1. Guides
  2. Reclaiming Money

Flight delay compensation explained

Did your flight get delayed? Latest Deals is here to help you get flight delay compensation.

What is flight delay compensation? 

Image

Since February 2005,  a European Law determined that passengers should receive compensation for flight delays. This law is commonly known as EU 261 Compensation.

After Brexit, this European Law has now been written into the UK Law. Before Brexit, the payments were paid in euros, now they are paid in Pound Sterling. 

In the UK, the flight delay compensation covers flights departing from the UK, arriving in the UK with an EU or UK carrier and arriving in the EU with a UK carrier. 

How much is the flight delay compensation? 

This depends on the flight length and the arrival delay. The longer the flight length and the arrival delay, the bigger the compensation. 

Flight Length Arrival Delay Compensation 
Up to 1,500km3+ hoursup to £220
1,500km – 3,500km3+ hoursup to £350
3,500km+3-4 hoursup to £260
4+ hoursup to £520

Who can claim flight delay compensation? 

Anyone that is flying between two European countries or on an EU-regulated flight. You don’t need to be a European citizen or a British national to be able to reclaim flight delay compensation. 

What to do when you are stuck in an airport due to a flight delay? 

First of all, your airline must tell you what is happening. You can ask for an explanation at the customer service desk. 

You can also keep track online by accessing the airline’s website, app, Twitter and Facebook accounts. Check your emails for updates as well. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Use FlightRadar24 to see what is happening with your flight. 

What are your rights if you are stuck in an airport due to a flight delay? 

Image
  • Food and beverage 

If you are delayed more than two hours for a short flight (less than 1,500km), three hours for a medium flight (between 1,500km and 3,500km), or four hours for a long flight (more than 3,500km), you are entitled to food and beverage, so the airline should offer them to you, or give you vouchers to buy them.

  • Accommodation 

If you are delayed overnight, you are entitled to a hotel and also transport to and from the hotel. This hotel will probably be a budget option, nearby to the airport. 

  • Access to phone calls and emails

If for any reason you can’t use your mobile phone, the airline must provide you with access to phone calls and emails. 

  • Full ticket refund 

If your flight is delayed more than five hours, you can get a ticket refund, no matter what the reason for the delay is. If you no longer wish to travel, you can ask for a full ticket refund. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you spend any money on food, beverage, accommodation, phone calls and emails due to the flight delay you can save the receipts to ask for a refund together with your flight delay compensation claim. Make sure you are only spending within reason. You also ask for a refund for the things you will miss due to the delay, such as pre-booked accommodation, a car rental or even tickets to concert and events. 

The rules for flight delay compensation 

Image

Rule #1: It's only for UK or EU-regulated flights

To be entitled to receive the flight delay compensation, your flight needs to be departing from a UK/EU airport, no matter what the airline is, or when a UK/EU airline lands at a UK/EU airport. 

Rule #2: You can claim back to 2015 

To be entitled to receive the flight delay compensation, you need to make your claim up to six years back. It’s always better to claim as soon as the delay happens to have more chances to be compensated. 

Rule #3: It must be the airline’s fault 

To be entitled to receive the flight delay compensation, the delay needed to have happened because of the airline, meaning, the company could have avoided the delay because it was in their control. 

Some of the things that are out of the airline’s control are a security risk, severe weather that makes flying dangerous, drone disruption, long security queues, restricted Air Traffic Control operations and strikes by non-airline staff.

Rule #4: You can only get flight delay compensation if your flight delay is three hours or more. 

This three hours delay is only counted on the time you should arrive at your destination, not when you leave. The time of arrival is when the aeroplane opens at least one door.

How to make a flight delay compensation claim 

Image

The first step is to complain to the airline. 

You can claim directly with the airline you were travelling with.

You can call their customer service line with all the information you will need to provide, such as flight number, how long the delay was and your customer identification number. 

You can also send them an email or fill out an online form, but calling is the best way to start your claim. 

Most airlines companies have a web page dedicated to flight delay compensation claims. Below you can find some of them:

Norwegian Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Ryanair Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Easyjet Refund ClaimClaim for ticket refund
Jet2 Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
TUI Airways Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
American Airlines Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
British Airways Refund ClaimClaim for ticket refund
Loganair Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Wizz Air  Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Aer Lingus Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Emirates Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Virgin Atlantic Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
Luftansa Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund
KLM Refund Claim Claim for ticket refund

What to do if the air company denies your flight delay compensation claim? 

If the airline company denies your flight delay compensation claim, you can still do something about it. 

A denial doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to receive compensation. 

You can report this issue to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). 

The CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team (PACT) will deal with your complaint. 

This team will connect you with an Airline Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are still not satisfied with the result of your complaint, you can take your case to the court, which you can do online. Remember you will need to pay a court fee depending on how much money you are claiming.

FAQ 

Image

What do you think of this?+20 points
Advertisement
Sunny123two

Thank you so much for all of this valuable information.

Like
Reply1
tamirescriscio
LD Team

Missfionawilson thank you for your lovely comment! Have a good🤗 day!

Like
Reply
Want deals & discounts automatically?
+100 bonus points!
Latest Deals Browser Extension
Latest Deals Mobile App
  • Download our app
  • 1,000+ new deals every day
  • Earn free Amazon vouchers
  • Daily deal alerts - never miss the best offers!
  • Download the Latest Deals iOS AppDownload the Latest Deals Android App
Latest Deals
Disclaimer

The content on Latest Deals is a combination of information submitted by members of the public and the Latest Deals team. Whilst we make every effort to try and ensure genuine, accurate content we cannot guarantee it. Please always carry out your own due diligence and double check the details of an offer on the retailer's own website.

How this site works
  • To cover the site's running costs, Latest Deals uses affiliate links.
  • If you click on a link to an external website and make a purchase, Latest Deals may earn a commission.
  • We allow deals to be shared on Latest Deals irrelevant of whether or not they generate us money. Our #1 concern is helping you save money.
  • If you have any questions about how the site works, drop us a message. We're always happy to help.
Copyright © 2024 Latest Deals Limited
Registered in England and Wales. Company number 10286141. WeWork 6th Floor, International House, 1 St Katherine's Way, E1W 1UN
We value your privacy

We use cookies to help give you the best experience on our website with improved customisation, analytics & advertising (inc. personalisation). You can read our full cookie policy. Please either , or .