Flight Delay Compensation Checker (UK261, 2026)
If your flight arrived three hours or more late, UK law may give you £220, £350 or £520 per passenger. Answer a few questions to see whether your flight is covered and what the rules provide. You can claim directly from the airline yourself, for free; you do not need a claims company.
Compensation under UK rules
£350
£350 per passenger · not a promise that the airline will pay
Covered? Flights departing a UK airport are covered, whatever the airline.
Amount: Flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km: £350 per passenger.
Conditions: you need a confirmed booking and to have checked in on time. Free tickets and discounted fares not available to the public are not covered, but frequent-flyer tickets are.
The airline's reason: Ask the airline for the reason for the delay in writing. Whether compensation is due depends on whether the cause was an extraordinary circumstance outside its control.
Next step: claim directly from the airline, which is free. If it says no, or has not replied within 8 weeks of your written complaint, you can go to its approved dispute resolution scheme, or to the Civil Aviation Authority if the airline is not in one.
How UK Flight Delay Compensation Works
The UK version of the air passenger rights regulation (often called UK261) covers flights departing a UK airport on any airline, flights to the UK from abroad on a UK or EU airline, and flights into the EU from outside the UK and EU on a UK airline. Connecting flights booked together are treated as one journey from the first departure airport. Compensation depends on the flight distance and how late you arrived at your final destination:
| Flight distance | Arrived 3 to 4 hours late | Arrived more than 4 hours late |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | £220 | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 | £350 |
| More than 3,500 km | £260 | £520 |
The amounts are per passenger and have been the same since the end of 2020. A delay of less than three hours at your final destination does not give a right to compensation, although the airline may still owe you care such as meals during a long wait. Cancellations and being denied boarding have their own rules. See our flight delay compensation guide.
Extraordinary Circumstances
An airline does not have to pay if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided. The Civil Aviation Authority gives examples such as extreme weather, strikes unrelated to the airline (for example airport or air traffic control staff), air traffic control restrictions, and airport closures, and says its view is guidance rather than a complete legal test. Even then, the airline must still provide care, such as meals and a hotel if you are stuck overnight. The Court of Appeal has held that technical faults (Jet2.com v Huzar, 2014) and crew sickness (Lipton v BA City Flyer, 2021) are normally part of running an airline, so they are not usually extraordinary circumstances.
How to Claim for Free
- Claim directly from the airline in writing, giving your booking reference, flight number, date and the delay.
- If the airline refuses, or has not replied within 8 weeks, take it to the airline's approved alternative dispute resolution scheme (the CAA currently lists AviationADR and CEDR). If the airline is not in a scheme, the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team may help, though it cannot make a binding decision.
- As a last resort you can make a small claim in court.
In England and Wales you have six years from the flight to bring a claim. Northern Ireland is very likely also six years, and in Scotland it is likely five years, so it is best not to wait. Claims companies usually take a share of any compensation, or charge a fee, for doing the same steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much compensation do I get for a delayed flight in the UK?
If you arrived three hours or more late on a covered flight: £220 for flights of 1,500 km or less, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £520 for longer flights (£260 if you arrived three to four hours late). The amounts are per passenger.
Do I need a claims company to claim flight delay compensation?
No. You can claim directly from the airline for free, then use its dispute resolution scheme or the CAA if it refuses. Claims companies usually take a share of any payment or charge a fee.
Does a technical fault count as an extraordinary circumstance?
Usually not. The Court of Appeal held in Jet2.com v Huzar (2014) that technical problems are part of the normal running of an airline. Each case turns on its facts.
How long do I have to claim?
Six years in England and Wales. Northern Ireland is very likely six years and Scotland is likely five, so claim as soon as you can.
Does this tool store or send my information anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere, and we do not pass details to claims companies.
Checked on 26 September 2026 against Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (Articles 3, 6 and 7), the Civil Aviation Authority's guidance on delays and dispute resolution, and the Court of Appeal decisions in Jet2.com v Huzar [2014] EWCA Civ 791, Lipton v BA City Flyer [2021] EWCA Civ 454 and Dawson v Thomson Airways [2014] EWCA Civ 845. This is general information, not legal advice. RecordingLaw.com is not a claims management company and does not take or refer claims.
Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool: