EC 261 flight compensation in the UK: your passenger rights explained

EC Regulation 261/2004 protects passengers who've suffered a flight delay, cancellation, or been denied boarding due to overbooking. Under this legislation, if your flight's eligible, you may be entitled to EC 261 compensation of up to €600 from airlines.

Following the UK's departure from the EU, UK Regulation 261 now applies, allowing passengers to claim up to £520 in compensation under similar circumstances.

EC 261/2004 is a regulation in EU law that protects passengers rights. It holds airlines financially accountable when air travel takes an unexpected turn, as long as the disruption wasn’t caused by something outside of the airline’s control.

EC 261 is one of the most comprehensive laws on passenger rights. As well as saying what care passengers should expect, it names the amount of compensation airlines must pay – between £220 and £520 – and the circumstances when passengers should receive the cash – delayed flights over 3 hours, flight cancellations less than 14 days in advance, and in cases of denied boarding.

All passengers departing from an EU airport are covered under EC 261. And in some circumstances, passengers flying into Europe from other worldwide destinations may be covered as well.

The regulation is known as:

• EC Reg 261, EC 261, EC261/2004

• EU Reg 261, EU 261, EU261/2004

But it always refers to the same regulation.

Following the UK's departure from the European Union, many passengers have wondered if EC 261 still applies to flights in the United Kingdom. The good news for air passengers is that EC 261 continues to apply in the UK even after Brexit.

When the UK left the European Union, it retained this important passenger protection regulation in its domestic law through the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The regulation was incorporated into UK law as "The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019." This law is also known as UK 261.

Basically, nothing has changed and UK passengers have the same rights as before. The main differences are twofold:

• there are now two separate laws – EC 261 and UK 261

• the compensation under UK 261 is stated in pounds sterling, but the amount is roughly the same as that provided under EC 261.

EC Regulation 261 – and its UK equivalent, UK 261 – applies to:

• all flights departing from airports in the EU or UK

• flights to EU and UK airports operated by EU and UK airlines

The regulation does not provide protection for certain flights, including:

• Flights arriving in the UK from non-EU countries operated by non-UK/non-EU airlines.

• Flights that were provided free of charge or at a reduced fare not available to the general public.

If you’re confused, here’s a simple chart to help:

Compensation under EC 261 does not depend on the cost of the ticket, but mainly on the flight distance:

• For short flights covering distances up to 1,500km, passengers are entitled to £220 per person.

• Medium-distance flights between 1,500km and 3,500km qualify for compensation of £350 per passenger.

• Long-haul flights over 3,500km have a tiered compensation structure: £520 per passenger for delays of 4 or more hours, and £260 per passenger for delays between 3 and 4 hours.

If you’re confused, here’s a simple chart to help:

These amounts apply in cases where:

• Your flight was delayed by 3 hours or more upon arrival

• Your flight was cancelled with short notice (less than 14 days in advance)

• You were denied boarding, even though you had a valid ticket and arrived on time

Use our EC261 compensation calculator below to see if you're eligible and determine the amount.

You can claim to flight delay compensation under EC 261 in the following circumstances:

• Your flight arrived at its destination 3 or more hours later than scheduled

• The delay was within the airline's control (not caused by extraordinary circumstances)

• Your flight departed from a UK/EU airport, or was operated by a UK or EU airline arriving at a UK airport.

If these conditions apply, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £520 (€600). The amount depends on your flight distance and length of delay:

Compensation is per passenger, regardless of age (children included). The amount is fixed by law and does not depend on the price of your ticket, or your travel class (Economy, Business, etc.).

Read more about flight delay compensation.

For cancelled flights under EC 261, you may be entitled to financial compensation (up to £520) if:

• You were notified less than 14 days before departure

• The cancellation was within the airline's control

• Your replacement flight arrives significantly later than your original booking

You also have the right to choose between:

• Refund of the full ticket cost for unused flight segments

• Alternative transport to your final destination at the earliest opportunity

• Re-routing at a later date of your convenience, subject to seat availability

Read more about flight cancellation compensation.

When an airline overbooks, it may deny you boarding. If your flight is covered by EC261 (or UK261) you may be entitled to compensation.

The airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for benefits (such as vouchers or cash). If there aren't enough volunteers and you're denied boarding involuntarily, you're entitled to:

• Compensation (£220-£520 based on flight distance)

• A choice between refund, re-routing at the earliest opportunity, or re-routing at a later date

• Care and assistance (meals, refreshments, communication, and accommodation if necessary)

You are not entitled to compensation if you:

• choose to voluntarily give up your seat

• arrive after the deadline

• don't have proper travel documentation

Read more about overbooking compensation.

• Missed connection compensation

• Airline strike compensation

• Codeshare flights and EC 261

Missed connection compensation

When a delay or cancellation affects a connecting flight you need to remember that your right to EC 261 compensation depends on the total delay at your final destination. If your connecting flight arrives at the final destination airport with a delay of at least three hours, you might be entitled to airline compensation.

To make it simpler, here are some practical examples in the table below:

The above applies if the connecting flights were part of a single booking.

If, however, the different legs were purchased separately (different tickets/bookings), then each leg is treated as a separate flight. In this case, you’re entitled to compensation for the leg (or legs) that accumulated a delay of at least three hours. For more details, check out our missed connection advice page.

Airline strike compensation

If you experienced delays or cancellations due to an airline strike, you may be entitled to up to £520 (€600) in EC 261 compensation. In 2018, the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled that disruption caused by airline employee strikes qualifies for compensation as the airline is considered responsible for the behaviour of their own staff.

You could be eligible for airline strike compensation if:

• You had a flight disrupted by an airline staff strike.

• The flight was either delayed by 3 hours or more, or was cancelled less than 14 days before it was due to depart.

• You took a replacement flight, your new arrival time was significantly different from your original flight.

Strikes by airport staff, air traffic controllers, or security personnel are typically classified as extraordinary circumstances, exempting airlines from paying compensation.

Read more about airline strike compensation.

Codeshare flights and EC 261

A codeshare flight is a flight where one airline handles the actual operation of the flight, while another airline markets and sells the flight under its own branding and flight number. This means you could book a ticket through one airline, e.g., British Airways, but find that your flight is actually being operated by a different airline, such as Vueling Airlines.

Usually, if you have a codeshare flight, it is the operating airline at the time of the delay or cancellation who is responsible for pay out. You can claim compensation if the connecting flights are part of the same booking and departing from the EU (or UK), or if it is an EU/UK airline.

The right to EC 261 compensation for a disrupted flight depends on the airline’s responsibility. Airlines are not required to compensate passengers in cases of extraordinary circumstances, meaning situations beyond the airline's control. These include severe weather conditions, medical emergencies, airport staff strikes, political instability, bird strikes, acts of sabotage, security risks… you get the idea.

If you’re still unsure, the table below helps clarify when you might be eligible for compensation:

Under extraordinary circumstances, compensation is therefore off the table. However, other rights still apply, such as the right to care and assistance during your wait and, if applicable, the right to a ticket refund.

Important: even in extraordinary circumstances, airlines must still provide care and assistance.

To claim your compensation under EC 261:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and all other travel documents.

• Gather proof of the delay (for example photos of the departure board or communications from the airline confirming the disruption.)

• Check if you’re entitled to compensation: you can use our free eligibility checker.


• File your claim through AirHelp. Alternatively, you can contact the airline directly, but you’ll need to handle all the paperwork yourself.


• Await a response. The entire process could take weeks; by relying on AirHelp, we’ll manage every aspect of the case for you.

How to claim compensation with AirHelp

Did you know that only 55% of all passengers worldwide make a claim, even when they know they are entitled to it?

Many travelers tend to be daunted by the thought of a complicated and drawn-out legal process. This fear often leads to them not trying to seek out the compensation they deserve for their flight inconvenience.

That’s what AirHelp is for. We take the burden from you and simplify the process:

1. We'll tell you quickly if we think you're eligible for EC 261 compensation.

2. We'll handle all communication with the airline.

3. There's no risk, we only charge a fee when we're successful in getting your compensation.

4. We are committed to enforcing air passenger rights. To date, we’ve helped more than 2.7 million passengers receive their compensation.

As incorporated into UK law, EC 261 covers:

• All 27 European Union member states

• The United Kingdom

• Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

• The so-called “outermost regions” (French Guiana and Martinique, Mayotte, Guadeloupe and La Réunion, Saint-Martin, Madeira and the Azores, and the Canary Islands

For UK passengers, what matters most is whether your flight:

• Departed from a UK or EU airport, or

• Arrived at a UK airport and was operated by a UK or EU airline

It's important to note that flights operated by non-UK/non-EU airlines from non-EU countries to the UK are not covered by EC 261 protections.

If you experience a flight delay or cancellation, here's what you should do:

• Hold onto your boarding pass and other travel documents.

• Ask why the flight was delayed or cancelled.

• Request food, drinks, and if necessary, free transport and hotel accommodation.

• If you had a cancelled flight, ask for an alternative flight or a refund.

• Keep all receipts of any extra expenses you may have had, including necessary food, clothing, etc.

• Be careful not to sign any waivers or accept vouchers that will require you to waive your right to EC 261 compensation.