Three guides, different jobs
Flight Delayed? What UK Passengers Can Claim — quick eligibility, payout bands and airline pushback. This article — how to file, what to attach, when to escalate and which tools may help. For worked £220 / £350 / £520 scenarios, see airport delay claim example payouts.
The Legal Framework — UK261
UK passengers are protected by UK Regulation 261 (UK261) — the post-Brexit version of EU Regulation 261/2004. This law gives passengers the right to financial compensation when flights are significantly delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, provided certain conditions are met.
The rules apply regardless of which airline you flew with, as long as the flight departed from a UK airport — or arrived into the UK on a UK or EU carrier.
Do You Qualify?
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, you may be entitled to compensation if all of the following apply. For threshold nuance and typical rejection reasons, see our eligibility primer — this section is a checklist before you claim.
- Your flight arrived at its destination 3 or more hours late
- The delay was within the airline's control — such as a technical fault, crew shortage, or overbooking
- The flight either departed from a UK or EU airport, or was operated by a UK or EU airline
- The flight took place within the last 6 years (5 years if you're based in Scotland)
️ When airlines don't have to pay
Airlines are not required to pay compensation if the delay was caused by "extraordinary circumstances" — events genuinely outside their control, such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, political unrest, or security threats. However, technical faults and staff shortages are generally considered within airline control.
Compensation Amounts
Compensation under UK261 is fixed by law. The amount depends on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay — not the cost of your ticket.
| Flight Distance | Example Route | Compensation Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | London to Amsterdam | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | London to Cairo | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km — delayed 3 to 4 hours | London to New York | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km — delayed 4+ hours | London to New York | £520 |
Each passenger can claim individually. Compensation is not linked to the ticket price or class of travel.
Good to know
What counts is your arrival time, not departure time. If your plane pushed back on time but arrived 3+ hours late, you may still qualify.
Your Right to Care During a Delay
Separately from compensation, airlines are legally required to look after you while you wait. According to the CAA, airlines must provide:
- Meals and refreshments — appropriate to the waiting time
- Communication — two phone calls, emails, or faxes
- Accommodation — if the delay means an overnight stay
- Transport — to and from your hotel if staying overnight
If the airline fails to provide these at the airport, keep all receipts for reasonable costs. You can reclaim them later — though airlines only cover reasonable expenses, not alcohol or luxury hotels. If you need to book your own accommodation, use the Europe stays hub, search on Expedia, or the Stay22 map.
How to Make a Claim
There are two main routes to claiming compensation:
Option 1 — Claim directly with the airline
This is free and straightforward. Visit the airline's website, find their complaints or compensation section, and submit your claim. By law, they must respond within 8 weeks. If they reject your claim or don't respond, you can escalate to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider, or the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT).
Option 2 — Use a claims management service
Several specialist services handle compensation claims on your behalf — typically on a no-win, no-fee basis. They charge a percentage of the compensation if successful, but handle all correspondence with the airline for you. This can be useful if you've already been rejected by the airline, or simply prefer not to deal with the process yourself.
️ Watch out for high fees
Some claims services charge up to 36% plus VAT of your compensation. Always check the fee structure before signing up. You are always entitled to claim directly from the airline for free.
Common Reasons Airlines Reject Claims
"It was extraordinary circumstances"
This is the most common rejection reason — and airlines sometimes apply it too broadly. Technical faults and crew shortages are generally NOT extraordinary circumstances. If you believe your claim was wrongly rejected, escalate to an ADR provider.
"You accepted vouchers at the airport"
Accepting food vouchers or travel vouchers at the airport does not affect your right to statutory compensation. These are separate entitlements under UK261.
"The claim is out of time"
UK passengers have 6 years from the date of the delayed flight to make a claim (5 years in Scotland). This was confirmed by the Supreme Court in a landmark 2014 ruling. If an airline tells you it's too late, check the exact date of your flight before accepting that response.
What to Keep as Evidence
- Your booking confirmation and ticket
- Your boarding pass (digital or paper)
- Any communication from the airline about the delay
- Receipts for any expenses during the delay (food, accommodation, transport)
- A note of the actual departure and arrival times