How much compensation you can get
The amount is fixed by law. It depends on the flight distance and how late you arrived, not on the ticket price. Here are the UK and EU tables.
Checked against official sources on 16 October 2026
In short
- UK261: £220, £350 or £520 per passenger.
- EU261: €250, €400 or €600 per passenger.
- On long flights, arriving between 3 and 4 hours late gets half the top amount.
- Each passenger is owed the amount, so a family of four can claim four times.
UK261 amounts
For an arrival delay of 3 hours or more, or a cancellation that qualifies:
| Flight distance | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km, arrived more than 4 hours late | £520 |
| Over 3,500 km, arrived 3 to 4 hours late | £260 |
EU261 amounts
| Flight distance | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 |
| Within the EU and over 1,500 km | €400 |
| Other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km, arrived more than 4 hours late | €600 |
| Over 3,500 km, arrived 3 to 4 hours late | €300 |
A flight within the EU never goes above €400, however long it is. That covers flights to places such as the Canary Islands from mainland EU airports.
How distance is worked out
Distance is the straight line between the airports, not the route the plane flew. For a journey with connections on one booking, the amount is based on the distance to your final destination. Our checker works it out from the two airports you enter.
Two common examples, as a rough guide:
- London to Málaga is about 1,700 km, so it falls in the £350 band.
- London to Paris is about 350 km, so it falls in the £220 band.
When the airline can halve the payment
If your flight was cancelled or you were bumped, and the airline rerouted you on a flight that got you to your destination close to your original time, it can cut compensation by 50%. “Close” means arriving within:
- 2 hours of the original arrival time, for flights of 1,500 km or less
- 3 hours, for flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km
- 4 hours, for longer flights
Separate rules decide whether a cancellation pays anything at all, depending on how much notice you were given. See cancelled flights.
Who counts as a passenger
Everyone on the booking who was on the disrupted flight can claim, including children with their own seat. The ticket must have been bought at a price available to the public, or be a frequent flyer reward ticket.
How you are paid
The law says compensation is paid as money: cash, bank transfer or cheque. Vouchers are allowed only if you agree in writing. Accepting a voucher or a goodwill gesture after being misinformed about your rights does not stop you claiming the rest through the courts or an approved body.
Compensation is separate from the cost of meals, hotels and other expenses the airline should cover while you wait. You can claim both.