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Flight Delay Compensation in the UK: What Are Your Rights

Missed connections, unexpected costs, and wasted hours at the airport—all valid reasons for frustration when an unexpected flight disruption occurs. But did you know you can claim up to £520 in flight delay compensation for certain delays? Most people are unaware that there are serious air passenger rights laws in the European Union and often miss out on their rightful reimbursement. Find out if your case qualifies for compensation, how much you can claim, and how to win your claim here. 

What am I entitled to if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is delayed, you might be entitled to compensation. To help you understand your passenger rights in the UK, we outline what you're entitled to in case of flight delays under Regulation EC261/2004, and it's British equivalent — UK261:

• Financial compensation up to £520 (€600) in case of flight delays over 3 hours at the time of arrival.
• Assistance provided by the airline in the form of meal and drink vouchers.
• Overnight accommodation and transport to the hotel in the case of prolonged delays.
• The carrier has an obligation to pay compensation if the delay was due to reasons within the airline's control.

Keep in mind that flight delay compensation is only available when the delay is over 3 hours when landing at the final destination airport. For example, if your flight from London to Paris was scheduled to land at 13:00 but landed at 16:00, you're eligible for compensation. But if you landed in Paris at 15:40, you won't be able to claim compensation. 

As these are your rights according to EU261 and UK261, they apply only to:

• Flights departing from Europe 
• Flights that land in Europe and are operated by a Europe-based airline

What if the flight is delayed by 2 hours?

If your flight is delayed by 2 hours, you might be eligible for food and drink vouchers and other forms of care provided by the airline. Depending on the flight distance, your right to care kicks in:

• After 2 hours for short-haul flights (under 1,500 km)
• After 3 hours for medium-haul flights (between 1,500 and 3,500 km)
• After 4 hours for long-haul flights (over 3,500 km)  

What if the flight is delayed by 5 hours?

If your flight is delayed by a minimum of 5 hours, you can choose not to fly at all. European regulations consider 5-hour delays as significant disruptions qualifying for flight cancellation. This means you can request a full refund if you no longer wish to travel or ask for a rebooking option to travel at a later time. 

Even if you decide to continue your journey, your right to compensation still stands. Additionally, the airline must also provide meals and refreshments. 

What if the flight is delayed overnight?

Your rights increase significantly in cases of extended delays. If it extends overnight, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transport to and from the airport, as well as food and drink vouchers. This applies regardless of the reason for the delay, as airlines must ensure passenger welfare.

Insider Tip: If your flight is delayed for several hours, keep all receipts for food, drinks, and hotel stays. If the airline does not provide immediate assistance, you can request reimbursement later along with your compensation claim.

How much compensation can I claim?

Your compensation depends on the distance of your flight. As a rule of thumb, the further you fly, the higher the compensation Below, you can see how much you can be compensated for your flight disruption. 

It's important to note that these compensation amounts are fixed, and airlines cannot reduce them unless exceptional circumstances apply. However, you must formally submit a claim to receive your compensation, as airlines often do not issue payouts automatically.

You should also remember that compensation for delays is separate from refunds and rebooking options. If a delay exceeds 5 hours, you are entitled to cancel your flight for a full refund, even if the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances that would otherwise exempt the airline from paying compensation.

How to Claim Compensation for a Delayed Flight?

You can file a personal compensation claim on the airline's website, or you can skip the struggle and use SkyRefund’s service, leaving the hard work to a professional legal team. All you need to do is follow the steps below.

Step 1: Check your compensation eligibility

• Confirm that the delay exceeds three hours at the final destination
• Ensure that the disruption was caused by the airline and not extraordinary circumstances.
• Verify that the flight is covered under EC 261/2004.

Step 2: Prepare the required documentation

Always make sure to collect and keep the following: 

• Boarding pass or e-ticket confirmation
• Booking reference number
• Flight itinerary
• Proof of delay (written confirmation from the airline, emails, airport screenshots, baggage tags)
• Receipts for additional expenses caused by the delay, if applicable

Step 3: Submit your claim on SkyRefund

• Visit the Claims section on SkyRefund. 
• Fill in your departure airport and final destination.
• Provide further details about your case: Airline, flight number, and flight date. 
• Select the disruption you experienced: Flight delay, cancellation, or denied boarding.
• Provide your full name and email address.
• Submit your claim. 

Step 4: Sit back and leave the rest to us

Our legal experts will handle the entire process on your behalf. Keep in mind that there are no exact time limits for receiving compensation and the time varies from airline to airline, although cases are usually resolved within several weeks. 

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Flight delay compensation: International flights

Even when you're flying internationally, you have rights as a passenger. In case of flight delays, you're entitled to some form of compensation worldwide. We'll summarise some of your rights depending on the country. 

Flight delay of Canadian flights

Flights departing and landing or flying within Canada fall under Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR). So, if your flight is delayed and the disruption was preventable by the airline, you might be entitled to compensation. The amount is based on the size of the carrier and the length of the arrival delay. 

• Between CA $125 and CA $400 for delays between 3 and 6 hours
• Between CA $250 and CA $700 for delays between 6 and 9 hours
• Between CA $500 and CA $1,000 for over 9 hours

Flight delay of Turkish flights

When you're flying to, from or within Türkiye, your rights are protected by SHY Passenger Regulation. According to this regulation, you can claim up to €600 (£520) compensation if your flight is:

• Delayed with over 3 hours at the time of arrival
• Depart from Türkiye or land in Türkiye and be operated by a Turkish airline
• The reason for the delay is within the airline's control

Compensation is based on the distance of the flight varying between €250 (£220) and €600 (£520). You're also entitled to care provided by the airline in the form of meal vouchers. In the case of prolonged delays, the airline should also provide hotel accommodation including transport to the hotel. 

Flight delay of Saudi Arabian flights

The Saudi Arabian GACA Regulation applies to all flights departing from Saudi Arabia and arriving in Saudi Arabia and operated by a Saudi carrier. In case you experience a flight delay, your compensation is determined by the length of the arrival delay:

• Flight delay of 3–6 hours: 50 SDR (~ £53)
• Flight delay over 6 hours: 150 SDR (~ £160)

For delays over 2 hours you can choose to cancel your flight and receive a full refund. But if your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, you can treat it as cancelled and claim flight cancellation compensation. 

In Saudi Arabia, you're also entitled to compensation in case of tarmac delays. If you're grounded on the plan for over 3 hours, you can disembark and request the flight to be treated as cancelled by the airline. You'll once again be eligible for flight cancellation compensation. 

Flight delays of Brazilian flights

All flights departing from a Brazilian airport, regardless of the airline's nationality, fall under ANAC Resolution No. 400/2016. If your flight is delayed you're entitled to regular updates every 30 mins on the status of your flight and material assistance:

• Meal and drink vouchers
• Accommodation during prolonged delays
• Transportation to the hotel

If your flight is significantly delayed, you can get a refund or an alternative flight that's more suitable to your plans. Flight delays are considered outside the airline's control in Brazil. This is why you can claim financial compensation only in cases of denied boarding. 

What's your “Right to care”?

You are entitled to more than just flight delay compensation under EC 261/2004. Airlines must also provide essential assistance to ensure passengers are taken care of during long waits. This is known as the Right to Care, and it applies regardless of whether the delay qualifies for compensation.

An airline is legally obliged to provide meals and refreshments if a flight is delayed for 2 hours or more. The same applies to access to communication, such as free phone calls or emails, so you can inform family members, employers, or accommodations about the delay.

Additional rights come into play in cases of longer delays, especially those exceeding 5 hours. You have the freedom to choose if you wish to continue your journey or cancel your flight and receive a full refund due to the extended delay. 

Do airlines have to give you a hotel?

Yes, if your flight is delayed overnight, airlines are obligated to provide you with a hotel and vouchers for food and drinks.

Overnight delays introduce even greater protections. If your flight is postponed until the following day, the airline must cover the cost of hotel accommodation and provide transportation to and from the hotel. Airlines typically arrange these services directly, but if, for some reason, it doesn’t happen, you should keep all receipts and submit a claim for reimbursement later. 

Airlines are required to offer all these services even in situations caused by extraordinary circumstances, but they will be exempt from paying additional financial compensation. 

How is flight delay compensation calculated?

Flight delay compensation is calculated based on the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay.  Arrival time is calculated when the aircraft opens at least one of its doors, allowing passengers to disembark. Airlines sometimes argue that “arrival” means touchdown on the runway, but legal precedents confirm that the door-opening moment is the valid reference point.

Expert tip: You should always check the actual arrival delay and gather evidence such as timestamps from airport information boards, flight tracking websites, and any airline communications about delays.

Can a flight make up time in the air?

In some cases, flights that depart late can make up time while in the air. For example, if a flight is scheduled to depart at 2 PM and land at 5 PM but ends up departing at 5 PM, it may still land earlier than 8 PM due to favourable conditions or adjustments in the flight path.

Eligible for compensation: 

• Your flight from London to Barcelona was scheduled to land at 3:00 PM, but due to a technical issue, it landed at 6:20 PM. Since the delay upon arrival exceeds 3 hours, you are eligible for compensation. 
• You are flying from Berlin to New York and are scheduled to arrive at 4:00 PM. However, it lands at 7:15 PM due to crew shortages. The delay is over 3 hours, and the airline is responsible, so you are eligible for compensation.

Not eligible for compensation: 

• Your flight from Paris to Rome was set to land at 5:00 PM but takes off 3.5 hours late. However, the airline makes up time in the air, and the plane arrives at 7:45 PM — only 2 hours and 45 minutes late. Since the final delay is less than 3 hours, you are not eligible for compensation.
• A flight from Amsterdam to Madrid was delayed due to an air traffic control strike, which is considered an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline’s control. Even if the delay is over 3 hours, compensation will not be available.

How long do I have to claim compensation?

The validity period for flight delay compensation claims depends on the country where the airline is headquartered or where you were travelling from. In the UK, the compensation time limit is 6 years, excluding Scotland where it's 5 years. Below you can see the time limits of other countries:

• Spain – 5 years
• France – 5 years
• Portugal – 3 years
• Finland – 3 years
• Germany – 3 years
• Norway – 3 years
• Austria – 3 years
• Bulgaria – 3 years
• Denmark – 3 years
• Italy – between 1 year (domestic flights) and 2 years (international flights) 
• Netherlands – 2 years
• Croatia – 2 years
• Malta – 2 years
• Poland – 1 year
• Belgium – 1 year
• Sweden – 2 months to submit a claim to the airline, but you can sue an airline up to 10 years after the flight disruption

Airlines are not legally required to process or honour claims made beyond the statutory limit. You should submit your claim for compensation as soon as possible after experiencing a disruption.

How Can SkyRefund Help?

Claiming compensation without professional help can be difficult, especially when the airline resists paying or delays responses. Airlines often dispute claims, and people tend to give up instead of starting legal proceedings. 

With more than 8 years of legal experience, SkyRefund specialises in handling compensation claims on behalf of passengers, taking care of all administrative tasks, and providing a hassle-free experience that involves no direct communication with the airline. Our legal team is trusted by over 1M passengers and is available in 12 languages. Submit your compensation claim today!

Flight Delay Compensation FAQ

Below you can find answers to some frequently asked questions we get from passengers. 

How long does a flight have to be delayed for compensation?

Your flight has to be delayed by more than 3 hours at the time of arrival to claim flight delay compensation under EU261, UK261, SHY-Passenger Regulation, Canadian APPR, Brazilian ANAC, and Saudi Arabian GACA.

What is the 3-hour rule for flights?

The 3-hour rule applies to delayed flights. Your flight has to be delayed by a minimum of 3 hours at the time of arrival for you to claim compensation.

What proof do I need for a flight delay claim?

To submit a flight delay compensation claim, you need:

• Proof of delay in the form of emails or communication with the airline confirming the delay and cause
• Valid ID/passport
• Booking reference number
• Valid boarding pass

What is the 2-hour rule for flight delay compensation?

If your flight is delayed by 2 hours, you're entitled to care in the form of food and drink vouchers provided by the airline. This is called a right to care, and applies to all flights up to 1,500 km regardless of the reason for the disruption. If your flight is between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, your right to care kicks in after 3 hours. Flights over 3,500 km have a right to care after 4 hours.

Am I entitled to anything if my flight is delayed 2 hours?

Yes, you're entitled to right to care in the form of food and drink vouchers provided by the airline. But you aren't entitled to financial compensation.

How long does it take?

Claim processing times vary by airline and the complexity of the case. While we can help resolve some within weeks, others may take months, especially if the case is contested. Typically:

• 2–4 weeks for straightforward cases
• 1–2 months when additional documentation is required
• 2–6 months in case of disputed cases
• More than 6 months when legal escalation is needed

What is considered a significant flight delay?

A significant flight delay is considered a delay over 3 hours. In case of a delay over 5 hours, you can choose not to fly and get a refund of your flight ticket.

What are the rights for a delayed flight in the EU?

In the EU, you have a right to compensation in case of flight delays over 3 hours at the time of arrival. Additionally:

• The cause of the delay has to be within the airline's control
• The flight should either depart from the EU or be operated by an EU-based airline and land in the EU
• For delays over 5 hours, you can choose not to fly at all and claim a full refund of your ticket
• Delays over 2 hours entitle you to the right to care in the form of food and drink vouchers

How long does a flight have to be delayed to get a refund?

Your flight has to be delayed by more than 5 hours to get a refund. You have to opt out from flying altogether to claim the refund.

Can I get a refund instead of compensation?

No, you can't get a refund instead of compensation. You're entitled to both in cases of delays over 5 hours. If your flight is delayed by 3 hours, you can claim only compensation. In case of 2-hour delays, you can get food and drink vouchers.

What is the UK261 compensation rule?

Under UK261, you can claim flight delay compensation in case of flight delays over 3 hours at the time of arrival. Your flight has to depart from a UK-based airport or be operated by a British airline and land at a UK-based airport.