United Kingdom passenger rights
UK261 flight compensation: Up to £520
If your flight from the UK, or into the UK on a UK or EU airline, was cancelled at short notice or arrived 3 or more hours late, the airline may owe you up to £520 per passenger.
Rules last checked October 27, 2026
Amounts
How much UK261 compensation is
| Flights up to 1,500 km | £220 |
|---|---|
| Flights of 1,500–3,500 km | £350 |
| Flights over 3,500 km | £520 |
Amounts are per passenger and depend on flight distance, not ticket price. The airline may halve the payment if it rerouted you and you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours of the original time (by distance band).
Who is covered
Flights covered by UK261
- Any flight departing a UK airport, on any airline.
- Flights arriving in the UK from outside it, when operated by a UK or EU airline.
- You need a confirmed reservation and must have checked in on time (or by 45 minutes before departure if no time was given).
When you can claim
Disruptions that qualify
- Your flight arrived at its final destination 3 or more hours late. Arrival is when at least one aircraft door opens.
- Your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, unless the airline offered a replacement close to your original times.
- You were denied boarding against your will because the flight was overbooked.
Exceptions
When nothing extra is owed
- Extraordinary circumstances the airline could not have avoided, such as severe weather, air traffic control restrictions, security risks or airport strikes not involving airline staff.
- Cancellations notified 14 or more days before departure.
- Delays of under 3 hours at arrival.
Always owed
Rights you keep regardless
- A full refund or a replacement flight when your flight is cancelled, whatever the reason.
- Meals and refreshments during long delays, plus a hotel and transfers if you are stuck overnight.
Claim steps
How to claim under UK261
Claiming directly from the airline is free. KeenVPN does not file claims or take a cut.
Collect your flight details
Keep your booking reference, flight number, date, and any delay or cancellation emails from the airline. Note the time the doors opened if you were delayed.
Claim directly from the airline
Use the airline’s own compensation or EU/UK261 claim form. Claim from the airline that operated the flight, even if you booked through another airline or an agent.
Give the airline time to respond
Airlines usually reply within 8 weeks. If they reject the claim, ask which extraordinary circumstance they are relying on.
Escalate if you are refused
If the airline belongs to an approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme, take your complaint there for free. If not, complain to the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team.
Official resource
Read the official UK261 guidance
You can claim up to 6 years after the flight in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and up to 5 years in Scotland.
FAQ
UK261 questions
Does UK261 still apply after Brexit?
Yes. The UK kept EU Regulation 261/2004 in its own law as UK261, with compensation set in pounds (£220, £350 and £520).
Can I claim UK261 and EU261 for the same flight?
No. Some flights are covered by both, for example a flight from London to Paris on an EU airline, but you can only be compensated once.
Do I need a claims company?
No. You can claim directly from the airline for free. Claims companies typically keep 25–35% of the payout.
Is a technical fault an extraordinary circumstance?
Usually not. UK courts have ruled that most technical problems are part of normal airline operations, so compensation is still owed.
Other passenger rights
Flying elsewhere?
Looking for a specific airline? See our airline-by-airline compensation guides.
Never miss a claim again
KeenVPN members can connect Gmail or Outlook. We spot flight bookings, check what happened to each flight, and alert you when compensation may be owed.