Calculate what you’re owed for a delayed or cancelled UK flight. Up to £520 per passenger under UK261.
Your route from London Heathrow to Barcelona is 1,150 km (band B: 1,500–3,500 km). A 4-hour delay caused by a technical issue qualifies for £350 per passenger under UK261.
What next: Write to the airline citing UK Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and request compensation. They have 6 weeks to respond. If refused, escalate to the CAA or a claims service.
Fixed amounts based on flight distance and delay length. Applies to UK-departing flights and UK/EU carriers flying into the UK.
All internal UK flights and most European routes to Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels. Triggered by a 3-hour+ arrival delay at destination.
Most of continental Europe: Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Morocco, Turkey. Triggered by a 3-hour+ arrival delay.
USA, Canada, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific. Triggered by a 4-hour+ arrival delay. Reduced to £260 if the airline rerouted you within 4 hours of scheduled arrival.
Any airline departing a UK airport, regardless of nationality. Plus any UK or EU-registered airline arriving at a UK airport from anywhere in the world. It does not apply to non-UK/EU carriers (like Emirates or Qatar Airways) flying into the UK from their home country — those are covered by the home country’s rules.
Weather, air traffic control strikes, political instability, security risks, and manufacturer safety alerts. Airline-side strikes do not count as extraordinary — your compensation is payable. Technical issues generally count as the airline’s responsibility after a 2014 CJEU ruling.
Six years from the date of the delayed flight in England & Wales (five years in Scotland). Don’t rush — but don’t forget.
Yes, if both flights were on a single booking and the delay caused you to miss the connection. Compensation is calculated on the total distance from origin to final destination, not the individual legs.
No. Most straightforward claims are settled by writing directly to the airline citing UK261. Use a free template, send by email, and allow 6–8 weeks. Only use a paid service if the airline refuses or ignores you — and remember they take 25–35% of the payout.