How much compensation can I get for a delayed or cancelled flight?
The amount is fixed by law. It depends on the flight distance and, for long flights, how late you arrived. It doesn't depend on what you paid for your ticket.
The fixed amounts
| Flight distance | UK261 | EU261 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km, and flights within the EU (or within the UK) over 1,500 km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, arriving 3 to 4 hours late | £260 | €300 |
| Over 3,500 km, arriving 4 or more hours late | £520 | €600 |
The amounts are per passenger, including children and babies who had a ticket of their own. Free infant tickets aren't covered.
How the distance is measured
It's the straight-line ("great circle") distance from where your journey started to its final destination, not the distance the plane actually flew. For connecting flights booked together, it's from the first departure airport to the final destination, and the delay that counts is how late you arrived at the end.
When the amount is halved
If your flight was cancelled or you were bumped, and the airline put you on another flight that got you there not too late, the airline can pay half: if you arrived no more than 2 hours late (flights up to 1,500 km), 3 hours late (1,500 to 3,500 km) or 4 hours late (over 3,500 km).
On top of compensation
While you wait, the airline must also give you meals and refreshments, a way to communicate, and a hotel and transport if you're stuck overnight. If it didn't, claim back reasonable costs with receipts. After a 5-hour delay you can choose a full refund instead of travelling.
Questions
Does the ticket price affect how much I get?
No. The amount depends only on the flight distance and, for flights over 3,500 km, how late you arrived. A £30 ticket gets the same compensation as a £300 one.
Is compensation paid per passenger or per booking?
Per passenger. Each person on the booking who had their own ticket can claim the full amount, including children.
How late does my flight need to be?
You must arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled time. Arrival means when at least one aircraft door opens.
More guides
- What are "extraordinary circumstances"?
- Cancelled flight: what you're owed
- Bumped from an overbooked flight: your rights
- How far back can I claim?
- Airline rejected your claim? What to do next
- Missed your connecting flight? What you're owed
- Delayed or cancelled by a strike: can I claim?
- Meals, hotels and refunds during a delay
- Downgraded to a lower class: what you're owed
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.