Heathrow and Gatwick Flight Delays: Your Rights Under UK261 and What to Do Now

What is happening at Heathrow and Gatwick today

Heathrow and Gatwick airports are experiencing significant flight disruption on 27 June 2026 as thunderstorms move across the south east of England. UK air traffic control has implemented temporary flow restrictions, reducing the number of aircraft able to depart and arrive per hour. The restrictions are cascading through airline schedules, with delays building throughout the morning and expected to continue into the evening.

Weather-related disruption at major hub airports compounds rapidly. When inbound aircraft are delayed, the outbound flight on the same aircraft is delayed. Crew duty time limits mean that where delays exceed certain thresholds, crew must rest before operating the next sector, causing further cancellations. Passengers on afternoon and evening departures may find their flights delayed even after the weather clears, as the network recovers its schedule.

Your rights under UK261

UK Regulation 261/2004, retained in UK law as the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and commonly referred to as UK261, sets out the rights of passengers departing from UK airports or arriving at UK airports on UK or EU carriers. The regulation covers three main entitlements: the right to care, the right to reimbursement or re-routing, and the right to compensation.

Right to care applies from the moment a delay reaches two hours (short-haul, under 1,500km), three hours (medium-haul, 1,500-3,500km) or four hours (long-haul, over 3,500km). Care means meals and refreshments reasonable in relation to the waiting time, two telephone calls or emails, and hotel accommodation and transport to and from the hotel if an overnight stay becomes necessary. Airlines must provide care regardless of the cause of the delay, including weather.

Right to reimbursement or re-routing applies where a flight is cancelled or delayed by five hours or more. Passengers can choose between a full refund of the unused ticket price or re-routing to their destination at the earliest opportunity. If the passenger chooses a refund and the trip no longer serves any purpose, they are entitled to a return flight to their original point of departure if needed.

When compensation is and is not payable

Compensation under UK261 is payable where a flight arrives at its destination three hours or more late and the delay was caused by something within the airline's control. The amounts are £220 for flights under 1,500km, £350 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, and £520 for flights over 3,500km. Compensation is reduced by 50 percent for delays of three to four hours on longer routes where the airline offers re-routing.

The critical exception is extraordinary circumstances. Where the airline can prove the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken, compensation is not payable. Weather is generally treated as an extraordinary circumstance. Thunderstorms causing air traffic control restrictions are a paradigm case of extraordinary circumstances, meaning most passengers affected by today's disruption at Heathrow and Gatwick will not be entitled to UK261 compensation -- but will still be entitled to care (meals, refreshments, hotel if overnight).

Travel insurance and weather delays

Where UK261 compensation is not payable due to extraordinary circumstances, travel insurance may provide an alternative source of reimbursement for additional costs incurred. Most comprehensive travel insurance policies include a travel delay benefit -- a fixed payment per hour of delay beyond a minimum threshold, typically four to twelve hours. The benefit is usually modest (£25-£50 per hour) and subject to a maximum. More relevant for significant disruption is the abandonment or cancellation cover -- where a delay exceeds a specified period (typically twelve to twenty-four hours), the policy may allow the passenger to abandon the trip and claim the cost of the unused booking.

Passengers who miss a connecting flight, hotel, car hire or cruise as a result of a delayed or cancelled flight may be able to claim consequential losses from their travel insurer, subject to policy terms. Keep all receipts and obtain written confirmation from the airline of the reason for and duration of the delay, as insurers require this documentation to process claims.

What to do right now if you are affected

Check your airline's app and the airport's website for real-time status. If your flight is delayed by two hours or more, ask the airline for meal vouchers -- you are entitled to them regardless of the cause of the delay. If the airline refuses, buy food and keep receipts -- you can claim reimbursement. If your flight is cancelled, ask for re-routing or a full refund in writing. Do not accept a travel voucher in lieu of a cash refund unless you want one. If you are required to stay overnight, the airline must arrange and pay for hotel accommodation and transfers. If they cannot arrange it, book yourself and keep receipts for reimbursement.

Frequently asked questions

Am I entitled to compensation for a weather delay?

No, not under UK261. Weather is classified as an extraordinary circumstance, meaning airlines are exempt from the compensation obligation. However you remain entitled to care -- meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if you are delayed overnight. Your travel insurance policy may separately provide a delay benefit or cover consequential losses.

What meals am I entitled to during a delay?

Under UK261, airlines must provide meals and refreshments reasonable in relation to the waiting time. In practice this usually means a meal voucher redeemable at the airport. If the airline does not provide vouchers, buy food yourself, keep receipts, and claim reimbursement from the airline. There is no fixed monetary limit in the regulation -- the standard is reasonableness.

Can I claim if my flight is delayed but not cancelled?

Yes. UK261 rights apply to both delayed and cancelled flights. For compensation, the relevant trigger is arriving at your destination three or more hours late. For care rights, the trigger is the departure delay reaching the applicable threshold (two, three or four hours depending on route distance). You do not need to be cancelled to claim care rights.

What if I miss a connecting flight because of the delay?

If your connecting flight is on the same booking as your delayed flight, the airline responsible for the first leg must re-route you to your final destination. If the connections are on separate bookings, the airline operating the delayed flight has no obligation to cover the missed connection, but your travel insurer may. Always book connections on a single ticket where possible for maximum protection.

How do I make a claim for UK261 rights?

Submit a written claim to the airline directly, including your flight details, the delay duration, and what you are claiming. Airlines have their own claims processes. If the airline rejects your claim or does not respond within eight weeks, you can escalate to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, or take the matter to the small claims court. The CAA publishes a list of approved ADR schemes at caa.co.uk.