UK Flight Delay Compensation: Airlines Owe You Up to £520

Airlines Are Counting on You Not Knowing This Law

UK Regulation 261 (retained from EU law post-Brexit) says if your flight is significantly delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, the airline must compensate you in cash. Not vouchers. Not miles. Cash.

The amounts are fixed by law based on flight distance:

• Under 1,500 km: £220
• 1,500-3,500 km: £350
• Over 3,500 km: £520

And yet, an estimated millions of eligible passengers per year never claim.

When You're Eligible

UK261 covers you if:

Your flight departed from any UK airport — regardless of which airline. A Delta flight from Heathrow to New York is covered.

OR your flight arrived at a UK airport AND was operated by a UK airline. A BA flight from New York to Heathrow is covered. A United flight on the same route is not.

You're eligible if:

• Your flight arrived 3+ hours late at the final destination
• Your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure
• You were denied boarding due to overbooking

The "Extraordinary Circumstances" Defence

Airlines will try to reject your claim citing extraordinary circumstances — events outside their control. Legitimate examples:

• Severe weather (actual storms, not just rain)
• Air traffic control strikes
• Security threats

What courts have ruled is NOT extraordinary:

• Technical faults with the aircraft
• Crew shortages or sickness
• Airline IT failures
• Bird strikes (EU Court of Justice precedent, followed in UK)
• The airline's own staff striking

If the airline blames "operational reasons" or "technical issues," you're almost certainly still owed compensation.

How to Claim

Step 1: Find the airline's compensation claim form — search "[airline name] UK261 claim" or check their customer service section.

Step 2: Gather your evidence:

• Booking confirmation
• Boarding pass
• Any communication from the airline about the delay/cancellation
• Screenshots of the departure board
• Receipts for expenses incurred (meals, hotel)

Step 3: Submit the claim. Cite UK Regulation 261, state the flight number, date, scheduled vs. actual arrival time, and the distance-based compensation amount.

Step 4: Wait 1-3 months for a response.

If the Airline Rejects Your Claim

Don't give up. Airlines routinely reject valid claims hoping you'll go away.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) — The UK's enforcement body. They can investigate and rule in your favour for free.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) — CEDR and AviationADR handle airline disputes. Free for consumers.

Money Claim Online (Small Claims Court) — Sue the airline for under £10,000. Filing fee is £35-80 depending on the amount. Airlines frequently settle once court proceedings begin because it costs them more to fight than to pay.

Claim management companies — AirHelp, Flightright, and Resolver handle the entire process. They take 25-35% of the compensation as their fee, but you pay nothing if they don't win.

What Else the Airline Owes You

Regardless of the cause, for long delays the airline must provide:

• Meals and drinks proportionate to the wait
• Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is required
• Airport transfers to and from the hotel
• Two phone calls or emails

If the airline doesn't provide these, keep your receipts and claim reasonable expenses back separately. This is the right to care — it applies even when compensation doesn't.

Time Limits

You have 6 years to claim in England and Wales (5 years in Scotland). Don't assume a flight from 2022 is too old — check and claim.