How to claim flight delay compensation (UK261)
If your flight arrives 3 hours or more late, you could be owed £220 to £520 per person under UK law. Here's how to check and claim directly from the airline – for free.
- Time
- 20 minutes to claim
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 6
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Booking reference and flight number
- Boarding passes or e-tickets
- Actual arrival time (note when the doors opened)
- Receipts for food, drink or hotels you paid for
Safety first
- Claims firms often charge a large share of your payout for something you can do yourself for free.
- Watch out for social media accounts pretending to be airline support – only use the airline's official website.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Check the flight is covered
UK261 rules cover all flights departing a UK airport (any airline), and flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline. Flights into the EU on EU airlines are covered by the similar EU rules.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Claim care at the airport
If you're delayed 2 hours or more (under 1,500km), 3 hours (1,500–3,500km) or 4 hours (over 3,500km), the airline must provide food and drink, a way to communicate, and a hotel and transfers if delayed overnight. If they don't, buy reasonable items yourself and keep receipts.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Work out what you could get
If you arrive 3 hours or more late, you may be owed fixed compensation per person:
- £220 – flights under 1,500km
- £350 – flights 1,500–3,500km
- £520 – flights over 3,500km (£260 if 3–4 hours late)
For connecting flights on one booking, it's based on the distance from first to final airport and how late you arrive at the end.
Next: step 4 -
Step 4: Check the reason for the delay
Airlines don't have to pay compensation for extraordinary circumstances outside their control – such as extreme weather, air traffic control restrictions or security issues. Most technical faults and staffing problems are the airline's responsibility. You're still entitled to care either way.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Claim directly from the airline
Compensation isn't automatic. Use the airline's online claim form or write to them with your booking details, flight number, delay length and what you're claiming. You don't need a claims company – they take a cut.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Escalate if refused
If the airline refuses or hasn't replied after 8 weeks, take it to the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme the airline belongs to (free). If the airline isn't in one, the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team can help. You can also consider the small claims court.
Tips
- Take screenshots of delay notices and departure boards as evidence.
- If you're delayed 5 hours or more and decide not to travel, you can get a refund for the unused ticket.
Questions people ask
Is compensation per booking or per person?
Per person, including children with a seat.
What about cancelled flights?
Different rules apply – see our guide on claiming for a cancelled flight.
Does strike action count as extraordinary?
Strikes by airport or air traffic control staff are generally extraordinary; the CAA lists these among causes that don't qualify for compensation.
Sources
Checked 9 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
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