Topic hub · flight delay rights
UK Flight Delay & Cancellation Rights (UK261)
Flight delay compensation is one of the highest-intent travel searches for UK passengers — yet airlines reject most first claims and push vouchers instead of statutory cash. This hub routes every UK261 scenario to dedicated guides with Quick Answer blocks, HowTo schema, and CAA-aligned primary-source citations.
UK261 entitles passengers on covered flights to fixed cash compensation of £220, £350, or £260–£520 per person when arrival at the final destination is delayed 3+ hours and the airline is at fault — plus duty-of-care meals and hotels during long waits regardless of fault. Claim against the operating carrier, not a booking agent. Rejections citing extraordinary circumstances are appealable free via ADR or the CAA. Use /guides/uk261-flight-delay-compensation-uk#uk261-calculator before filing.
Cluster pages in this hub
Each link below is a verified, first-party data page — not aggregated opinions. Search themes: UK flight delay compensation 2026 · UK261 claim how to · extraordinary circumstances flight delay.
UK261 master guide — claim up to £520
Coverage · tiers · step-by-step · calculator embedded
Extraordinary circumstances — what counts
Technical faults · crew sickness · weather · strikes
Claim rejected — ADR & small claims appeal
CEDR · AviationADR · CAA · no claims firm
Duty of care — meals, hotels, reimbursement
Separate from compensation · receipt rules
Prove delay time — arrival evidence
Door-open rule · FlightRadar24 · sample wording
Missed connections & codeshare rules
Single PNR vs separate tickets · operating carrier
Stuck at the airport — duty of care now
Vouchers · hotel · same-day evidence
Ryanair flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh routes
easyJet flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · Gatwick, Luton disruption
British Airways flight delay compensation claim
CEDR · Heathrow missed connections
Jet2 flight delay compensation claim
CAA PACT · package vs flight-only claims
TUI Airways flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · package-holiday overlap
Wizz Air flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · Luton, Gatwick short-haul
Virgin Atlantic flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · Heathrow long-haul duty of care
Aer Lingus flight delay compensation claim
CAA PACT · Dublin transatlantic connections
Lufthansa flight delay compensation claim
Overseas ADR · Frankfurt, Munich connections
KLM flight delay compensation claim
AviationADR · Schiphol missed connections
American Airlines flight delay compensation claim
CAA PACT · UK-departure flights only
UK261 compensation calculator
£220 / £350 / £260–£520 estimator
EU261 & US delay rules (comparison)
EU departures · DOT refund rules
Schedule change rights (pre-travel)
Minor vs significant · flight number change
Cancellation refund rights
14-day notice · re-routing windows
Section 75 when airlines refuse refunds
Card issuer liability · stacks with UK261
Travel insurance vs UK261
Delay lump sums · do not double-claim
Hub FAQ
How much can I claim for a delayed flight in the UK?
£220 (up to 1,500 km), £350 (1,500–3,500 km), or £260/£520 (over 3,500 km depending on 3–4 vs 4+ hour arrival delay) per passenger under UK261 when the airline is at fault.
Do I need a claims company for UK261?
No. File with the airline, then escalate free to ADR or the CAA. Claims firms take 25–35% for work you can do in 15 minutes — see /guides/flight-delay-claim-rejected-appeal-uk-2026.
Am I owed a hotel during a long delay even if weather caused it?
Duty of care (meals, hotel, calls) often applies regardless of extraordinary circumstances once delay thresholds are met. Fixed cash compensation may not — see /guides/flight-delay-duty-of-care-reimbursement-uk-2026.