Your rights when a flight goes wrong
UK261 and EU261 explained in plain English. Pick what happened to see exactly what the airline owes you.
Arrived 3+ hours late? You're likely owed up to £520.
Compensation
£220 to £520 per person if you reached your final destination 3 or more hours late, unless the cause was genuinely extraordinary.
Meals and drinks
From 2 hours on short flights (3 on medium, 4 on long haul) the airline must provide food and refreshments, or reimburse reasonable costs.
A refund instead
If the delay reaches 5 hours you can choose not to travel and get a full refund.
A hotel
If the delay runs overnight, the airline must provide accommodation and transport to it.
Step 1
Is your flight covered?
Two quick questions. Coverage depends on where you departed from and who operated the flight, not where you live or how you booked.
1. Where did your flight depart from?
It doesn't matter how much you paid, or whether you booked direct, through an agent or a comparison site.
Step 2
How much could you get?
Compensation is fixed by distance, not ticket price. Move the sliders to see your amount.
Flight distance
e.g. London to Istanbul, Berlin to Lisbon
How late did you arrive?
4 hours
Passengers on the booking
You could be owed
£350
≈ €400 under EU261
Full compensation, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.
With Klaimly you keep £333. The airline pays you directly.
Start my claim →While you wait
What you're owed, hour by hour
Compensation isn't the only thing. The longer you wait, the more the airline has to do for you at the airport.
Drag to see what you're owed as the delay grows
3h
Delays are measured at arrival, when the aircraft door opens, not at take-off. A flight that leaves 4 hours late but lands 2h50 late usually doesn't qualify for compensation.
Know the tricks
Does the airline's excuse hold up?
Airlines can refuse to pay for "extraordinary circumstances", and they use the phrase a lot. Tap each excuse to see whether it usually stands.
Don't leave it too late
How far back can you claim?
Longer than most people think.
England, Wales & NI
6 years
Scotland
5 years
France
5 years
Spain
5 years
Germany
3 years
Ireland
6 years
General guide. The limit that applies depends on where you bring the claim, and some countries are shorter. If your flight was a few years ago, it's still worth checking.
On the day
What to do at the airport
A few minutes now makes any claim much easier later.
Tick off as you go
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
They're almost identical. UK261 is the UK's version of EU Regulation 261/2004, kept after Brexit. UK261 pays £220/£350/£520; EU261 pays €250/€400/€600. Which one applies depends on where you departed from and the airline.
Think you have a claim?
Check your flight in about 2 minutes. Flat 5% fee, only if we win.
Check my flight →This page is general information about UK261 and EU Regulation 261/2004, not legal advice. Whether compensation is due depends on the facts of each flight.