UK 261 flight compensation regulation & claim guide
It pays to know your UK passenger rights:
You can claim up to £520 UK 261 compensation.
UK 261 covers delays, cancellations, and overbooking.
It applies to all UK flight departures and UK airlines.
Delayed and cancelled flights can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, in the UK, air passenger rights laws are in place to protect you when travel disruptions occur.
UK 261 safeguards passengers' rights in the UK, and provides compensation when airlines delay flights over 3 hours, cancel, or overbook, except when extraordinary circumstances are responsible for the disruption.
The law was introduced following Brexit, to give UK equivalent rights to EC 261 in the EU. In other words, if you’re seeking EU 261 compensation in the UK, the UK 261 regulation serves as its local counterpart.
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AT A glance
UK 261: Your rights explained
Compensation ranges from £220 to £520 per person, based on flight distance. Amounts are legally set and cannot be reduced by the airline.
All flights departing from a UK airport are covered by UK 261. Arrivals to the UK are covered if you fly with a UK or EU airline.
You can claim UK 261 compensation for cancellations, delays over 3 hours or denied boarding, except for in extraordinary circumstances.
When you're waiting for a disrupted flight, airlines are required to provide essential care such as food and drink and accommodation.
step 1
Submit your claim with AirHelp
It's secure, easy, and takes 2 minutes.
step 2
We handle everything
No paperwork or hours on hold for you.
Many airlines don't make claiming UK 261 compensation straightforward, and they're often reluctant to pay. While you can file claims yourself through the airline's website, this process is frequently slow, complex, and stressful.
That's where AirHelp steps in. Our expert team will handle everything for you. We even pursue legal action, if necessary.
Just enter your flight details in our easy compensation checker, and we'll get to work getting you money.
No win, no fee!
We only charge a fee if your claim is successful. To learn more, see what we charge when we win.
| UK 261: What you're entitled to | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Compensation up to £520 | Delays over 3 hrs, cancellations under 14 days, denied boarding |
| Right to care (food, hotel, transport) | When you’re stuck at the airport for long hours |
| Full refund or replacement flight | Cancellations and denied boardings that were not your fault |
When can I claim UK 261 compensation?
Under UK regulations, you could be entitled to compensation from the airline for the following situations:
Flight delay over 3 hours: For compensation, it's your arrival time that's important, not when your flight took off.
Missed connection: Missing a connection due to a disruption qualifies for compensation too, if you arrived at your final destination over 3 hours late.
Flight cancellation: You may get compensation if your flight was cancelled and you were informed less than 14 days before departure.
Denied boarding: You can claim compensation if you are refused boarding despite having a valid ticket and arriving at the gate on time. This usually only happens when the flight is overbooked.
Remember that under UK 261 law, you can claim between £220 and £520 compensation. Use our calculator below to check your UK261 flight compensation in two minutes.
We enforce your rights as a consumer
Compensation calculator
Check what you're entitled to
£220
up to 1,500 km
£350
1,500 - 3,500 km
£520
from 3,500 km
How much money can I get with a UK 261 claim?
The table below details the UK 261 compensation amounts:
| £220 | £350 | £520 |
|---|---|---|
| Flights 1,500 km or less | Flights 1,500-3,500 km | Flights 3,500 km or more |
Expert tip: It doesn't matter how much you paid for your ticket. Your flight distance determines how much compensation you're owed.
Almost all flights in or out of the UK are covered by UK 261 rules.
| UK airline | Non-UK airline | |
|---|---|---|
| Departing from a UK airport | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| Arriving at a UK airport | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| Arriving at an EU airport | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
UK 261 and other air passenger rights
Sometimes flights are covered by multiple regulations. Particularly if you're flying between the UK and EU where you're also protected by EC 261.
So which law should you use? Claim with AirHelp and we'll find the best law for you.
The UK 261 regulation excludes disruptions that are a result of extraordinary circumstances.
This means airlines don't have to pay compensation for disruptions they can't control, like freak weather conditions or air traffic control strikes.
Extraordinary circumstances
Airport staff strikes e.g. air traffic control or baggage handlers
Political unrest e.g. war or terrorism
Bad weather and natural disasters
Not an extraordinary circumstance — you get compensation
Airline staff strikes
Late or absent flight crew
Technical issues with the plane
There are grey areas. For example, if your airline failed to prepare for predicted bad weather, you can get compensation for that disruption.
We stay one step ahead
The law can also change. That's why AirHelp keeps up to date with cases in the UK Supreme Court and the English Court of Appeals. So we know when your claim is stronger than you think.
How to make a UK 261 claim
The two main ways to get UK 261 compensation are:
Claim direct with your airline
Use an independent expert like AirHelp
| Claim by yourself | Claim with AirHelp |
|---|---|
| ❌ Hard — You do all the work yourself | ✔️ Easy – we handle everything |
| ❌ Mixed results — especially with uncooperative airlines | ✔️ Proven results – we know how to win your claim |
| ❌ No legal support | ✔️ We work with legal experts |
| ❌ Free, but less likely to win! | ✔️ No win, no fee |
AirHelp is the worldwide #1 for flight compensation.
Since 2013, we have got over 3 million passengers the compensation they deserve. With a team of more than 400 experts in air passenger rights and travel, we’re here to make the process easy — and to fight for what you're owed.
How it works
Fill out your flight details
We check eligibility in 2 minutes.
Submit your documents
We guide you through what you need.
We're on it!
Relax while we get your money.
You only pay if we win
At AirHelp, we believe everyone should have access to justice — without the upfront costs. That’s why we work on a no-win, no-fee basis. Even if your case goes to court, you won’t pay a penny unless we’re successful.
If we win your case, our standard fee is 35% of the compensation. And if legal action is needed, we simply add 15% to cover the extra work.
We're the global leader in flight compensation
253+ million
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12+ million
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As a rule, keep hold of everything, especially documents like your booking confirmation and boarding pass, which prove you were on a flight.
But, all airlines and claims are different. That's why our step-by-step claim process is so smart — with our years' of experience, we know what each airline wants, and we only ask for the essential UK 261 documentation.
Getting your money can take a few weeks, a few months, or sometimes longer. It all depends on the airline.
If the airline doesn't respond, or if they wrongly reject your claim, we may need to go to court. That takes even longer.
But it's OK whatever happens, because we'll stay on top of your claim, and keep you up-to-date every step of the way.
Under UK law, your right to UK 261 compensation expires in 6 years after the initial disruption.
Other rights and UK 261 rules
Regulation UK 261 is one of the most comprehensive passenger rights laws in the world.
Not only does it provide financial compensation, it also sets standards of care. That means airlines must look after you and get you on your way as soon as possible when a disruption occurs.
Let's break down exactly what those rights are:
Under UK 261 law, when your flight is cancelled or overbooked, you must be offered a choice:
A full refund for your unused flight or flights.
An replacement flight to your destination. Either as soon as possible, or at a time of your choosing.
Your choice does not affect your entitlement to compensation. Even if you get a refund, you can claim compensation for the inconvenience as well.
If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, no matter the cause, you should be provided with the essentials for the duration of the disruption.
Meals and refreshments
Your airline must provide snacks, meals and water if you’re stuck at the airport for more than a few hours. In most cases airlines will issue a voucher, which you can redeem at airport shops and restaurants.
This table shows when you should expect to receive essential care:
| Distance of flight | Length of delay |
|---|---|
| All flights 1,500 km or less | 2 hours or more |
| Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km | 3 hours or more |
| Flights over 3,500 km | 4 hours or more |
Firstly, you're in the right place because you're currently learning your rights with AirHelp.
If you want to check your rights during a disruption, you have a number of options:
Airlines must display the information explaining all your UK 261 passenger rights. At UK airports, look out for UK 261 explanations at check-in counters and departure gates.
The Department for Transport has an online guide to your rights.
Download AirHelp's simple Air Passenger Rights Guide. It includes UK 261 alongside many other worldwide regulations.