Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Claim up to £520 — Free to Check
Under UK261 / EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004, airlines owe you fixed compensation of up to £520 per passenger when your flight is delayed 3+ hours, cancelled at short notice, or you are denied boarding. You can claim flights up to 6 years ago — and checking costs nothing.
Check My Flight — FreeAm I Eligible Under UK/EU261?
The rules apply to a wide range of passengers. You are likely covered if your flight meets any of the following route criteria — on any airline:
Which Flights Are Covered?
- Any flight departing a UK airport — regardless of which airline operated it (UK261 applies, formerly EU261 retained in UK law)
- Any flight arriving in the UK operated by a UK or EU-based airline (e.g. British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Iberia, Lufthansa, Air France)
- Any flight departing an EU airport — regardless of airline (EU261 applies)
- Any flight arriving in the EU on an EU-based carrier
Not covered: flights arriving in the UK/EU on a non-UK/EU airline (e.g. a Delta flight from New York to London is covered on departure from New York only if it departs an EU airport; a return London departure would be covered under UK261).
What Disruption Qualifies?
Delayed 3+ Hours at Arrival
Your entitlement is based on when you actually arrived (doors open / disembarkation), not when you took off. A 2h55m delay does not qualify; a 3h01m delay does.
Cancellation — Less Than 14 Days Notice
If the airline cancelled your flight fewer than 14 days before departure and could not offer an alternative route arriving within the time thresholds, you are entitled to compensation.
Denied Boarding (Involuntary Bumping)
If you had a confirmed booking, checked in on time, and the airline refused you boarding — usually due to overbooking — you are entitled to full compensation immediately.
When the Airline Does NOT Have to Pay
Airlines can escape liability only for "extraordinary circumstances" — events outside their control that could not have been avoided even with every reasonable measure. This is a narrow category. Qualifying examples include: severe weather making flight physically impossible, strikes by third parties such as air traffic control staff or security personnel, acts of terrorism, and hidden manufacturing defects. Staff strikes, technical faults, and short-staffing are generally not extraordinary circumstances.
Free Eligibility Checker
Answer six quick questions to see whether you may have a valid claim and how much compensation you could be owed.
This is a free guide, not legal advice or a guarantee of compensation.
How Much Could I Claim?
Compensation under UK261/EU261 is a fixed-rate entitlement, not negotiable, set by flight distance. Amounts below are approximate GBP equivalents. Delays under 3 hours do not qualify; for delays of 3–4 hours on medium/long routes a 50% reduction may apply where the airline offered re-routing arriving close to the original time.
| Flight Distance | Example Routes | Up to (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | London–Amsterdam, London–Paris, Edinburgh–Dublin | ~£220 per passenger |
| 1,500 km – 3,500 km | London–Tenerife, London–Istanbul, Manchester–Hurghada | ~£350 per passenger |
| Over 3,500 km | London–New York, London–Dubai, London–Bangkok | ~£520 per passenger |
This Is Per Passenger — a Family of Four Could Claim Up to £2,080
The compensation applies to every passenger on the booking. If you were travelling with a partner and two children and the flight was long-haul, the total entitlement could be up to £2,080. You can also claim separately for reasonable meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation the airline should have provided during the delay but did not.
How Octave Resolution Services Helps
Free Complaint Letters — Professionally Drafted, 100% Cost to You: £0
We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. What we do is draft clear, detailed, regulation-citing complaint letters directly to the airline. Our letters:
- Cite the correct regulation — Regulation (EC) 261/2004 as retained in UK law (UK261) for flights departing UK airports, and/or EU261 for flights departing EU airports
- State the exact compensation amount due under Articles 5, 7, and 9 of the regulation
- Rebut common airline delaying tactics — technical fault excuses, vague "operational reasons", spurious weather claims
- Set a 14-day response deadline and give formal notice of escalation to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Aviation ADR scheme, or the relevant national enforcement body
- Request supporting documentation — the airline's evidence for any claimed extraordinary circumstances
The letter is tailored to your specific flight. There is no charge at any stage.
Escalation: Aviation ADR and the CAA
If the airline rejects your complaint or ignores it, we help you escalate to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme such as Aviation ADR or CEDR. These schemes are free for consumers, their decisions are binding on the airline (though not on you), and they can award the full statutory compensation. We provide a supplementary submission document to support your escalation.
Contact Us
Questions before you start? Email us at nc.octave@gmail.com and we will respond within 24 hours.
Airline Excuses That Do NOT Count as Extraordinary Circumstances
Airlines often deny claims by claiming "extraordinary circumstances" for events that are actually within their control. Courts and ADR schemes have consistently rejected these excuses.
"Technical fault"
A technical problem with the aircraft is generally not extraordinary circumstances — it is part of normal airline operations. Only a hidden manufacturing defect that the manufacturer itself has not yet identified may qualify. Routine maintenance failures, bird strikes on scheduled routes, and tyre problems do not.
"Staff shortage / crew unavailability"
If the airline ran out of cabin crew, pilots, or ground staff, that is an operational failing entirely within the airline's control. Multiple European courts have confirmed this is not an extraordinary circumstance and full compensation is due.
"The previous flight was delayed (knock-on)"
Airlines frequently blame a delayed incoming aircraft. If the delay on the previous flight was itself caused by something within airline control, the knock-on delay inherits that liability. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled in Wallentin-Hermann v Alitalia that technical issues are not extraordinary circumstances.
"Airport congestion / slot restrictions"
Airport congestion is a known operational condition that airlines must plan for. It is not an unforeseeable extraordinary circumstance. Slot restrictions at busy airports are entirely predictable and within the airline's scheduling control.
"Airline strike" (own staff)
A strike by the airline's own employees — pilots, cabin crew, or ground handlers directly employed by the airline — is generally not an extraordinary circumstance. Only strikes by third parties (e.g. ATC workers, airport security) can qualify. The UK Supreme Court confirmed this principle in Lipton v BA CityFlyer [2024].
"Adverse weather" (routine)
Heavy rain, normal fog, strong winds, or seasonal storms that are foreseeable on a given route do not constitute extraordinary circumstances. Only genuinely exceptional meteorological events — a once-in-a-generation storm or a volcanic ash cloud — meet the threshold. "It was a bit windy" does not.
Start Your Free Claim Today
Time limits apply. In England and Wales you have 6 years from the date of the flight to bring a claim — but airlines routinely reject claims without a properly drafted letter. Our complaint letters take 48 hours and cost you nothing.
How the Process Works
- Step 1 — Free assessment (2 minutes): Tell us about your flight, the disruption, and the airline's response so far
- Step 2 — We review your case (within 24 hours): Our team checks route eligibility and the strength of any extraordinary-circumstances defence
- Step 3 — Complaint letter drafted (within 48 hours): A tailored letter citing UK261/EU261 Articles 5 and 7, and relevant case law, is prepared for you
- Step 4 — You send the letter: We provide clear sending instructions — email to the airline's legal/complaints address and registered post where required
- Step 5 — Escalation support if needed: If the airline refuses or ignores your complaint after 8 weeks, we help you submit to an approved ADR scheme at no charge
We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We are a free complaint letter drafting service. We cannot guarantee any particular outcome. Results depend on the specific facts of your case and the decisions of the airline, ADR scheme, or court.
Flight Delay Compensation — FAQs
Common questions about claiming under UK261 / EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004. This is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.
How much compensation can I get for a delayed flight?
Under UK261 / EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004, passengers may be entitled to fixed-rate compensation based on flight distance. As an approximate guide:
- Up to ~£220 per passenger for flights under 1,500 km (e.g. London to Amsterdam or Paris)
- Up to ~£350 per passenger for flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km (e.g. London to Tenerife or Turkey)
- Up to ~£520 per passenger for flights over 3,500 km (e.g. London to New York or Dubai)
These figures are approximate GBP equivalents of the EUR amounts set in the regulation and apply per passenger. A family of four on a long-haul flight could be entitled to up to ~£2,080 in total. This is a guide only and not a guarantee of compensation — outcomes depend on the specific facts of your case.
How long must the delay be to claim compensation?
Your flight must have arrived at its final destination 3 hours or more late for compensation to apply. The delay is measured from your scheduled arrival time to the time the aircraft doors open and disembarkation begins — not the departure delay. A delay of 2 hours 59 minutes does not qualify; a delay of 3 hours or more does. Cancellations with fewer than 14 days notice and involuntary denied boarding also trigger compensation rights regardless of delay duration.
How far back can I claim for a delayed or cancelled flight?
In England and Wales you generally have up to 6 years from the date of the flight to bring a claim under the Limitation Act 1980. In Scotland the limitation period is 5 years. This means flights from as far back as 2019 (or 2020 in Scotland) may still be claimable today. If you are approaching the time limit, it is important to act promptly. We recommend taking advice if you are in any doubt about whether the limit has passed in your specific case.
What are "extraordinary circumstances" and when do they apply?
Extraordinary circumstances are events outside the airline's control that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. If the disruption was caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances, the airline is not required to pay fixed compensation. Accepted examples include:
- Severe weather conditions that make it physically impossible to fly safely (e.g. a volcanic ash cloud, an exceptional storm)
- Strikes by third-party air traffic control (ATC) staff or airport security personnel
- Security threats, acts of terrorism, or sudden political instability
Importantly, airlines frequently misuse this defence. Technical faults, staff shortages, routine weather disruption, and the airline's own staff strikes are generally not extraordinary circumstances and do not exempt the airline from paying. If you are unsure whether the defence applies to your flight, our team can review the circumstances for free.
Does it cost anything to make a claim with Octave Resolution Services?
No — our service is completely free. We draft professional complaint letters citing UK261 / EU261, tailored to your specific flight, at no charge to you at any stage. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We cannot guarantee any particular outcome. If you need to escalate to an approved ADR scheme (such as Aviation ADR or CEDR), that process is also free for consumers.
What if my flight was only delayed because of a missed connection?
If your outbound and connecting flights were booked as a single itinerary or booking reference, your compensation rights are assessed based on your arrival time at the final destination compared to the originally scheduled arrival time. If you arrived 3 hours or more late at your final destination as a result of a missed connection — even if the first leg was only delayed briefly — you may still be entitled to compensation. The key requirement is that the flights form one booking. If the connecting legs were purchased separately, the protection does not apply in the same way and you would need to assess each flight individually.