If your flight was delayed, cancelled or overbooked, you may be owed compensation under UK law, sometimes a substantial sum. Yet many passengers never claim what they are entitled to. This guide explains UK flight compensation, including the amounts and how to claim. It is general information, not legal advice, so always check the current rules and figures with the Civil Aviation Authority before relying on them.
When you may be owed compensation
You may be entitled to compensation under the UK rules, commonly called UK261, if your flight is delayed so that you arrive at your destination significantly late, generally three or more hours, or is cancelled at short notice, and the disruption was the airline's responsibility rather than outside its control. The rules apply to flights departing the UK on any airline, and arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline. Understanding when you qualify, based on the delay, the cause and the route, is the starting point for any claim.
The compensation amounts
Compensation amounts are fixed and based on the distance of your flight, as set out by the Civil Aviation Authority. For flights under 1,500 kilometres, the amount is £220 per person. For flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres, it is £350 per person. For flights over 3,500 kilometres, it is £520 per person, with a reduction for shorter delays explained below. These figures are per passenger, not per booking. Always check the current amounts with the CAA, as they are the definitive source for what you may be owed.
The long-haul reduction
For the longest flights, those over 3,500 kilometres, the amount depends on how late you arrive. If you arrive between three and four hours late, the compensation is reduced, to £260 per person, half the full amount. If you arrive more than four hours late, you receive the full £520 per person. This reflects the principle that compensation rises with the inconvenience caused. Knowing that a long-haul delay of three to four hours attracts the reduced amount, while a longer delay attracts the full sum, helps you understand what to expect from a claim.
How distance is measured
The distance used to determine the band is the distance of the flight to your final destination, measured between the airports, not the length of your journey or any detours. This places your flight into one of the distance bands that set the compensation amount. For connecting journeys, the relevant distance is generally to your final destination. Understanding that the fixed amount depends on which distance band your flight falls into, rather than the ticket price or class, explains why two passengers on very different fares receive the same compensation.
It is based on arrival delay
Importantly, eligibility is usually assessed on how late you arrive at your destination, not how late you depart. A flight that leaves late but makes up time may not qualify, while one that departs on time but arrives very late might. The decisive point is generally when you are able to disembark. This is why early estimates at the airport are not the final word. Knowing that your arrival delay, not the departure delay, determines a claim helps you judge eligibility accurately rather than from the departure board alone.
Cancellations and denied boarding
Compensation can also apply to cancellations at short notice and to being denied boarding against your will, such as when a flight is overbooked, subject to the rules and the same extraordinary-circumstances limit. For cancellations you also have the right to a refund or rerouting. Our guide on your rights when a flight is delayed or cancelled explains these in full. Knowing that compensation is not limited to delays, but can also cover cancellations and denied boarding, helps you recognise when you may have a claim.
Extraordinary circumstances
Compensation is generally not payable when the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside the airline's control, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks or certain strikes. In these cases you keep your rights to care and to a refund or rerouting, but not to the cash compensation. Airlines often cite extraordinary circumstances, so it is worth checking whether the reason genuinely qualifies. Understanding this key exclusion helps you judge whether a compensation claim is likely to succeed or be legitimately refused.
Compensation is per passenger
A valuable point is that compensation is paid per passenger, not per booking, and the amounts are the same regardless of what you paid for your ticket or the class you flew. So a family travelling together can each be owed the relevant amount, which can add up to a significant total. Infants on a seat may also qualify. Knowing that each qualifying passenger is owed the fixed amount individually, rather than one payment per booking, shows why a claim for a group can be well worth pursuing.
How to claim
To claim, contact your airline directly in the first instance, providing your flight and booking details and setting out the disruption and what you are claiming, keeping it in writing. Compensation is not paid automatically; you have to claim it. If the airline rejects a valid claim or fails to respond, you can escalate to an alternative dispute resolution body or the Civil Aviation Authority. You can do this yourself for free, without using a claims company that takes a cut. Approaching the airline first, clearly and in writing, is the route to your money.
Keep evidence and act in good time
Keep evidence to support your claim, such as your booking confirmation, boarding passes, and any communication from the airline about the disruption and its cause. This documentation strengthens your case. While you have a period in which to claim, it is best not to delay. Travel insurance may also help with some costs, so check your policy. Our guide on whether you need travel insurance explains. Keeping clear records and claiming promptly gives you the best chance of receiving what you are owed.
Claiming yourself versus using a company
You may see companies offering to handle flight compensation claims for you, but they typically take a percentage of any payout, so you keep less. For a straightforward claim, you can apply directly to the airline yourself for free, following the process and escalating to the CAA or an alternative dispute resolution body if needed. A claims company may be worth considering only for complex or disputed cases. For most claims, doing it yourself is simple and means you receive the full amount you are owed rather than sharing it.
In short
Under UK261 you may be owed fixed compensation if a delay makes you arrive three or more hours late, or your flight is cancelled or overbooked, and it was the airline's fault. The CAA sets the amounts: £220 under 1,500km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500km, and £520 over 3,500km (£260 for a three to four-hour delay on the longest flights), per passenger. Nothing is due for extraordinary circumstances. Claim from the airline yourself rather than paying a company a cut, keep your evidence, and check the current figures and rules with the CAA before relying on them.
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