Guides to your passenger rights

Plain-English guides to UK261 and EU261, checked against the CAA, UK law and the EU’s own guidance.

• UK261 explainedWhich flights UK261 covers, when a delay or cancellation pays £220 to £520, and what airlines can refuse. Plain English, checked against UK law.
• How much compensation you can getUK261 pays £220, £350 or £520 per passenger and EU261 pays €250, €400 or €600. See which band your flight falls in and when it can be halved.
• Delayed at the airport: your rightsStuck at the airport? Airlines must give food, drink and a hotel after 2 to 4 hours’ delay, whatever the cause. What to ask for, what to keep, and refunds.
• Cancelled flight: what you are owedIf your flight is cancelled you can choose a refund or a new flight, get meals and a hotel, and claim up to £520 if you had under 14 days’ notice.
• Extraordinary circumstances explainedWeather and air traffic control can block a delay claim. Most technical faults and airline staff strikes cannot. What counts, and what to do if you are refused.
• How to claim flight delay compensationClaim from the airline first, for free. If it refuses or doesn’t reply in 8 weeks, use a free approved dispute body, or ask a claims company to do it for a fee.