Aer Lingus Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Claim Up to £520
Aer Lingus flight delayed 3+ hours or cancelled between the UK, Ireland, or the US? You could be owed up to £520 per passenger. Here is how UK261 and EU261 apply.
Aer Lingus operates a dense network of short UK-Ireland routes alongside long-haul flights from Dublin and Manchester to the US. That mix matters for compensation: a short delay on a UK-Ireland hop and a long-haul disruption to Boston or New York can land in very different compensation brackets, and which regulation applies depends on where the flight departed.
How much can you claim from Aer Lingus?
- £220 / €250 for flights under 1,500km (most UK-Ireland routes, e.g. London to Dublin, Manchester to Cork)
- £350 / €400 for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km
- £520 / €600 for flights over 3,500km delayed 4+ hours (e.g. Dublin or Manchester to Boston, New York, Chicago)
Aer Lingus's transatlantic routes are where the largest claims sit, and a delay that starts as a short technical hold in Dublin can easily stretch into the 4-hour long-haul threshold once you factor in the flight time to North America.
Does UK261 or EU261 apply?
It depends on where the flight departed, not the airline's home country. A flight departing Dublin (an EU airport) falls under EU261. A flight departing a UK airport, such as London Heathrow or Manchester, falls under UK261. Since Aer Lingus operates heavily out of both, check your specific departure airport rather than assuming one regulation applies to every Aer Lingus flight you've taken.
What counts as a valid excuse, and what doesn't
Aer Lingus, like other airlines, sometimes cites extraordinary circumstances for delays that don't actually qualify. The following are not valid excuses:
- Routine technical faults with the aircraft
- Crew scheduling or staff shortages
- The aircraft arriving late from an earlier rotation
- A vague reference to "operational reasons" with no specific cause given
Genuine extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or third-party air traffic control strikes, can excuse compensation, but Aer Lingus still has to show it took all reasonable measures to minimise the impact on your specific flight.
How far back can you claim?
Up to 6 years for flights departing UK airports (5 years in Scotland), or per the relevant EU member state's limitation period for flights departing Ireland or elsewhere in the EU. An old Aer Lingus delay from a previous trip may still be worth checking.
How to claim from Aer Lingus
- Directly with Aer Lingus. Submit a claim through their customer service channels. It's free, but be ready to challenge a rejection and escalate if needed.
- Through Klaimly. We verify your flight against real flight data, determine whether UK261 or EU261 applies based on your departure airport, and handle the full process for a flat 5% fee, only if we win.
What you'll need
- Your Aer Lingus flight number (e.g. EI110)
- The date of travel
- Your booking reference
- Your email address
Check your flight in under 2 minutes and see exactly what you're owed.