Flight disrupted in the United Kingdom? Get up to £520 in compensation.
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Coverage
UK Air Passenger Rights Regulation
Eligibility depends on the facts of the journey you submit.
Quick answer
Could your flight qualify?
You may be entitled to compensation if your delayed flight, cancellation, involuntary denied boarding or disrupted connection falls within UK261. For delay and cancellation claims, eligibility usually depends on the length and impact of the disruption, the journey covered by UK law and whether extraordinary circumstances were responsible.
On this page
Passenger rights
Which flights can be covered?
UK261 can protect passengers on a broad range of journeys involving the United Kingdom, but coverage of arriving flights can depend on which airline operates the flight.
Flights departing from a UK airport are covered regardless of the airline operating the flight.
Flights arriving in the UK can be covered when operated by a UK or EU airline.
Flights arriving in the EU can be covered under UK law when operated by a UK airline.
Connecting flights on the same booking can be assessed using the journey through to the final destination.
Flight disruptions
What types of disruption may qualify?
Delayed flight
If an eligible delay causes you to reach your final destination around three hours or more late, fixed compensation can apply depending on the flight distance and length of the arrival delay.
Cancelled flight
A cancellation can give you rerouting or refund rights, and fixed compensation may also apply depending on when you were informed, the alternative flight offered and the cause of the cancellation.
Denied boarding
If you are denied boarding against your will after meeting the boarding requirements, UK261 can provide compensation together with rerouting or refund rights.
Missed connection
If flights are on the same connecting booking, a delay that causes a missed connection can qualify where you reach the final destination sufficiently late and the other UK261 conditions are met.
Compensation
How much compensation could you receive?
UK261 uses fixed compensation amounts in pounds. The amount depends mainly on the journey distance and, in some cases, the length of the delay at your final destination.
Flight delay compensation
For an eligible delay under UK261, compensation is based mainly on the flight distance and how late you reach your final destination.
- Flight distance
- 1,500 km or less
- Arrival delay
- 3 hours or more
- Compensation
- £220
- Flight distance
- More than 1,500 km up to 3,500 km
- Arrival delay
- 3 hours or more
- Compensation
- £350
- Flight distance
- More than 3,500 km
- Arrival delay
- 3 hours to 4 hours
- Compensation
- £260
- Flight distance
- More than 3,500 km
- Arrival delay
- More than 4 hours
- Compensation
- £520
| Flight distance | Arrival delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | 3 hours or more | £220 |
| More than 1,500 km up to 3,500 km | 3 hours or more | £350 |
| More than 3,500 km | 3 hours to 4 hours | £260 |
| More than 3,500 km | More than 4 hours | £520 |
Compensation is per passenger. Eligibility also depends on the cause of the disruption and the other UK261 conditions.
Cancellation and denied-boarding compensation
Where UK261 compensation applies after a cancellation or involuntary denied boarding, the standard amount depends on the flight distance. It can be reduced by 50% where suitable rerouting gets you to your final destination within the specified time.
- Flight distance
- 1,500 km or less
- Standard amount
- £220
- Possible reduced amount
- £110
- Flight distance
- More than 1,500 km up to 3,500 km
- Standard amount
- £350
- Possible reduced amount
- £175
- Flight distance
- More than 3,500 km
- Standard amount
- £520
- Possible reduced amount
- £260
| Flight distance | Standard amount | Possible reduced amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | £220 | £110 |
| More than 1,500 km up to 3,500 km | £350 | £175 |
| More than 3,500 km | £520 | £260 |
The reduced amount can apply where rerouting gets you to your final destination within two, three or four hours respectively of the original scheduled arrival time.
The fixed amounts are not based on the price you paid for your ticket. Separate rights to refunds, rerouting, care and reasonable expenses can also apply depending on the disruption.
Eligibility
What determines whether compensation applies?
UK261 looks at more than the number of hours shown on the departure board. The route, final arrival delay, cause of the disruption and any alternative travel offered can all affect the outcome.
Final arrival time matters
For delay compensation, the important measure is generally how late you arrive at your final destination rather than only how late the flight departed.
Flight distance affects the amount
UK261 compensation is divided into distance bands: up to 1,500 km, more than 1,500 km up to 3,500 km, and journeys over 3,500 km.
Extraordinary circumstances matter
Fixed compensation is generally not payable where the disruption resulted from qualifying extraordinary circumstances that the airline could not reasonably have avoided.
Cancellation notice matters
For cancellations, compensation is generally relevant where you were informed less than 14 days before departure, although the timing of any replacement flight can affect whether compensation is due.
Long delays can give you a refund option
If your flight is delayed for at least five hours, you can choose not to travel and request a refund for the unused flights on the booking.
The airline still has care obligations
Depending on the flight distance and waiting time, the airline may have to provide meals, refreshments, communications and hotel accommodation even where fixed compensation is not payable.
Important conditions
When compensation may not apply
A serious disruption does not automatically produce fixed compensation. UK261 contains exceptions based on the cause of the disruption, the timing of replacement travel and how the booking was structured.
Fixed compensation is generally not payable where qualifying extraordinary circumstances caused the disruption.
A cancellation communicated sufficiently far in advance may not qualify for fixed compensation.
Even with less than 14 days' cancellation notice, suitable rerouting within the permitted timing windows can remove or reduce the fixed compensation entitlement.
Voluntarily agreeing to give up your seat is different from being involuntarily denied boarding.
Separate self-transfer flight bookings do not receive the same end-to-end connecting-flight protection as flights booked together on one connecting itinerary.
Connecting journeys
Connecting flights can be assessed through to your final destination
If two or more flights form part of the same connecting booking, UK passenger-rights protection can consider the journey between the first and final airports. If a delay causes you to miss a connection and you eventually arrive at the final destination more than three hours late, compensation may apply where the other UK261 conditions are satisfied. By contrast, separate self-transfer bookings are generally treated as individual flights rather than one protected connecting journey.
Before you claim
What should you keep?
Keep the records that show your original journey, what the airline changed and when you eventually reached your destination.
Your booking confirmation and complete itinerary.
Boarding passes, e-tickets or other proof of travel.
Airline emails, text messages or app notifications about the disruption.
Any explanation the airline provided for the delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection.
Details of replacement flights and your actual arrival time at the final destination.
Itemised receipts for reasonable meals, accommodation or transport expenses where relevant.
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