Flight compensation guides
Plain-English answers about UK261 and EU261: how much you can get, what counts as extraordinary, time limits and what to do if the airline says no.
- How much compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
Flight compensation is £220, £350 or £520 under UK261 and €250, €400 or €600 under EU261, per passenger, depending on distance. How it's worked out. - What are "extraordinary circumstances"?
Airlines don't have to pay UK261 or EU261 compensation for extraordinary circumstances like severe weather or air traffic control strikes. Technical faults and their own staff strikes usually don't count. - Cancelled flight: what you're owed
Flight cancelled with less than 14 days' notice? You may be owed up to £520 / €600 per passenger as well as a refund or new flight. How the notice rules work. - Bumped from an overbooked flight: your rights
Bumped from an overbooked flight against your will? You're owed £220–£520 or €250–€600 per passenger under UK261/EU261, plus a refund or another flight. - How far back can I claim?
You have up to 6 years to claim UK261 compensation in England and Wales (5 in Scotland). EU time limits are set by national law and vary from 1 to 6 years. - Airline rejected your claim? What to do next
Airline rejected your UK261 or EU261 claim or ignored it? How to challenge it: ADR schemes, the CAA, EU enforcement bodies and the small claims court. - Missed your connecting flight? What you're owed
Missed a connecting flight? If both flights were on one booking, compensation depends on how late you reached your final destination. How it works, and when separate tickets aren't covered. - Delayed or cancelled by a strike: can I claim?
Strikes by the airline's own pilots or cabin crew don't stop you getting UK261 / EU261 compensation. Air traffic control and airport strikes usually do. How to tell the difference. - Meals, hotels and refunds during a delay
During a long delay the airline must give you meals, drinks and a hotel if needed, and a refund after 5 hours. What you're entitled to, and how to claim back what you paid. - Downgraded to a lower class: what you're owed
Moved from business to economy against your will? The airline must refund 30%, 50% or 75% of that flight's ticket price, depending on distance. How to claim it.
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.