How to claim flight compensation of up to £520?

British and EU air passenger rights 

In 2004, the European Parliament signed Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, a law that revolutionised the whole aviation industry. Initially, the document known also as EU261 or Flight Compensation Regulation guaranteed air passengers in the EU the right to compensation in the event of a cancelled flight. Later, following additional court rulings, such as the Sturgeon Ruling, the regulation started covering delayed flights as well.

After Brexit, EU261 was adopted by British lawmakers into the UK law as ‘The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019’. This document guarantees British travellers virtually the same air passenger rights as when the United Kingdom was part of the EU.

Can I claim flight compensation when flying to a non-EU country?

In the majority of cases, yes. The British and EU flight compensation regulations apply to all flights handled by airlines headquartered in the UK or the EU. Additionally, the regulations also cover flights from the UK/EU handled by non-UK/non-EU airlines.

See the table below for more details.

When can I claim compensation for a delayed flight?

You can claim flight delay compensation if the flight was delayed by at least 3 hours and the airline was the party at fault for the delay (consider extraordinary circumstances).

When can I claim compensation for a cancelled flight?

Generally, you can claim cancelled flight compensation if your flight was cancelled fewer than 14 days prior to the original departure. However, you also need to consider if the airline is the party at fault for the cancellation — there are so-called extraordinary circumstances in which the airline is not obliged to pay out compensation.

Additionally, the alternative flight offered by the airline — if the airline offered one — must meet specific conditions in order for the passenger to be eligible for compensation. We explain this in more detail in the table below.

How much flight compensation can I get?

The compensation amount depends on the distance of your flight.

Extraordinary circumstances — situations where the airline can legally deny compensation

Although generally air passengers are entitled to flight compensation in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight, there are situations in which the airline is not obliged to pay. This happens when the flight disruption is caused by a third party or force majeure. We call these kinds of situations extraordinary circumstances. The most common examples of them are:

• Bad weather conditions, such as thick fog, heavy rain, or thunderstorms.

• A strike, most often specifically within the aviation industry (for example, a strike of air traffic control workers at a specific airport).

  However, a strike of the airline's crew is not considered an extraordinary circumstance!

• Political circumstances, such as a terrorist attack or general security risk due to political unrest.

• Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and hurricanes.

• A collision between the aircraft and birds or other foreign objects.

• An ill or unruly passenger.

• Flight delays caused by the airport staff, such as extraordinarily long queues to security checks.
  

However, be aware that sometimes airlines try to avoid paying out compensation by claiming that extraordinary circumstances occurred, even if that was not the case.

Let us have a look at your case, we’ll hold the airline accountable. If needed, we will even fight for your rights in court. No win, no fee.

Reimbursement of additional expenses

Did you have to spend another night at a hotel or book a taxi due to the flight disruption? It might be possible to have those costs reimbursed.

When you claim with Flight-Delayed.co.uk, you can upload all relevant receipts and invoices via your online account. We will take it from there and make sure you are reimbursed.

How long do I have to claim flight compensation?

Were you flying either to or from the UK? Then you have 6 years to claim flight compensation. The exception is Scotland — you have 5 years to claim there.

If your itinerary did not include the UK, different national regulations will apply. Use our Claim Calculator to quickly check if you can still claim flight compensation.

How long will it take to get my flight compensation?

This depends on multiple factors, such as the airline’s responsiveness and whether a court case is needed to force the airline to pay. Generally, many passengers who claim with the help of Flight-Delayed.co.uk find money on their account within a few weeks or months.

However, there are also situations where it might take longer than that, up to a few years. Rest assured, though, that when you claim with us, we will keep you posted on all the important updates regarding the process and be there to answer any questions you might have. For your convenience, we work exclusively on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.

How can I claim flight compensation?

First, double-check whether you are eligible by using our Claim Calculator. It’s free and you’re not obliged to use our services afterwards.

However, if you do wish to claim with the help of our flight compensation experts, it will take you only a few additional minutes to provide all the important flight details and upload all the relevant documents. Afterwards, we’ll take care of everything for you, including handling a court case, if needed.

If you wish to learn more about our fees, please visit our Price List page.

Otherwise, if you are ready to claim, start the process right away — you can do it straight from your phone or your computer!

Useful links

• More details on delayed flight compensation
• More details on cancelled flight compensation
• Rules regarding missed flight compensation
• Rules regarding flight compensation in the case of denied boarding
• Claim Calculator — check if you are eligible for compensation