Flight delay compensation UK: claim up to £520 under UK261

• ✓Nothing to pay upfront
• ✓Track your claim online

3 steps to get compensation

UK261 is the UK version of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, kept in UK law after Brexit. It gives each passenger fixed compensation when a covered flight arrives 3 hours or more late, is cancelled at short notice or is overbooked, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.

The same distance bands apply to short-notice cancellations and denied boarding. The amount does not depend on the ticket price. Worked examples and the £260 rule: how much compensation for a delayed flight.

Last reviewed: 2 November 2026

Why claim with FlightClaimHQ?

You take no financial risk and have very little to do. The eligibility check is free and takes about two minutes, the flight distance is calculated automatically and you sign the agreement online. We then send the claim to the airline, follow it up, challenge refusals and, if necessary, escalate the case to the competent ADR scheme or to the CAA. Nothing to pay upfront: our fee is 25% incl. VAT, only if your claim succeeds.

What if the airline refuses?

Airlines often reject a first claim with a standard reply citing extraordinary circumstances, generally without any evidence. We check the reason given against the facts of your flight, challenge refusals that do not hold up and, if necessary, escalate the case to the competent ADR scheme or to the CAA. The outcome depends on the facts of each flight, so no result can be guaranteed.

When do I get paid?

When the airline pays, we deduct our fee and pay you the balance within 14 business days of cleared receipt of the compensation. How long the airline takes to pay varies; you can follow every step of your claim online.

What if you lose?

You pay nothing. There is nothing to pay upfront, and no fee is due if your claim does not succeed.

How am I paid?

Once the airline has paid, we pay the balance to you by bank transfer within 14 business days of cleared receipt; we only ask for your bank details at that stage. You can track your claim online at every step, our terms of use are published in full, and you can refer any dispute free of charge to our consumer mediator, CM2C. Our About page explains who operates the service and how a claim works.

How much compensation can I claim under UK261?

It depends on the flight distance: £220 per passenger for flights up to 1,500 km, £350 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and £520 for flights over 3,500 km. On the longest flights the amount can be reduced by half if you arrive between 3 and 4 hours late.

Does UK261 still apply after Brexit?

Yes. The EU rules (Regulation 261/2004) were kept in UK law and adapted: this is UK261. It covers flights departing from a UK airport with any airline, and flights arriving in the UK from abroad when the operating airline is a UK or EU airline.

How long do I have to claim?

Generally six years in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and five years in Scotland, counted from the date of the flight. There is no need to rush, but booking confirmations and airline emails are easier to find while the trip is recent.

What are extraordinary circumstances?

Events the airline could not have avoided even with all reasonable measures, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions or strikes, or security risks. In that case no fixed compensation is due. Technical problems are generally not extraordinary: the Court of Appeal ruled in 2014 that a technical fault arising in the normal running of an airline does not qualify ([2014] EWCA Civ 791).

Can I claim if my flight was cancelled?

Yes, if the airline told you less than 14 days before departure, unless it offered a replacement flight close to your original times or the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances. In every case you can choose a refund or a replacement flight.

Claim up to £520 for your delayed or cancelled flight