UK261 Guide 2025 — Your Complete Rights Under UK Regulation 261/2004

What is UK261?

The law that entitles you to flight compensation

UK261 is the domestic version of EU Regulation 261/2004, incorporated into UK law after Brexit. It gives you fixed, statutory rights to cash compensation when your flight is delayed by 3+ hours at your destination, cancelled within 14 days, or you are denied boarding due to overbooking. These rights apply automatically — you don’t need to buy insurance or opt in. The airline must pay regardless of fare type.

✈️ Post-Brexit UK law✓ Fixed statutory rates⏱️ 6 years to claim

Compensation amounts

How much can you claim under UK261?

UK261 sets fixed compensation rates the airline cannot reduce. The amount depends on flight distance from departure to final destination:

Route distanceTypical routesPer passenger

Under 1,500 kmUK to Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany£220

1,500 – 3,500 kmUK to Canaries, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey£350

Over 3,500 kmUK to USA, Caribbean, Middle East, Asia£520

These are per-passenger amounts. A family of four on a delayed short-haul flight can claim £880 total.

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50% reduction for long-haul re-routing: Airlines may halve the £520 rate if they offer re-routing that arrives within a specific window of the original time. Short and medium-haul rates cannot be reduced.

When it applies

Qualifying disruptions and which flights are covered

✓ Delays of 3+ hours

Measured at actual destination arrival (doors open), not departure time. A 5-hour departure delay that recovers time en route may not qualify if arrival is under 3 hours late.

✓ Cancellations within 14 days

If notified less than 14 days before departure. Notice of 14+ days: no compensation due. Re-routing offered close to original time reduces the amount owed.

✓ Denied boarding (overbooking)

Involuntary denial due to the airline overselling. Accepting voluntary denied boarding (vouchers) waives your statutory compensation rights.

✓ All UK-departing flights

Any flight leaving a UK airport is covered, regardless of airline. Arrivals in the UK are covered if the operating airline is UK or EU registered.

✕ Extraordinary circumstances

ATC strikes, volcanic ash, and genuine extreme weather exempt airlines from compensation — but not from the right to care. Technical faults and crew issues do not qualify as extraordinary.

✕ Non-EU/UK airlines arriving in UK

A US carrier arriving from New York is not bound by UK261 on that inbound leg. Its outbound from a UK airport is covered.

Right to care

Meals, accommodation and refreshments during delays

UK261 also guarantees a right to care during delays — even when extraordinary circumstances apply. Airlines must provide meals and refreshments proportionate to the wait, two free communications (call or email), and hotel accommodation with transport if an overnight stay becomes necessary. Keep all receipts if the airline fails to provide these directly.

How to claim

Step-by-step: making your UK261 claim

Verify the delay on FlightAware or FlightRadar24

Check your actual gate arrival time, not scheduled. Both sites provide free historical data. Screenshot and save this evidence before submitting your claim.

Submit directly to the airline

Use the airline’s online claim form. State the flight number, date, disruption type, and the exact statutory amount. Reference “UK Regulation 261/2004”. Airlines must respond within 8 weeks.

Challenge extraordinary circumstances rejections

Ask the airline to provide written evidence of the specific extraordinary circumstance, why it directly caused your delay, and what reasonable measures they took. Vague responses cannot sustain the defence.

Escalate to the airline’s ADR scheme

AviationADR covers easyJet and Ryanair; CEDR covers British Airways. Free to use, decisions binding on the airline. Most cases resolve in 60–90 days.

Small Claims Court

Money Claim Online is fast and inexpensive. Airlines almost always settle before the hearing date. Court fee is recoverable if you win.

FAQs

UK261 — frequently asked questions

Does UK261 apply to charter and package holiday flights?+

Yes. UK261 applies to all commercial passenger flights departing from UK airports, including those included in package holidays. If your charter flight is delayed or cancelled, you have the same statutory rights as on a scheduled service. Your package holiday organiser also has separate obligations under the Package Travel Regulations.

Can I claim for a delay that happened years ago?+

Yes — in England and Wales you have 6 years from the date of the flight to bring a claim. Scotland: 5 years. Historical flight data is freely available on FlightAware and FlightRadar24 going back many years. You need your booking confirmation and evidence of the actual delay.

What if I accepted a voucher from the airline at the airport?+

If you accepted the voucher without signing a full-and-final settlement, you may still claim the cash compensation. Always read what you’re signing at the airport. If the voucher was a “goodwill gesture” rather than a formal settlement, your statutory rights under UK261 remain intact.

Related guides

Disclaimer: UK261 rights are statutory and apply automatically. This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Always verify current CAA guidance for your specific situation.