Flight delayed in the UK? How much you can claim

If you landed three or more hours late, you may be owed £220 to £520 per person under UK261. Here is who qualifies and how to claim.

If your flight landed three or more hours late, you may be owed cash compensation under UK261, the UK version of the old EU flight rules. It is separate from a refund and from any food or drink the airline gave you.

Does UK261 cover your flight?

It generally applies if your flight left a UK airport on any airline, or arrived in the UK on a UK or EU airline. What matters is when you reached your final destination, not when you took off.

How much can you claim?

Compensation is per passenger and depends on the distance of the flight:

• Up to 1,500 km: £220
• 1,500 km to 3,500 km: £350
• Over 3,500 km: £520

For a family of four on a 1,500 to 3,500 km flight, that is £1,400. Children usually count as passengers too.

When might you not get paid?

Airlines do not have to pay if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside their control, such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions. A technical fault found during routine maintenance is generally not treated as extraordinary. Airlines often say "extraordinary" first, so it is fair to ask them to show evidence.

What to do

1. Keep your booking confirmation, boarding passes and a note of the actual arrival time.
2. Write to the airline, name UK261, state the amount you are claiming and give a deadline of 14 days.
3. If they refuse or ignore you, you can take it to an aviation ADR scheme and then to court.

You do not need a claims company. They often keep a percentage of what you win, so doing it yourself can mean you keep all of it.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check gov.uk or Citizens Advice for your situation.