Flight delays and cancellations are stressful, but UK passengers have strong legal protections. Knowing your rights before you travel means you can act quickly and confidently if something goes wrong.
UK261: your legal framework
Since Brexit, UK passengers are protected by UK261, which mirrors the EU's EC261/2004 regulation. It applies to all flights departing from a UK airport (regardless of the airline), and to flights arriving in the UK operated by a UK or EU carrier. The regulation covers delays, cancellations, and denied boarding due to overbooking. It does not apply to flights departing from outside the UK on a non-UK, non-EU carrier — in those cases, the rules of the departure country apply.
Your rights during a delay
If your flight is delayed by two hours or more (for flights under 1,500km), three hours or more (for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km), or four hours or more (for longer flights), the airline must provide meals and refreshments appropriate to the waiting time, two free telephone calls or emails, and hotel accommodation plus transport if an overnight stay is required. These are your rights regardless of the reason for the delay — the airline cannot refuse them by citing extraordinary circumstances.
Compensation for delays
If you arrive at your final destination more than three hours late, you may be entitled to financial compensation of £220 (flights under 1,500km), £350 (flights between 1,500km and 3,500km within the EU), or £520 (longer flights). Compensation is not payable if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided — this includes severe weather, air traffic control strikes, and security incidents, but does not include technical faults or staff shortages, which are within the airline's control.
Cancellations
If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund of your ticket price within seven days, or re-routing to your destination at the earliest opportunity. You are also entitled to the same care rights as for a delay (meals, refreshments, accommodation if needed). If the airline notifies you of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure and cannot offer an alternative flight that gets you there within a reasonable time of your original schedule, you may also be entitled to financial compensation at the same rates as for delays.
How to claim
Start by contacting the airline directly — most have an online claims form. Keep all receipts for expenses you incur during a delay (meals, accommodation, transport) as these can be reclaimed. If the airline rejects your claim or does not respond within eight weeks, you can escalate to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme — most UK airlines are members of CEDR or Aviation ADR. As a last resort, you can take the airline to the small claims court. Claims management companies will handle this for you but take a percentage of any compensation — it is usually straightforward to claim directly.
Practical tips
Take a screenshot of the departure board showing your flight's status as soon as a delay is announced. Keep all boarding passes and booking confirmations. Ask the airline for written confirmation of the delay reason — this is important if you later need to prove it was not an extraordinary circumstance. If the airline offers vouchers rather than cash for expenses, you are entitled to refuse and request cash reimbursement instead. Travel insurance can cover additional costs not covered by UK261, such as missed connections and pre-booked accommodation.