Flight Compensation UKHomeAmountsClaim yourselfAirlinesAll guidesAbout
Independent and freeChecked against CAA guidance on 5 November 2026We never collect your flight detailsUK-based publisher

Home › Guides › Delayed flight: your rights to meals, hotels and expenses

Delayed flight: your rights to meals, hotels and expenses

Updated 5 November 2026 · General information, not legal advice.

Quick answerWhen a flight is badly delayed or cancelled you may be entitled to care from the airline, such as meals and refreshments and, for overnight waits, a hotel and transport. If the airline does not provide it, keep receipts and claim reasonable costs back.

What to ask for

If the airline does not help

Buy what is reasonable, keep every receipt, and send them with your claim. Reasonable means sensible, not luxury. See how to claim.

Care rights are different from compensation. You can be entitled to care even if compensation is not due. The CAA explains when each applies.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim expenses if I paid for a hotel myself?

You can ask the airline to refund reasonable costs. Keep receipts and send them with your claim.

Related guides

Flight cancelled: what are your rights?What to do when your flight is cancelled in the UK: your right to a refund or alternative flight, meals and a …Flight delayed 3 hours or more: can you claim?Flight delayed three hours or more? How UK261 compensation works, the amounts, what counts as three hours and …

Sources and official bodies: CAA: delays and compensation · CAA: cancellations · CAA: resolving travel problems · GOV.UK. Reviewed 5 November 2026.