United Airlines delay compensation: how to claim it yourself
If your United Airlines flight arrived 3 or more hours late, was cancelled at short notice or you were bumped, you may be owed up to £520 or €600 per passenger. Check for free, then claim directly and keep all of it.
Check my United Airlines flightWhich United Airlines flights are covered?
United Airlines is licensed in United States, so it counts as a non-UK, non-EU airline.
- United Airlines flights departing the UK are covered by UK261, and flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland by EU261.
- Flights into the UK or EU on United Airlines are not covered, because it is not a UK or EU airline. Your departure country's law may help.
How much you can claim
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km (and intra-EU over 1,500 km) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, 3–4 hours late | £260 | €300 |
| Over 3,500 km, 4+ hours late | £520 | €600 |
Per passenger, for arrival delays of 3 hours or more, cancellations with less than 14 days' notice, and involuntary denied boarding. Not payable if United Airlines proves extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions. Technical faults and the airline's own staff strikes usually don't count.
How to claim from United Airlines
- Check your flight with our free checker to confirm which law applies and how much you're owed.
- Send a claim to United Airlines through its claim or complaint form at united.com, quoting the Regulation and the amount. Our letter pack writes it for you.
- Follow up if you haven't been paid after about 4 weeks.
- Escalate after 8 weeks: for UK261 claims to Civil Aviation Authority, Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT), because United Airlines is not in a UK ADR scheme. For EU261 claims, go to the national enforcement body.
Questions
How much compensation can I get from United Airlines?
Under UK261, £220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km) or £520 (over 3,500 km; £260 if 3–4 hours late). Under EU261, €250, €400 or €600 (€300 if a long-haul flight is 3–4 hours late). Amounts are per passenger.
Which United Airlines flights are covered?
United Airlines flights departing the UK are covered by UK261, and flights departing the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland by EU261. Flights into the UK or EU on United Airlines are not covered, because it is not a UK or EU airline. Your departure country's law may help.
What if United Airlines rejects my claim?
For UK261 claims, escalate to Civil Aviation Authority, Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) after 8 weeks or after a final rejection. For EU261 claims, complain to the national enforcement body in the country where the disruption happened. You can also go to the small claims court.
Do I need a claims company to claim from United Airlines?
No. You can claim directly from United Airlines for free and keep all the compensation. Claims companies typically keep 35% or more.
Important: DelayOwed is a self-help guidance tool, not a law firm or claims company, and is not affiliated with any airline. Airline names are used only to describe which flights this guide covers.