EU261 and UK261 Compensation Claims: A British Traveller's Guide
Flight delays and cancellations are annoying. Knowing exactly what you're owed when one happens is unexpectedly powerful, especially when the airline's first response is some carefully-worded suggestion that you're owed nothing. Here is what the law actually says, in plain English, and how British passengers go about claiming.
UK261 vs EU261: same idea, different border
Since Brexit the UK has its own version of the EU regulation, confusingly called the same thing in everyday speech. Both cover essentially the same scenarios:
- UK261 applies to flights departing a UK airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU carrier.
- EU261 applies to flights departing an EU airport on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU on a UK or EU carrier.
For most British flyers, departing London or returning to it on BA, Virgin, easyJet or Ryanair, you're covered one way or the other.
What you're entitled to, in cash
Compensation applies when the airline cancels less than 14 days before departure, or you arrive at your destination more than three hours late, and the cause isn't an "extraordinary circumstance".
| Flight distance | UK261 amount | EU261 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500-3,500 km (intra-EU/UK over 1,500) | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 | €600 |
Critically: these amounts apply per passenger, and they apply equally to reward tickets. The airline's call-centre script sometimes claims otherwise. It is wrong.
What counts as "extraordinary"
Weather, air traffic control strikes, security incidents and political instability all let the airline off the hook. Staff shortages, technical faults that should've been caught in maintenance, and crew running out of hours don't. The distinction matters because most British compensation refusals hinge on the airline claiming extraordinary circumstances they can't actually prove.
You also have a right to "duty of care"
Separate to the cash compensation, if you're stuck at an airport because of a delay or cancellation, the airline owes you:
- Meals and refreshments proportional to the wait.
- Two free phone calls or emails.
- Hotel accommodation if an overnight stay becomes necessary.
- Transport between the airport and the hotel.
If they don't provide it, keep receipts and claim them back afterwards. Reasonable spending only. A first-class train and a steak dinner won't fly.
How to claim, step by step
- Within a week of the disruption, email the airline's complaints address. Cite UK261/EU261 by name, state the flight number and date, and ask for the relevant cash compensation in pounds (or euros if departing an EU airport).
- If they refuse or stall beyond eight weeks, escalate free to the relevant ADR scheme. For BA, easyJet, Ryanair and most UK-based carriers it's CEDR or AviationADR. The airline pays the ADR's fee.
- If ADR sides with you, the airline pays within 28 days. If you disagree with the outcome, your last resort is the Money Claim Online (MCOL) small claims process, which costs about £35 to issue a claim under £300.
A few things airlines won't volunteer
- Compensation is in addition to a refund or rebooking, not instead of.
- You can claim for flights up to six years ago in England and Wales (five years in Scotland). Old delays count.
- Children sitting on a parent's lap don't get compensation. Children in their own seat do.
- You don't need to use a claims handler to apply. They'll take 25-40% of the payout. The free ADR route exists precisely so you don't have to.