If your flight is delayed, you may be entitled to claim between £220 and £520 per passenger under UK261.
How much flight delay compensation you can claim depends on the distance of your flight and how many hours you are delayed before arriving at your final destination.
Your right to claim compensation only exists if the delay was considered to be the airline’s fault and was not caused by an extraordinary circumstance.
We explain how flight delay compensation is calculated, how much you could receive for different lengths of delay and the circumstances in which you may be entitled to make a claim.
How Much Compensation Can You Get For A Delayed Flight?
For flights covered by EU261 and UK261, you can claim compensation between £220 and £520 per passenger for flights that are delayed by more than 3 hours, provided the delay was the airline’s fault.
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How Is Flight Delay Compensation Calculated?
Flight delay compensation is calculated based on the distance of your flight and how long you are delayed. Compensation amounts for flight delays are fixed.
For eligible flights covered by EU261 or UK261, the amount of compensation you can claim will depend on:
Our free flight delay compensation calculator automatically calculates how much compensation you may be able to claim. Just add your flight details to see the amount you may be able to claim for your delay.
How Long Does A Flight Have To Be Delayed For Compensation?
When calculating how much you may be able to claim for a flight delay, it is important to understand how the length of your delay is measured.
The amount of time you are delayed is measured by when you arrive at your final destination, not how late your flight takes off.
EU261 defines arrival time as when at least one of the aircraft doors is opened, allowing passengers to leave the plane.
How Much Is Flight Delay Compensation?
The table below shows how much compensation you may be entitled to under UK261, based on the distance of your flight and the length of your delay.
Flight Delay Compensation Amounts in UK Pounds
| Length Of Delay | Flight Distance | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 hours | All flight distances | £0 |
| 3+ hours | Up to 1,500 km | £220 |
| 3+ hours | 1,500 km – 3,500 km | £350 |
| 3-4 hours | 3,500 km + | £260 |
| 4+ hours | 3,500 km + | £520 |
Your right to compensation and the amount you can claim can depend on how many hours your flight is delayed. Below, we look at what you may be entitled to for the different lengths of delay you may have experienced.
How Much Compensation Would I Be Entitled To For A Flight Delay If It’s Less Than 2 Hours?
Unfortunately, you would not be entitled to flight delay compensation if your flight is delayed by less than 2 hours, as compensation under EU261 and UK261 is only payable once a delay is 3 hours or more.
How Much Compensation Would I Receive For A 2 Hour Flight Delay?
EU261 and UK261 only provide compensation for passengers who have suffered flight delays of 3 hours or more, so you would be unable to claim compensation for a 2-hour delay.
However, depending on the distance of your flight, the airline’s responsibility to provide care and assistance can begin after a 2-hour delay. This can include reasonable food and refreshments, two telephone calls or emails and, if an overnight stay becomes necessary, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
How Much Compensation For A 3 Hour Flight Delay?
If your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more, you may be entitled to between £220 and £520 per passenger provided the delay is the airline’s fault under EU261 and UK261.
The amount you can claim will depend on the distance of your flight and how long you are delayed. For flights up to 1,500km, you can claim £220, while for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, you can claim £350.
For flights over 3,500km, the amount you can claim depends on the length of the delay. If you are delayed by between 3 and 4 hours, you can claim £260 per passenger.
How Much Compensation Do You Get If A Flight Is Delayed For 4 Hours?
If your flight is delayed by 4 hours or more, you may be entitled to between £220 and £520 per passenger under EU261 or UK261, if the delay was considered to be the airline’s fault.
For flights up to 1,500km, you can claim £220, while for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km, you can claim £350. If your flight is over 3,500km and you are delayed by at least 4 hours, you may be entitled to the maximum compensation available: £520 per passenger.
How Much Compensation Can You Get For A Flight Delay Of 5 Hours Or More?
For a flight delay of 5 hours or more, you can claim up to £520 per passenger under EU261 and UK261 if the delay was the airline’s fault.
EU261 classes a delay of 5 hours or more the same as a cancellation, so if you are delayed for at least 5 hours and decide you no longer want to travel, you also have the right to cancel your journey and receive a full refund for your ticket.
Throughout this guide, we have listed compensation amounts in pounds because UK261 protects passenger rights in the UK since the UK government wrote EU261 into UK law.
However, EU261 still protects passengers on eligible flights covered by EU law, with compensation amounts paid in euros.
Recent Successful Flight Compensation Claims
Bott and Co help couple receive £350 each in compensation after arriving on holiday to Corfu late.
We secured compensation for family of 3 who missed a day of their holiday due to flight cancellation.
Family receive £350 compensation each after Jet2 flight to Manchester from Antalya was delayed for 22.5 hours.
Family instruct Bott and Co after missing connecting flight to London due to BA departure delay at JFK Airport.
We helped family of 4 flying from Lithuania to London receive £350 each for flight cancellation.
Family of 4 returning from their holiday in Turkey arrive home 2 days late following flight cancellation.
Passengers receive £350 each after their flight to Tunisia was cancelled and rescheduled for 24 hours later.
Family going to Miami with American Airlines were rerouted to New York AND Dallas before arriving in California.
Family of 4's delay at Birmingham Airport led to missed connection in Dubai and new flight given 3 days later.
What Are The EU Compensation Amounts for Flight Delays?
Under EU261, flight delay compensation ranges from €250 to €600 per passenger, depending on the distance of your flight and the length of your delay.
Flight Delay Compensation Amounts in Euros
| Length Of Delay | Flight Distance | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 hours | All flight distances | €0 |
| 3+ hours | Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 3+ hours | 1,500 km – 3,500 km | €400 |
| 3-4 hours | 3,500 km + | €300 |
| 4+ hours | 3,500 km + | €600 |
Does The Price Of My Flight Affect How Much Compensation I Can Claim?
No. The price you paid for your flight does not affect how much flight delay compensation you can claim under EU261 or UK261.
Compensation amounts are fixed and are based on the distance of your flight and the length of your delay. This means you could be entitled to the same amount whether you booked a low-cost fare or paid considerably more for your ticket.
You can also claim compensation if somebody else paid for your flight, or if you booked using air miles or vouchers. This is because compensation is intended to compensate the passenger for the time and inconvenience caused by the delay, not the ticket price.
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Who Is Entitled To Receive The Compensation?
Flight delay compensation is paid to the passenger who experienced the delay, not necessarily the person or company that paid for the ticket.
For example, if your employer paid for your flight as part of a business trip, you would still be entitled to any compensation due under EU261 or UK261.
The same applies if somebody else, such as a family member or friend, purchased the ticket on your behalf. It is the passenger who travelled on the delayed flight who has the right to claim.
What Is The Time Limit For Claiming Compensation For Flight Delays?
In England and Wales, you generally have up to 6 years from the date of your delayed flight to make a flight compensation claim under EU261 or UK261.
This means you may still be able to claim compensation for a flight delay that happened several years ago, provided your flight met the eligibility requirements at the time.
How Much Does It Cost To Claim Flight Compensation Myself?
If you wish to claim directly from the airline, you must pay the court fee, allocation questionnaire fee, and hearing fee. The allocation questionnaire fee is typically £45.00, and the hearing fee is £150.00. The court fee varies depending on the amount you are claiming, but it can be as high as £245 if you have 10 or more passengers.
How Long Does It Take To Claim For Flight Compensation Myself?
The time it takes depends on the route you take.
The airlines do not have to respond within an official time limit, and in some cases letters sent directly to the airlines have been ignored. It can be a long, drawn-out process when you have a valid claim but the airline disputes it.
The CAA have publicly stated that they have a backlog of claims and that it may be an extended period of time before you hear back from them. The time it takes to settle a claim depends on the claim and the airline involved. More often than not, the process is months, not weeks, and in some cases years.
The process speeds up substantially when you use Bott and Co. We issue court proceedings if we do not receive a response from the airline within 30 days. Our current record for a successful claim is 4 days, while on average it takes us 11 weeks.