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All flight compensation guides

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

Plain-English answers to the most common flight compensation questions.

UK261 flight delay compensation: the amounts and who qualifiesThe UK261 flight delay compensation amounts by distance and delay length (£220, £350, £260 or £520), who qualifies, and …How to claim flight compensation yourself (free)How to claim flight delay or cancellation compensation directly from the airline in the UK, with a letter template, and …Claim yourself or use a claims company?Should you claim flight compensation yourself or use a claims company such as AirHelp or Compensair? Costs, effort, spee…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 hotel, and…Extraordinary circumstances: when airlines do not have to payWhat counts as extraordinary circumstances under UK261, why airlines refuse compensation, and how to challenge a refusal…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 what to do…Denied boarding and overbooked flights: your rightsRefused boarding on an overbooked flight? What you can ask for in the UK: re-routing or refund, care, and compensation, …Missed connecting flight: can you claim?Missed a connecting flight because your first flight was late? How compensation, re-routing and care work, and why one b…Strike cancelled or delayed your flight: can you claim?Flight cancelled or delayed by a strike? Whether compensation is due, why it depends on whose staff are striking, and ho…Flight delayed or cancelled by bad weather: can you claim?Is compensation due when bad weather delays or cancels your flight? How the airline decides, what to ask for and what yo…Flight delayed by a technical fault: can you claim?Aircraft technical fault caused your delay? Why airlines often cite it, whether it counts as extraordinary, and how to c…Delayed flight: your rights to meals, hotels and expensesWhat an airline should provide when your flight is badly delayed in the UK: meals and refreshments, hotel, transport and…Delayed, damaged or lost luggage: what you can claimLuggage delayed, damaged or lost on a flight? The steps to take at the airport, deadlines to report, and how to claim fr…Claiming flight compensation without a booking referenceLost your booking reference? Where to find it and what else you can use to claim flight compensation from the airline.…Flight compensation for children, babies and familiesCan children and babies claim flight compensation? How family claims work under UK261 and how to claim for everyone on o…How long do airlines take to pay compensation?How long a flight compensation claim can take in the UK, what the CAA says about eight weeks, and when to escalate.…UK261 vs EU261: which rules apply to your flight?UK261 and EU261 explained: which rules cover your flight, how direction and airline nationality matter, and where to che…Package holiday flight delayed or cancelled: your rightsFlight on a package holiday delayed or cancelled? How your rights to compensation work alongside package travel protecti…Old flight claims: how far back can you claim?How far back can you claim flight compensation in the UK? What claims companies say about time limits, and why you shoul…

Airlines you can claim against

You can apply to any airline. Whether you are paid depends on your flight and the cause of the disruption, so we cannot promise a payout. We use names and codes, not logos: we are independent and not affiliated with any airline.

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