FLIGHT DELAY COMPENSATION
FLIGHT DELAY COMPENSATION
Did you know that passengers affected by flight delays could claim up to £1,040 per couple? Under UK 261 and EU 261, your airline may owe you more than you think.
Flight delays are frustrating but did you know your airline could owe you up to £520 per person, or £1,040 per couple in compensation? Under UK 261 and EU 261, passengers whose flights were delayed have the right to claim fixed compensation, no matter the price of their ticket or the airline they flew with.
You could be eligible if your flight departed from a UK or EU airport, or if you flew into one on a UK or EU registered carrier. The delay must have been the airline's fault, and you must have arrived at your final destination at least three hours late. The amount you receive depends on the distance of your route.
Find out where you stand in minutes, use our free flight delay compensation tool, enter your flight details, and we'll confirm your eligibility straight away.
Know flight delay compensation rights
3+ hour delay: Arrived more than three hours late? You could be entitled to compensation under UK 261 and EU 261.
Compensation amount: Up to £220 (under 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km) or £520 (over 3,500 km) per person.
Airline responsibility: The delay must have been the airline's fault for compensation to apply.
Care and assistance: Free meals and refreshments are owed for delays of two hours or more.
Overnight delays: The airline must cover hotel accommodation and transfers if an overnight stay is required.
Extraordinary circumstances: No compensation is payable for severe weather, strikes, or other force majeure events.
Claim period: You can claim retrospectively for flights from up to six years ago.
We handle everything: Air Delayed manages your claim from start to finish — no win, no fee.
What are your flight delay rights under UK 261 and EU 261?
- Your flight must have departed from a UK or EU airport, or been operated by a UK or EU registered airline, for either regulation to apply.
- Compensation is payable where passengers arrive at their final destination three or more hours later than the scheduled arrival time.
- The airline must bear responsibility for the delay. Technical failures and crew unavailability are valid grounds for a claim. Extraordinary circumstances, including severe weather conditions and air traffic control strikes, are exempt.
- Under UK 261 and EU 261, eligible passengers are entitled to fixed compensation of between £220 and £520 per person, calculated according to flight distance.
- Airlines are legally required to provide complimentary meals and refreshments after a delay of two hours or more. Where an overnight stay becomes necessary, the carrier must also fund hotel accommodation and airport transfers.
- Claims can be submitted retrospectively for flights delayed within the past six years in England and Wales, and five years in Scotland.
When are you entitled to flight delay compensation?
Passengers flying to or from the UK, European Union, Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland are protected by two of the world's most comprehensive air passenger rights frameworks, UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261). Both regulations set out clear conditions under which airlines are legally obliged to compensate passengers for flight delays.
Three criteria must be satisfied for a delay compensation claim to succeed. The flight must have departed from a UK or EU airport, or been operated by a UK or EU registered carrier. The delay must have been attributable to the airline, disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, or other force majeure events are exempt. Finally, the passenger must have arrived at their final destination at least three hours later than the scheduled arrival time. It is the actual arrival time at the final destination that determines eligibility, not the departure delay.
Where all three conditions are met, passengers are entitled to fixed compensation of between £220 and £520 per person, calculated according to the distance of the flight.
How is flight delay compensation calculated?
Under both UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261), compensation for a delayed flight is determined by arrival time at the final destination, not departure time. A passenger who departs three hours late but arrives less than three hours behind schedule would not meet the eligibility threshold under either regulation.
The Legal Definition of "Arrival Time"
In September 2014, the European Court of Justice defined the arrival time as the moment at which the aircraft reaches its destination airport and opens at least one door for disembarkation.
To qualify for compensation under UK 261 or EU 261, your flight must satisfy at least one of the following conditions:
- Departed from a UK airport on any airline
- Arrived in the UK on a UK or EU registered carrier
- Arrived in the EU, Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland on a UK registered carrier
Where the above conditions are met and you arrived at your final destination more than three hours late due to the airline's fault, the following fixed compensation amounts apply under both UK 261 and EU 261:
- Short-haul flights (1,500 km or less): Up to £220 per person
- Internal EU flights (over 1,500 km): Up to £350 per person
- Non-internal EU flights (1,500–3,500 km): Up to £350 per person
- Long-haul non-EU flights (over 3,500 km): Up to £520 per person
How much flight delay compensation could you receive?
The amount you are owed under UK 261 and EU 261 comes down to one thing, how far you were flying:
Short distance up to 1500 km
e.g. London – Edinburgh
£220*
Medium distance up to 3500 km
e.g. London – Athens
£350*
Long distance from 3500 km
e.g. London – Tokyo
£520*
If your trip involved more than one flight, don't worry the distance is worked out from your very first departure airport all the way to your final destination, not flight by flight.
Still waiting at the airport? Here's what your airline owes you
Even if your delay hasn't yet hit the three-hour mark for financial compensation, your airline is still legally required to look after you:
| Delay Duration | What You're Entitled To |
|---|---|
| 2+ hours (short-haul) | Free food and drinks while you wait. |
| 3+ hours (medium-haul) | Free food, drinks, and two complimentary phone calls or emails. |
| 3+ hour arrival delay | Between £220 and £520 per person in financial compensation where the airline was responsible. |
| 4+ hours (long-haul) | Free meals, refreshments, and communication facilities. |
| 5+ hours (any distance) | You can walk away entirely, the airline must refund your ticket in full within seven days. |
| Overnight delay | One night's hotel accommodation and return airport transfers, fully covered by the airline. |
You could be owed up to £1,040 per couple
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Your step-by-step guide to claiming compensation for a delayed flight
Passengers affected by a delayed flight at a UK or EU airport have clearly defined legal rights under both UK 261 and EU 261. Acting promptly and methodically at the airport can significantly strengthen a compensation claim. Follow the six steps below to protect your rights from the moment disruption occurs.
Contact the airline's customer service team at the airport or via telephone without delay. Request written confirmation of the stated reason for the disruption. This documentation is essential should the airline subsequently attempt to invoke the extraordinary circumstances exemption under UK 261 or EU 261 to avoid paying compensation.
Contemporaneous evidence is invaluable when pursuing a compensation claim:
- Photograph the airport departures board clearly displaying the delay
- Retain your boarding pass and original booking confirmation
- Keep all receipts for additional expenditure incurred as a direct result of the delay, including meals, ground transport, and accommodation
Obtain contact details from other passengers affected by the same delay, as they may be called upon to provide witness statements in the event of a disputed claim. Informing fellow travellers of their own entitlements under UK 261 and EU 261 is also advisable.
Under both UK 261 and EU 261, the legally recognised arrival time is the moment at least one aircraft door is opened for disembarkation at the destination airport, not the time of touchdown. Record this time precisely, or capture a timestamped photograph as corroborating evidence.
Use Air Delayed's free compensation check tool to determine whether your delay qualifies for compensation under UK 261 or EU 261. Enter your flight details and our team will assess your case in full, calculating the precise amount you are owed based on your flight distance and delay duration.
Compensation can be claimed directly from the operating airline, or Air Delayed can manage the entire process on your behalf. We handle all correspondence, negotiations, and any necessary escalation, ensuring you receive your full compensation entitlement with no upfront cost and no financial risk. No win, no fee.
Which Flights Are Covered by UK 261 and EU 261?
To qualify for flight delay compensation under UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) or EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261), your flight must satisfy at least one of the eligibility criteria set out below. Flights that fall outside these parameters are not covered by either regulation.
| Flight type | UK261 (EU261) | Flight delay example |
|---|---|---|
| Departing from a UK or EU airport on any airline | Eligible for compensation | Birmingham to Barcelona |
| Arriving in the UK on a UK or EU registered carrier | Eligible for compensation | Chicago to London operated by British Airways |
| Arriving in the UK on a non-UK, non-EU registered carrier | Not eligible for compensation | Hong Kong to London operated by Cathay Pacific |
| Flights operating entirely outside the UK and EU region | Not eligible for compensation | Miami to Cape Town |
What if your flight is not covered by law?
Where a flight does not meet the eligibility criteria of either UK 261 or EU 261, passengers may still have recourse under the Montreal Convention 1999. This internationally recognised treaty, adopted by 143 countries worldwide, establishes a framework for airline liability covering flight delays, cancellations, lost or damaged baggage, and personal injuries sustained during international air travel.
Unlike UK 261 and EU 261, claims under the Montreal Convention must generally be pursued directly with the airline. To submit a claim, passengers will typically need to provide:
- Full flight details and booking confirmation
- A clear account of the disruption experienced whether a delay, cancellation, or baggage issue
- Supporting documentation including tickets, boarding passes, and receipts for any additional expenses incurred
Passengers are also advised to review their travel insurance policy, as many providers include cover for flight delays and disruptions that fall outside the protections offered by UK 261 and EU 261. Depending on the terms of your policy, you may be able to recover costs that would not otherwise be claimable.
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How long does a flight have to be delayed to qualify for compensation?
Under both UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261), the minimum delay threshold for financial compensation is three hours, measured by actual arrival time at the passenger's final destination. Compensation entitlements range from £220 to £520 per person, determined by a combination of flight distance and total delay duration.
Eligibility for financial compensation is conditional upon the delay being attributable to the airline. Where the disruption resulted from an extraordinary circumstance outside the carrier's reasonable control, including severe weather conditions, air traffic control industrial action, or other force majeure events, neither UK 261 nor EU 261 obliges the airline to pay compensation.
Independently of financial compensation eligibility, both regulations impose a duty of care on airlines once delays exceed the following thresholds:
- Short-haul flights (up to 1,500 km): Care and assistance required after 2 hours
- Medium-haul flights (1,500–3,500 km): Care and assistance required after 3 hours
- Long-haul flights (over 3,500 km): Care and assistance required after 4 hours
Compensation entitlement is calculated according to the passenger's actual arrival time at the final destination airport:
- Short-haul (up to 1,500 km): Arrival 3 or more hours late — £220 per person
- Medium-haul (1,500–3,500 km): Arrival 3 or more hours late — £350 per person
- Long-haul (over 3,500 km): Arrival 3–4 hours late — £260 per person; arrival 4 or more hours late — £520 per person
How much compensation are you entitled to for a delayed flight?
Under both UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261), flight delay compensation is calculated according to two variables, the total distance of the flight and the duration of the arrival delay at the passenger's final destination.
By way of illustration: a passenger delayed on a flight from London to Birmingham, a short-haul route of under 1,500 km, would be entitled to £220 per person, provided they arrived more than three hours late and the delay was the airline's responsibility. A passenger delayed on a long-haul flight from London to Dubai, a distance exceeding 3,500 km and who arrived four or more hours late, would be entitled to the maximum compensation of £520 per person.
The full compensation scale under UK 261 and EU 261 is as follows:
| Delay Duration & Distance | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|
| Arrival delay of less than 3 hours (all distances) | No compensation is payable under either regulation |
| Arrival delay of 3 or more hours (under 1,500 km) | £220 per person |
| Arrival delay of 3 or more hours (1,500–3,500 km) | £350 per person |
| Arrival delay of 3–4 hours (over 3,500 km) | £260 per person |
| Arrival delay of 4 or more hours (over 3,500 km) | £520 per person |
What else can you claim if your flight is delayed?
Beyond the fixed financial compensation of between £220 and £520 per person available under UK 261 and EU 261, passengers are also entitled to a range of care and assistance measures from their airline whilst they wait. These entitlements apply once the relevant delay threshold has been reached and remain in force for the entire duration of the disruption, irrespective of its cause.
Under both regulations, the operating airline is legally obliged to provide the following:
- Meals and refreshments: The airline must provide food and drinks appropriate to the length of the delay, typically issued in the form of vouchers. Where an airline fails to meet this obligation, passengers should purchase refreshments independently and retain all receipts, as these costs are recoverable directly from the carrier.
- Communication facilities: Passengers must be granted access to free telephone calls and email communication for the duration of the delay, enabling them to make necessary arrangements with family, accommodation providers, or onward transport.
- Regular flight status updates: Where a delay reaches two hours or more, the airline is required to provide passengers with updates on the status of their flight at intervals of no more than 30 minutes, ensuring they are kept fully informed throughout.
- Overnight accommodation and transfers: Where a delay necessitates an overnight stay, the airline must arrange and fund hotel accommodation in the vicinity of the airport, together with return transport between the airport and the hotel.
Important: The duty of care obligations outlined above apply throughout the full duration of the delay, regardless of its length or cause. Even where an airline successfully invokes the extraordinary circumstances exemption to avoid paying financial compensation, its legal duty of care to passengers remains wholly intact under both UK 261 and EU 261.
Ready to claim? Don't let your airline off the hook, you deserve compensation.
Does the airline obliged to reimburse additional costs and expenses during a flight delay?
Yes. Under both UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261), passengers are entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable additional costs and expenses incurred as a direct consequence of a flight delay, over and above any financial compensation owed. Recoverable expenses typically include the following:
- Replacement flight costs: Where a passenger is required to arrange an alternative flight as a result of the delay, the airline must reimburse any additional costs incurred above the price of the original ticket.
- Ground transport costs: Reasonable expenditure on taxis, trains, or other ground transport necessitated by the delay such as travel to a hotel or onward transport to a final destination, is reimbursable under both regulations, subject to reasonableness.
- Meals, accommodation, and essential expenses: All reasonable costs incurred for meals, hotel accommodation, and other necessary expenditure arising directly from the delay must be reimbursed by the operating carrier.
Important: Passengers should retain all receipts for expenses incurred during the delay. Documentary evidence is essential when submitting a reimbursement claim to the airline, and claims without supporting receipts are far more likely to be disputed or refused.
How to claim compensation for delayed flight?
Passengers seeking to claim compensation for a delayed flight under UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) or EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261) should take the following steps to maximise the strength of their claim.
Begin by collating all relevant documentation. This should include your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and flight number, together with evidence of your actual arrival time at the final destination. Any contemporaneous evidence of the delay such as photographs of airport departure boards, airline correspondence, or app notifications should also be retained, along with receipts for all additional expenditure incurred as a direct result of the disruption.
Use Air Delayed's free flight delay compensation tool to establish your eligibility with in 60 seconds and calculate the precise amount you are owed under UK 261 or EU 261. Claims can be submitted directly through Air Delayed, our team manages all correspondence, negotiations, and any necessary escalation with the airline on your behalf or independently to the carrier. Our service is entirely no win, no fee basis.
When is compensation not payable under UK 261 and EU 261?
Financial compensation is not payable in all cases of flight delay. Both UK 261 and EU 261 incorporate an extraordinary circumstances exemption, which relieves airlines of their compensation obligation where a delay was caused by an event that was unforeseeable and outside the carrier's reasonable control. Circumstances recognised as extraordinary under UK and EU law include:
- Air traffic control strikes or airspace restrictions
- Acts of terrorism or serious security threats at the airport
- Severe weather events including storms, hail, and volcanic eruptions
It is important to note that technical faults do not constitute extraordinary circumstances under established UK and EU case law, despite airlines frequently citing mechanical defects as grounds for refusing compensation. Passengers whose claims have been refused on technical grounds are strongly advised to seek a review before accepting the airline's decision.
Quick overview of compensation eligibility
| Circumstance | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Missing crew | Eligible |
| Technical defects | Eligible |
| Delays caused by an earlier flight | Eligible |
| Pilot or ground staff strikes | Eligible, subject to the airline having had influence over the industrial action |
| Severe weather or airspace closure | Not eligible |
| Air traffic control strikes | Not eligible |
| Pandemic | Not eligible |
| Acts of terrorism | Not eligible |
| Natural disasters | Not eligible |
| Emergency landing due to a medical emergency | Not eligible |
How long do you have to claim flight delay compensation under UK 261 and EU 261?
Passengers are not limited to claiming compensation for recent flight disruptions. Under UK Regulation 261 (UK 261), the limitation periods for flight delay compensation claims are as follows:
- England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Claims must be submitted within six years of the date of the delayed flight, in accordance with the Limitation Act 1980
- Scotland: A five-year limitation period applies under Scots law
The application of these extended time limits was confirmed by the landmark judgment in Dawson v Thomson Airways Ltd (2014), in which the Court of Appeal ruled that compensation claims under UK 261 are governed by UK contract law rather than the two-year limit prescribed by the Montreal Convention 1999.
Importantly, the limitation period is calculated from the end of the calendar year in which the delay occurred, rather than the precise date of the flight. By way of example, a passenger whose flight was delayed on 1st January 2025 would have until the end of 2031 to submit a valid claim under UK 261 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
What are your rights if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours?
Where a flight delay reaches or exceeds five hours, passengers are afforded additional protections under both UK Regulation 261 (UK 261) and EU Regulation EC 261/2004 (EU 261). At this threshold, the passenger acquires the right to elect not to continue their journey, and the operating airline becomes legally obliged to offer one of the following alternatives without delay:
- Full ticket refund: Passengers who choose not to travel are entitled to a full refund of their original ticket price, encompassing all flights included within the same booking. Where a passenger is already mid-journey at the point the delay occurs, the airline is additionally required to fund a return flight to the passenger's original point of departure.
- Rebooking on a later service: Passengers who wish to continue to their destination may request rebooking onto a later flight to the same destination under comparable conditions, at no additional cost to the passenger.
- Alternative transport to the final destination: Where onward travel by air is not feasible, the airline must arrange and fund suitable alternative transport such as rail, coach, or taxi services to convey the passenger to their final destination.
What do you do if the airline refuses to pay your compensation?
Flight delays are stressful enough without the added aggravation of having your compensation claim refused or simply ignored. Unfortunately, it happens all too often but you do not have to accept it. Air Delayed is on your side, and we will not stop until you receive what you are rightfully owed under UK 261 and EU 261.
Here is what to do depending on your situation:
- The airline has rejected your claim: Airlines turn down legitimate claims on a daily basis, hiding behind vague excuses such as extraordinary circumstances or missing paperwork. Many of these refusals simply do not stand up to scrutiny. Do not take no for an answer, hand over your case to Air Delayed and let us challenge the decision for you.
- The airline is not responding or has not paid: Silence and delays are deliberate tactics used by many airlines to wear passengers down until they give up. If your airline has gone quiet or promised payment that has never arrived, Air Delayed will step in, escalate your case, and hold the airline fully accountable under UK 261 and EU 261
Air Delayed: Your trusted partner in claiming flight compensation
Nobody should have to fight alone for compensation they are legally entitled to. That is exactly why Air Delayed exists. We take on the airlines, so you do not have to, and we do not stop until you receive what you are owed under UK 261 and EU 261.
Here is what you get when you claim with Air Delayed:
- Zero financial risk: If your case needs to go to court, we cover every penny of the legal and court fees. You will never face an unexpected bill whatever happens.
- Expertise that gets results: Our team of claims specialists and partner solicitors has seen every trick in the airline's playbook and knows exactly how to counter them. With hundreds of successful cases won, we have a proven track record of getting passengers the compensation they deserve.
- Simple from start to finish: No lengthy forms, no confusing processes. Upload your documents online and we take care of absolutely everything else.
- No win, no fee: We only take a commission when we win your case. If we do not succeed, you pay nothing, it really is that simple.
Getting started is easy:
- Check your eligibility: Run a free check using our flight delay compensation tool and enter your flight details.
- Upload your documents: Send us your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any correspondence with the airline.
- Sit back and relax: Air Delayed handles the entire process including legal proceedings if the airline refuses to pay.
A rejection from the airline is not the end of the road, it is just the beginning of ours. Let Air Delayed fight your corner and recover the compensation you are rightfully owed under UK 261 and EU 261.
How quickly will you receive your flight delay compensation?
It is one of the first questions passengers ask and it is a fair one. The straightforward answer is that the speed of your payout depends almost entirely on how quickly the airline responds.
Here is how the process works with Air Delayed:
- Step 1 — We review your documents: Once you have submitted your flight details and supporting documents, our team checks everything thoroughly. As soon as we have your signature and booking confirmation, we get straight to work.
- Step 2 — We demand payment from the airline: Air Delayed formally contacts the airline on your behalf, setting a firm deadline for payment. If the airline cooperates and pays promptly, many claims can be resolved within a few weeks.
- Step 3 — If the airline refuses, we escalate: Where the airline ignores the demand or refuses to pay, Air Delayed will pursue legal action. Court proceedings do take longer, timelines depend on court availability and can stretch to several months, but we will see your case through to the end.
You will be kept fully informed of your claim's progress through your Air Delayed account at every stage. We appreciate your patience where legal proceedings become necessary but rest assured, we will not give up until you receive what you are owed.
Remember: Air Delayed operates on a strict no win, no fee basis. Our specialist solicitors work entirely on your behalf, and we only take a commission when we successfully recover your compensation. There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges ever.
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Your questions, answered
If your flight arrives at its destination with a delay of more than 3 hours, you could potentially be eligible for compensation and you can make a claim, provided that the airline is responsible for the delay. Additionally, if the delay results in long waiting times at the airport the airline is required to provide you with complimentary drinks and snacks.
Compensation amounts are fixed based on the flight distance: £220 for flights up to 1,500 km, £350 for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and £520 for flights over 3,500 km. These amounts are per passenger and are not related to the ticket price.
We cover all airlines flying in and out of Europe. If your flight was delayed or cancelled and it was your airline's responsibility you could be entitled to compensation of up to £520 under Regulations UK261 or EU261.
Airlines will sometimes contact you directly once we have started the claims process with them. If this does happen, we ask that you contact us and if possible send us the correspondence sent to you, to ensure there are no delays in your claims process. If your claim is successful and the airline pays you directly, we will still be entitled to our fee to cover the costs we have incurred in accordance with our Terms & Conditions.
Air Passenger Rights Regulations also apply to package holidays. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you may be eligible for compensation under EU261 or UK261, even if you booked through a tour operator. Your rights remain protected regardless of how your trip was arranged.