Flight Delay Compensation Calculator
Check if you're owed up to £520 for a delayed or cancelled flight under UK261 / EU261 regulations. Generate a free claim letter in seconds.
Your Flight Details
Understanding Flight Delay Compensation (UK261 / EU261)
What Are UK261 and EU261?
EU Regulation 261/2004 (commonly called EU261) is the law that entitles air passengers to compensation when their flight is significantly delayed, cancelled, or they are denied boarding. After Brexit, the UK adopted its own version — UK261 — which mirrors the EU rules but applies specifically to flights departing from UK airports or arriving in the UK on a UK-based carrier. If your flight departed from an EU airport, EU261 applies regardless of the airline. The compensation amounts are set by distance: up to £220 for short-haul flights under 1,500 km, up to £350 for medium-haul flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and up to £520 for long-haul flights over 3,500 km.
When Are You Eligible?
You can claim if your flight arrived more than 3 hours late at your final destination, was cancelled with fewer than 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding against your will (for example, due to overbooking). The delay is measured at arrival, not departure, so even if you took off late, what matters is when the plane doors opened at your destination. For cancellations, the airline must have offered you an alternative flight — if the replacement still got you there more than 3 hours late, you can claim the full amount.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Airlines do not have to pay compensation if the disruption was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” — events outside their control. This includes severe weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, political instability, security threats, and certain strikes (though airline staff strikes are generally NOT considered extraordinary). Technical faults with the aircraft are usually the airline's responsibility, so a mechanical issue will not excuse them from paying. Airlines often try to claim extraordinary circumstances when they should not — do not accept a rejection without checking.
Time Limits for Claiming
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you have 6 years from the date of the flight to make a claim. In Scotland, the time limit is 5 years. This means you can claim for flights that were disrupted years ago — many people do not realise they are sitting on hundreds of pounds in unclaimed compensation. There is no deadline for the airline to respond, but regulatory guidance suggests 8 weeks is reasonable.
How to Escalate
If the airline rejects your claim or ignores it, you can escalate to their Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme free of charge. Most UK airlines use either CEDR or AviationADR. You can find which scheme your airline belongs to on the Civil Aviation Authority website. The ADR body will review your case independently and make a binding decision. If the airline is not a member of an ADR scheme, you can take them to the small claims court — the process is straightforward and the court fee is modest.