

How to Make a Claim

Start by collecting evidence at the airport: take photos of the departure boards showing the delay, ask the airline for a written explanation (a "delay reason" letter), and keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation. Note the actual arrival time — this is what matters for compensation, not the departure time. To claim: go to the airline's website and find their claims or compensation page (all major airlines operating in the UK have a dedicated form). If you cannot find it, use their customer service contact form. Include: your booking reference, flight number and date, your name and contact details, a description of what happened (delayed, cancelled, denied boarding), and the compensation amount you are claiming. Attach your evidence — photos, the airline's letter, and your boarding pass. The airline must respond within 28 days. If they reject or ignore your claim, escalate to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for UK departures or the relevant national enforcement body (NEB) for EU departures. The CAA can compel UK airlines to pay but cannot force non-UK airlines. For claims against non-UK airlines, you may need to use the small claims court or a claims management company (which typically takes 25–35% of the compensation). Avoid using a CMC for straightforward claims — the process is designed for you to claim directly.

What If the Airline Refuses

If the airline rejects your claim, you have several options. First, appeal the decision — many airlines reject claims initially hoping passengers will not pursue them. Write back explaining why you believe the rejection is wrong, citing UK261 and the specific circumstances of your flight. If the airline cites extraordinary circumstances (e.g. weather, air traffic control strikes, security risks, political instability), ask for detailed evidence — the airline bears the burden of proving extraordinary circumstances. If the rejection stands, escalate to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) using their online complaint form at caa.co.uk/passengers. The CAA will review your case and, if the airline is UK-based, can use enforcement powers to compel payment. For non-UK airlines, the CAA's powers are limited — you may need to contact the relevant national enforcement body in the EU country. If enforcement bodies cannot help, consider the small claims court (for claims up to £10,000 in England and Wales) or the equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The court fee is £35–£455 depending on the claim amount. The CAA website has a template small claims court pack. Alternatively, use a no-win-no-fee claims company like FlightDelay or Bott & Co, but they typically deduct 25–35% plus VAT. For large claims (families on long-haul flights), the fee may still be worth it for the convenience.

Special Cases

Certain situations affect your compensation rights. Extraordinary circumstances — airlines do not have to pay compensation if the delay or cancellation was caused by events outside their control, such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, political instability, security threats, or bird strikes. However, the airline must still provide care (food, accommodation) regardless of the cause. The airline bears the burden of proving extraordinary circumstances — if they give vague reasons, challenge them. Technical faults are not normally considered extraordinary circumstances — the airline is responsible for maintaining its aircraft. Connecting flights — if you booked connecting flights on a single ticket (same booking reference) and the first flight was delayed, causing you to miss the connection, UK261 applies to the entire journey. The compensation is based on your final arrival time at the final destination and the distance of the longest leg. However, if you booked separate tickets for each leg, only the delayed leg is covered — you cannot claim for a missed self-transfer. Airlines that have ceased trading — if the airline goes bust, you cannot claim compensation, but you may be covered by ATOL protection (for package holidays) or travel insurance. Check at caa.co.uk/atol. See our Small Claims Court guide → for help pursuing unpaid claims through the courts.

FAQs

How long do I have to make a flight delay claim?

Under UK law, you generally have 6 years to bring a claim (5 years in Scotland). However, it is best to claim as soon as possible while evidence is fresh and the airline may settle quickly.

Can I claim if the delay was due to bad weather?

Bad weather is an extraordinary circumstance — the airline does not have to pay compensation, but they must still provide care (meals, accommodation, and transfers) for delays of 2+ hours.

Do I need travel insurance to claim?

No. Compensation under UK261 is a legal right and does not depend on travel insurance. However, travel insurance may cover additional expenses (e.g. missed hotel nights, car hire) that UK261 does not cover.

What if the airline offers me a voucher instead of cash?

You are entitled to cash compensation under UK261. Do not accept a voucher unless you genuinely prefer it — vouchers often expire within 12 months and cannot be used on all flights or with all airlines.

Can I claim for a missed connection on separate tickets?

No. If you booked separate tickets for each leg of your journey (not a single booking), only the delayed flight is covered. Missed self-transfers are not protected under UK261.