UK Flight Delay Compensation: Your UK261/EC261 Rights

When the rules apply

UK261 (Regulation EC261/2004 as retained in UK law post-Brexit) covers any flight departing a UK airport on any airline, plus any flight arriving in the UK operated by a UK or EU/EEA carrier. EC261 covers the equivalent for EU airports. The two regimes are functionally identical and entitle you to the same compensation amounts.

The trigger is a delay at your final destination of three hours or more, a cancellation with less than 14 days' notice, or being denied boarding involuntarily (typically due to overbooking). The compensation is fixed by distance, not by ticket price — a £40 budget fare can yield £220, and a £400 long-haul ticket can yield £520.

How much you can claim

Short-haul flights up to 1,500 km pay £220 per passenger. Medium-haul between 1,500 km and 3,500 km pay £350. Long-haul over 3,500 km pay £520 if delayed by four hours or more, reduced to £260 if delayed between three and four hours.

Each passenger on the booking is entitled separately, including infants if a fare was paid. A family of four on a delayed flight from London to Faro is owed £880 in total — not £220 between them. The airline must pay in cash, bank transfer or cheque if you ask; vouchers can only be offered, never imposed.

Extraordinary circumstances — the airline's escape route

Compensation is not payable if the delay was caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond the airline's control. Examples accepted by the courts include severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security alerts and sudden political instability. Examples explicitly rejected include technical faults discovered during routine maintenance, crew shortages and most knock-on delays from earlier flights in the rotation.

The burden of proof is on the airline to demonstrate the cause. If they refuse compensation citing 'operational reasons' without specifics, push back — that phrase has no legal weight under UK261.

How to claim yourself

Email the airline directly using their published claim form or customer relations address. Include your booking reference, flight number, date, names of all passengers and bank details. Attach the boarding passes if you have them. State the regulation by name (UK261 or EC261) and the amount due.

If the airline refuses or ignores you for 28 days, escalate to the alternative dispute resolution scheme they belong to — usually CEDR or AviationADR for UK carriers. If that fails, you can take the airline to the small claims court (MCOL online) for under £35; airlines almost always settle before the hearing.

Time limits and reasonable expenses

In England and Wales you have six years from the flight date to claim. In Scotland it's five years. Don't be put off by airline emails saying you have only 30 days — that is policy, not law.

Separately from the fixed compensation, the airline must provide 'right to care' during long delays: meals and drinks proportionate to waiting time, two phone calls or emails, and accommodation plus transfers if you're delayed overnight. Keep all receipts and claim them in addition to the fixed sum.

Frequently asked questions