How much compensation am I owed for a delayed flight under UK261?
The short answer
The UK Civil Aviation Authority says compensation is a fixed amount per person, not tied to your ticket price. It is £220 for flights under 1,500 km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £260 or £520 for flights over 3,500 km, depending on how late you arrive. You must reach your final destination more than three hours late, and the airline does not have to pay if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances.
The amounts the CAA publishes
The CAA delays page lists fixed amounts per person. Distance is measured by the Great Circle Route, and the key test is how late you arrive at your final destination.
- Under 1,500 km: £220 per person.
- 1,500 km to 3,500 km: £350 per person.
- Over 3,500 km: £260 per person if you arrive 3 to 4 hours late, or £520 per person if you arrive more than 4 hours late.
Conditions that apply
Compensation applies when you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late. The GOV.UK air passenger guide adds that the airline must have caused the delay, and that the flight must be covered by UK law.
If the airline says extraordinary circumstances caused the delay, it does not have to pay compensation. The CAA says the airline should clearly explain why it believes this applies. See our page on extraordinary circumstances for the examples the CAA gives.
What to do if the airline refuses or does not reply
The CAA says airlines have eight weeks to respond to a complaint. If you are unhappy with the final response, or hear nothing within eight weeks, you can escalate to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider if the airline uses one, or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team. The CAA delays page does not state a deadline for submitting a claim, so check the CAA page and your airline for any limits.
US and EU travellers
These amounts are for UK law (UK261). US-law passenger rights are different and are covered by the US Department of Transportation, and EU law has its own regime with amounts in euros. Which law covers your flight depends on where you departed and which airline operated it. We have not quoted the EU amounts here because we could not read an official EU page that states them, so check the European Commission or the airline for those.
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority: flight delays, GOV.UK: Air passenger travel guide, summary of passenger rights. Read 5 November 2026. Rules and fees change, so check the official page before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Is compensation based on the price I paid?
No. The CAA says the amounts are fixed and not tied to ticket price.
What if I arrive exactly three hours late?
The CAA wording is that you must arrive more than three hours late, so the CAA page does not support a claim for an arrival exactly on the three hour mark.
Do children get the same amount?
The CAA delays page states the amounts per person and does not say children are treated differently.
Can I claim as well as get a refund?
The CAA says that if you are delayed five hours or more you can decline to travel and get a refund for unflown flights. It advises you not to choose this if you still wish to travel. The page does not say whether compensation can also be claimed in that case, so ask the airline or the CAA.
Who do I complain to if the airline says no?
After the airline's final response, or eight weeks without a response, the CAA says you can go to the airline's ADR provider if it has one, or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team.