UK flight delay compensation 2026: your rights, amounts and how to claim

Reclaim

TL;DR

UK261 (the UK retained version of EU Regulation 261/2004) entitles passengers to compensation of £220, £350, or £520 per person for flight cancellations and delays of 3 hours or more at the destination, where the cause was within the airline's control. Extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, ATC strikes, security emergencies) exempt the airline. Claim directly with the airline first; escalate to the airline's approved ADR scheme or the Civil Aviation Authority if rejected. No claims management company is needed - the process is free.

Flight delay and cancellation compensation is one of the most frequently misunderstood consumer rights in the UK. Many passengers do not realise they are entitled to compensation; many more do not claim because they assume the process is difficult or that they need to use a claims management company. In fact, the process is straightforward and free; claims management companies charge 25-40% of any payout for a service you can do yourself at no cost.

UK261 - the UK-retained version of EU Regulation 261/2004, now part of UK domestic law - sets out clear rights for passengers on UK departing flights and EU flights arriving in the UK. This guide explains exactly when compensation is owed, how much, what counts as extraordinary circumstances that exempt the airline, and how to claim and escalate.

Key facts (2026)

UK261 compensation amounts per passenger: £220 for flights up to 1,500km; £350 for EU flights between 1,500-3,500km; £520 for flights over 3,500km. For long-haul flights with delay of 3-4 hours, the amount may be reduced by 50% if the delay is within 3-4 hours (Civil Aviation Authority).
Qualifying delay: the delay must be measured at the scheduled destination arrival time. A 3-hour or more delay at the destination triggers compensation rights, regardless of departure delay (CJEU Sturgeon ruling, retained in UK law).
UK261 applies to: all flights departing from a UK airport (any airline); flights to the UK operated by a UK or EU airline. Flights to the UK operated by a non-UK, non-EU airline do not fall under UK261 (Civil Aviation Authority).
Extraordinary circumstances: airlines are exempt from paying compensation if the delay or cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control that could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include severe weather, ATC strikes, security emergencies, and political instability at the destination (UK261).
Time limit to claim: 6 years from the date of the flight in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland; 5 years in Scotland (Limitation Act 1980 / Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973).

When UK261 compensation applies

UK261 compensation applies in three scenarios: flight cancellation; delay at the destination of 3 hours or more; and denied boarding due to overbooking. For delays, the 3-hour threshold is measured at the actual arrival time at the destination compared with the scheduled arrival time. A flight that departs 4 hours late but makes up time and arrives only 2 hours 50 minutes late does not qualify. A flight that departs on time but lands 3 hours late due to a technical fault qualifies. The delay must be caused by something within the airline's control - technical faults, crew shortages, late incoming aircraft (unless caused by extraordinary circumstances the previous day), and airline-caused scheduling errors are within the airline's control. Passengers who voluntarily accept a later flight in exchange for vouchers or other benefits waive their right to UK261 compensation for the delay; accepting re-routing does not waive compensation rights where the re-routing arrives significantly later than the original booking.

What counts as extraordinary circumstances

The extraordinary circumstances defence allows airlines to avoid paying compensation where the delay or cancellation was genuinely beyond their control and unavoidable. Courts and the CAA have interpreted this narrowly: the circumstances must be genuinely extraordinary (not merely unusual) and the airline must show it took all reasonable measures to avoid the delay or cancellation even if the underlying event was unavoidable. Examples of accepted extraordinary circumstances include: severe weather that prevents safe operation (not just bad weather); air traffic control strikes or restrictions; security emergencies; political instability making the destination unsafe; hidden manufacturing defects in the aircraft not previously known. Examples of events that are not extraordinary circumstances include: technical faults with the aircraft that were discoverable with proper maintenance; crew absence that could have been covered with proper planning; late incoming aircraft from the previous rotation (unless the cause of the previous delay was itself extraordinary); overbooking (a commercial decision). The airline bears the burden of proving extraordinary circumstances; vague references to operational reasons or weather are insufficient without specific evidence linking the weather event to the delay and showing no reasonable mitigation was possible.

Duty of care: care and assistance during a delay

Separately from compensation, UK261 also requires airlines to provide care and assistance when a flight is delayed. For delays of 2 hours or more (for short flights) and 3-4 hours or more (for longer flights), the airline must offer: meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time; two telephone calls, emails, or faxes; and hotel accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary. These duty of care rights apply even when the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances - the extraordinary circumstances defence exempts the airline from compensation only, not from the duty of care obligation. If the airline does not provide these provisions, keep receipts for reasonable expenses (food, accommodation, transport to accommodation) and claim reimbursement from the airline; UK261 entitles you to a refund of reasonable costs where the airline failed to provide them. Luxury expenditure or items unrelated to the delay are unlikely to be reimbursed.

How to claim: step by step

Step 1: gather evidence. Collect your boarding passes, booking confirmation, any communication from the airline about the delay, and a note of the actual departure and arrival times. If you did not receive a reason for the delay at the airport, check flightradar24.com or similar services for historical flight data to confirm the actual delay duration. Step 2: submit a claim to the airline. Most airlines have an online claim form on their website; submit your claim citing UK261, your flight number, date, departure and destination, and the actual arrival time versus the scheduled arrival time. Specify the amount you believe you are owed (£220, £350, or £520 per passenger depending on flight distance). Step 3: if the airline rejects your claim or does not respond within 8 weeks, escalate to the airline's approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. Each UK airline must belong to an approved ADR scheme; the CAA publishes which scheme each airline uses at caa.co.uk. The ADR service investigates independently and decisions are binding on the airline. Step 4: if the airline is not a member of an ADR scheme, escalate to the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA can take enforcement action against airlines that do not comply with UK261. See also our parking fine appeal guide and toll charge appeal guide for other reclaim routes.

Do you need a claims management company?

No. Claims management companies (CMCs) charge 25-40% of any successful compensation plus VAT for a service that costs nothing to do yourself. The airline's claim form, the ADR service, and the CAA enforcement route are all free. Citizens Advice provides free guidance on making UK261 claims, and Which? has published free claim letter templates. If a CMC contacts you proactively about a past flight delay, be cautious; some use aggressive or misleading marketing. There is no situation in which a CMC is necessary for a standard UK261 claim. The process does require some effort and patience - some airlines respond slowly or reject valid claims initially - but persistence through the free channels costs only time, not money.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to claim flight delay compensation?

You have 6 years from the date of the flight to make a UK261 claim in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland). This is a contractual and statutory limitation period; claims submitted after this time are time-barred. Do not delay; airlines are more likely to have supporting records of the delay for recent flights, and court or ADR processes take time. Claim as soon as possible after the flight.

My flight was delayed due to a technical fault. Can I claim?

Probably yes. Technical faults are not automatically extraordinary circumstances under UK261. A technical fault that was discoverable through proper maintenance is the airline's responsibility and not an extraordinary circumstance. A hidden manufacturing defect that could not have been identified even with proper checks may be extraordinary, but the airline must prove this. The Court of Justice of the European Union (whose case law UK courts continue to reference) has consistently held that technical faults are generally the airline's responsibility.

Does UK261 apply to non-UK airlines flying to the UK?

UK261 applies to: all flights departing from a UK airport (any airline); and flights arriving at a UK airport operated by a UK-licensed or EU-licensed airline. Flights to the UK operated by a non-UK, non-EU airline (for example, a US or Middle Eastern carrier operating a flight from the US to London) do not fall under UK261. Passengers on such flights may have rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 if the airline is EU-based, or under the relevant country's domestic aviation law, or under the Montreal Convention for delays.

My airline offered me a voucher instead of cash compensation. Do I have to accept it?

No. UK261 compensation must be paid in cash (or by bank transfer or cheque) unless the passenger freely chooses to accept a travel voucher. You cannot be forced to accept a voucher. If an airline offers only a voucher, reject it in writing and demand cash payment of the applicable statutory amount. If the airline continues to refuse, escalate to the ADR scheme.

How do I find which ADR scheme my airline uses?

The Civil Aviation Authority publishes a list of approved ADR schemes and which airlines participate in each at caa.co.uk/aviation-consumer/make-a-complaint/. The main approved ADR schemes for UK airlines are the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Aviation and the Aviation ADR scheme. Each scheme has an online application process and investigates complaints for free. If your airline is not listed as a participant, contact the CAA directly.

How we verified this guide

All UK261 rights, compensation amounts, and claim processes were verified against UK-retained EU Regulation 261/2004 (UK261), Civil Aviation Authority UK261 enforcement guidance, and Citizens Advice flight delay compensation resources during May 2026. We do not accept payment from airlines or claims management companies and do not earn commission on compensation referrals.

Disclaimer: This guide is information only, not legal advice. Rules and compensation amounts may change. Always verify current CAA guidance and your specific flight circumstances before submitting a claim.

Primary sources

Last reviewed: May 2026.