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Flight Delay Compensation UK: How Much Can You Claim in 2026?

Under UK Regulation 261 (UK261) and EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261), you are entitled to between £220 (€250) and £520 (€600) in compensation if your flight arrived more than 3 hours late at the final destination and the delay was within the airline's control. The amount depends on your flight distance, not the length of the delay. SkyRefund handles the full claim process on a no-win, no-fee basis — you pay 35% of your compensation only if your claim succeeds.

Reviewed by Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at SkyRefund

Last reviewed: 12 May 2026

When can you claim flight delay compensation in the UK?

Under UK261 and EU Regulation 261/2004, you can claim compensation if three conditions are met: your flight arrived more than 3 hours late at the final destination, the delay was caused by the airline (not extraordinary circumstances), and the flight either departed from a UK or EU airport — or arrived in the UK on a UK or EU carrier. Compensation ranges from £220 (€250) to £520 (€600) depending on flight distance.

Arrival time is the moment the aircraft door opens to let passengers off—not touchdown on the runway. This was confirmed by the Court of Justice of the European Union in Germanwings v. Henning (2014) and is binding on UK airlines under UK261.

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. 

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 is UK flight delay compensation in 2026?

Under UK261 and EU261, Article 7, compensation is set by law at three fixed amounts: £220 (€250) for flights under 1,500 km, £350 (€400) for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and £520 (€600) for long-haul flights over 3,500 km departing the UK or EU. The amount is determined by the great-circle distance of your flight, not the length of the delay. Airlines cannot reduce these amounts unless extraordinary circumstances apply.

These amounts are paid in addition to any refund or rerouting the airline owes you, and they are separate from the right to meals and accommodation during the wait.

How do you claim flight delay compensation in the UK?

SkyRefund handles UK261 and EU261 claims on a no-win, no-fee basis. The full process takes three steps:

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm three things: (1) your flight arrived more than 3 hours late at the final destination, (2) the cause was within the airline's control, not extraordinary circumstances, and (3) your route is covered by UK261 or EU261. Use the free SkyRefund compensation calculator to check all three in under two minutes.

Step 2: Gather your documents

You will need your boarding pass or e-ticket, booking reference number, flight itinerary, any written confirmation of the delay from the airline (email, app notification, or airport screenshot), and receipts for additional expenses caused by the delay (meals, accommodation, transport).

Step 3: Submit your claim through SkyRefund

Enter your flight details on the SkyRefund claim form below. The SkyRefund legal team handles all communication with the airline. Straightforward cases are typically resolved within 2–4 weeks; contested cases can take 2–6 months if legal escalation is required. You pay nothing unless your claim succeeds — the SkyRefund fee is 35% of the compensation amount, deducted only on success.

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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. 

When can't you claim compensation? Extraordinary circumstances explained

Under UK261 and EU261, Article 5(3), airlines are exempt from paying compensation if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with reasonable measures. These typically include:

• Severe weather — storms, fog, or extreme winds that make take-off or landing unsafe
• Air traffic control restrictions — strikes by ATC staff, airport closures, runway closures
• Security threats — bomb scares, unauthorised drones near the airport
• Hidden manufacturing defects — confirmed by the manufacturer, not standard wear
• Political instability — wars, riots, or civil unrest at origin or destination

Routine technical issues, crew shortages, and operational scheduling problems are not extraordinary circumstances. The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia (2008) that technical defects discovered during maintenance are within the airline's control and do not exempt the airline from paying compensation.

What's your “Right to care”?

Under UK261 and EU261, Article 9, your right to care is the airline's obligation to provide meals, drinks, accommodation, and transport during a delay — regardless of whether you qualify for compensation. This applies even when extraordinary circumstances exempt the airline from paying compensation.

Your right to care kicks in based on flight distance:

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 you have to claim flight delay compensation?

Under UK261, you have 6 years to claim in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and 5 years in Scotland, from the date of the delayed flight. Time limits vary across EU countries — Spain and France allow 5 years, Germany and the Netherlands 3 years, and Poland just 1 year. Submit your claim as soon as possible: airlines are not obligated to process claims made after the statutory limit.

• 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

See the full time limits guide for all 27 EU countries.

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.

Tips for claiming compensation after a flight delay

A few practical steps can strengthen your claim and recover costs the airline owes you:

• Photograph the airport departure board showing the delayed status and the actual departure or arrival time. This is timestamped evidence airlines find hard to dispute.
• Keep every receipt for meals, drinks, transport, and accommodation. If the airline fails to provide these directly, you can claim them back under your right to care.
• Ask cabin crew or ground staff for the official reason for the delay in writing — by email, app message, or a printed note. "Technical issue" is usually compensable; "ATC strike" usually is not.
• Do not accept vouchers as a substitute for compensation. Some airlines offer travel vouchers worth a fraction of the cash compensation you are owed. Under UK261 and EU261, you have the right to insist on cash.
• Note the exact time the aircraft door opened at the destination — this, not landing time, is the legally defined arrival moment under Germanwings v Henning (2014).

According to passengers on r/Flights, one of the most common mistakes is accepting an airline's first offer without checking the statutory amount. Airlines have been known to offer £100 vouchers for delays that legally entitle the passenger to £350 in cash.

Why use SkyRefund to claim flight delay compensation?

With a 98% success rate, SkyRefund makes claiming flight delay compensation hassle-free — which is why it is trusted by over 1 million passengers.

With over 8 years of legal experience, the SkyRefund legal team helps passengers worldwide exercise their rights and claim the compensation they are entitled to under UK261, EU261, Canadian APPR, Saudi GACA, Brazilian ANAC, and US DOT regulations. SkyRefund works on a no-win, no-fee basis — the standard fee is 35% of the total compensation amount, charged only when your claim succeeds.

To get started, use the free flight compensation calculator. This makes it easy to see how much you could be entitled to without doing the hard maths — and once you have determined your eligibility, you can submit a claim and leave it in the hands of the SkyRefund legal team.

What passengers say about SkyRefund

SkyRefund holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.5/5 based on thousands of reviews. One verified reviewer wrote: "SkyRefund got me £350 compensation from Ryanair that the airline had refused to pay directly. The process took 8 weeks and I did almost nothing." Another wrote: "I had given up on my Wizz Air claim until I tried SkyRefund. They handled everything and the payout arrived without me having to argue with the airline."

Read more on the SkyRefund Trustpilot page.

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 to claim flight delay compensation?

You need your boarding pass or e-ticket, booking reference number, flight itinerary, and any written confirmation of the delay from the airline (email, app notification, or airport screenshot). Receipts for additional expenses (meals, accommodation, transport) are needed only if you are also claiming those back under your right to care.

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 and compensation for the same delayed flight?

Yes, but only if the delay exceeds 5 hours. Under UK261 and EU261, a delay of 5 hours or more lets you treat the flight as cancelled and request a full refund — and claim compensation if the delay was within the airline's control. For delays of 3–5 hours, you can claim compensation but not a refund.

What is the UK261 compensation rule?

UK261 (also called the UK Air Passenger Rights Regulation) is the post-Brexit British equivalent of EU261. It applies when your flight departs a UK airport or arrives in the UK on a UK or EU carrier. Compensation amounts under UK261 are identical to EU261: £220 (€250) for short-haul, £350 (€400) for medium-haul, and £520 (€600) for long-haul delays over 3 hours.

Can I claim if the airline says the delay was a "technical issue"?

Yes, usually. Passengers regularly succeed in claims where the airline initially blamed "technical issues." The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia (2008) that routine technical problems are within the airline's control and do not exempt them from paying compensation. SkyRefund's legal team challenges these defences as part of the standard claim process.

Do I have to go to court to claim flight delay compensation?

No. SkyRefund handles the entire process administratively in over 90% of cases. Court action is only needed when the airline refuses to comply with a clear legal obligation — and even then, SkyRefund's legal team handles the case on your behalf at no extra cost.

Related articles

• Flight Cancellation Compensation UK — your rights when your flight is cancelled instead of delayed
• Denied Boarding Compensation — what to do when you are bumped from a flight
• Right to Care Explained — meals, drinks, hotels during a flight disruption
• Refund vs Compensation — when you can claim both
• EU261 / EC261 Explained — the full European regulation
• Extraordinary Circumstances — when airlines are exempt from paying

Sources and references

• UK Civil Aviation Authority — passenger rights
• EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
• Sturgeon v Condor & Böck v Air France, Court of Justice of the European Union, C-402/07 and C-432/07 (2009) — established the 3-hour delay threshold
• Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia, Court of Justice of the European Union, C-549/07 (2008) — defined extraordinary circumstances
• Germanwings v Henning, Court of Justice of the European Union, C-452/13 (2014) — defined arrival time as door-opening