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Flight delay comensation

Airline delay compensation tool

Flight delayed or cancelled? We’ll help you quickly check what your airline might owe you and what their process is, so you know exactly what you’re entitled to.
Compensation may not apply if the issue was beyond the airline's control (e.g. weather or strikes).
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*This tool uses data provided by the FlightAware AeroAPI (https://www.flightaware.com/aeroapi) in accordance with regulations issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (https://www.caa.co.uk/). This information is correct as of August 2025. These figures are provided for guidance only and individuals should refer to the airline’s unique policy when submitting a claim.

Claiming for a delayed flight

Delays are stressful. But Citizen's Advice has some great guidance on what to do if your flight’s delayed or cancelled.

If it's the airline's fault, you could claim compensation. Even if it's not, they may still have to offer you duty of care while you wait at the airport once certain delay thresholds are met.

You can usually claim compensation if:

  • Your flight left from the UK/EU or was heading there on a UK/EU airline
  • You arrived 3+ hours late
    •
  • The delay was within the airline's control

If you meet all 3, you may be owed financial compensation.

What does and doesn't count as a delay

  • Mechanical or technical fault - problems with the plane the airline is responsible for
  • Crew or pilot delay - if staff aren't where they need to be, that's on the airline
  • Overbooking or scheduling mistakes - admin errors that cause you to miss your slot
  • Late aircraft turnaround - when the plane arrives late from an earlier flight and it’s the airlines fault
  • Bad weather - if it's unsafe to fly, that's outside of their control
  • Airport staff strikes - delays caused by people who don't work for the airline
  • Air traffic control restrictions - decisions made by air traffic management, not the airline
  • Bird strikes - if a bird flies into the plane and causes a delay, it’s considered something the airline can’t prevent

Note: Even if the delay isn't the airlines fault, they might still have to offer you basic care while you wait.

Compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight

If your flight’s delayed or cancelled and it was the airline’s fault, you could be owed money under UK/EU rules.

You can usually claim if:

  • You arrive 3+ hours to your destination.
  • Your flight’s cancelled with less than 14 days’ notice and you weren’t rebooked close to your original time.
  • You were denied boarding despite having a valid booking.
  • You missed a connection on the same ticket and arrived more than 3 hours late.

How much you could get:

If you qualify, payouts are fixed based on flight distance and delay length:

  • £220 - flights up to 3,500km (3+ hours late)
  • £350 - flights between 1,500km and 3,500km (3+ hours late)
  • £520 - flights over 3,500km (4+ hours late)
  • £260 - flights over 3,500km (less than 4 hours late)

Your additional rights (a.k.a duty of care)

If your flight’s delayed long enough, the airline has to look after you - no matter what caused the delay.

These rules kick in once your wait hits:

  • 2+ hours for short flights (under 1,500km)
  • 3+ hoursfor medium length flights (1,500-3,500km)
  • 4+ hours for long-haul flights (over 3,500km)

When you reach those thresholds, you should be offered:

  • Food and drink - usually as vouchers. If they don't hand any out, grab what you need (within reason) and keep the receipts to claim back
  • A place to sleep - if you're stuck overnight, they should sort a hotel (or send you home if it's close enough) and cover the transport.
  • Staying connected - like calls or mobile data, so you can stay in touch.

Making a compensation claim for a delayed flight

If you think you might be owed money, here's how to get the ball rolling:

  • Check you’re eligible. Make sure the delay meets the requirements. For example, it must be the airline's fault and you arrived more than 3 hours late.
  • Gather your evidence. Hang on to your boarding passes, booking confirmations and any messages from the airline.
  • Record proof. Snap a pic of the airport departure board and take screenshots of any delay or cancellation notifications.
  • Keep receipts for extra costs. Meals, drinks or transport you had to pay for during the delay - keep all the receipts to claim later.
  • Submit the claim. Use the airline's online form or speak to their staff at the airport. Try to include everything in one go to avoid back and forth.
  • Chase it up if needed. If you don't hear back within a reasonable time (usually 6-8 weeks), you can escalate your claim through an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) body.

Don’t forget travel insurance

Even if the airline offers compensation, travel insurance is still worth having. It's there for all the other hiccups that can happen on a trip - like lost luggage or getting ill.

Some policies also throw in a bit extra for delays. That could be a set amount for every hour you're held up (though many kick in after 12 hours, some from just 1). Depending on your cover, you might also get perks like airport lounge access, so you've got somewhere quiet and comfy to wait.

Before you head off, have a flick through your policy documents to see exactly what you're covered for. That way, you'll know in advance what you can claim for if things don't go to plan.

Already bought a policy? Have a look to see what you’ve got cover for before you travel. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s included if your flight’s delayed or cancelled.

Need more help?

Which flights are covered by UK/EU compensation rules?

Not every flight is covered by UK/EU rules - but it's easy to check if yours is. It only needs to meet one of these:

  • You took off from the UK or an EU country. It doesn't matter which airline you flew with. And yes, 'EU' here also includes Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
  • You landed in the UK or an EU country. This one's only covered if you were flying with a UK or EU-based airline. So, New York to London with Virgin Atlantic? Covered. Same route with American Airlines? Not covered.

How long does a flight have to be delayed before I get compensation?

You've got 2 clocks to think about: duty of care can kick in from around 2 hours, even if the delay wasn't the airline's fault. Cash compensation is usually from 3+ hours, but only if the hold-up is on them.

Can I claim for connecting flights or long-haul trips?

If it's all booked under one ticket and meets the delay rules, yes. That goes for plenty of UK/EU airlines, from British Airways and Jet2 to easyJet and beyond.