UK flight compensation (UK261), in plain words
After Brexit the UK kept the EU rule and put it into British law. Same shape, paid in pounds.
Which flights it covers
- Any flight leaving a UK airport, on any airline.
- Any flight arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline (British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, KLM, and so on).
- Not covered: a flight into the UK on, say, Air Canada or United. Check the rules where the flight started instead.
What you get
| Flight distance | Arrived 3+ hours late |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km (Glasgow–Amsterdam) | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (Manchester–Marrakesh) | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km (London–New York) | £520 (£260 if 3–4 hours late) |
Cancellations and bumping
Same rules as the EU: compensation if you were told less than 14 days ahead (unless rerouted close to the original times), and always for being bumped off an overbooked flight.
When the airline doesn't have to pay
"Extraordinary circumstances" such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions and airport closures. Crew shortages and ordinary technical problems do not count.
How to claim
- Write to the airline and quote "UK261, Article 7".
- If it refuses, take it to the airline's dispute scheme. Most UK airlines belong to CEDR or AviationADR, which are free for passengers. If the airline isn't in a scheme, the Civil Aviation Authority's PACT service can look at it.
- Small claims court is the last resort and works well for clear cases.
You have 6 years to claim in England and Wales, 5 in Scotland.
Check your flight →