UK261 compensation is normally £220, £350 or £520 per passenger, based mainly on the great-circle distance of the qualifying journey and sometimes the arrival delay.
Why the ticket price does not set the amount
Fixed compensation is designed around the disruption, not what you paid for the seat. Two passengers on the same qualifying flight can therefore have the same compensation band even if their fares were very different.
The calculation uses route distance. Short journeys up to 1,500 km sit in the £220 band, journeys between 1,500 and 3,500 km in the £350 band, and longer journeys can reach £520.
When long-haul compensation can be £260
For a delay on a flight over 3,500 km, an arrival delay between three and four hours can produce £260 rather than £520. More than four hours can reach the full £520, subject to the other eligibility tests.
Cancellation and denied-boarding cases can also involve a 50 percent reduction when rerouting gets the passenger to the final destination within specified time limits.
Compensation is usually per passenger
Each eligible traveller can have an individual fixed amount. Children with a paid seat can be included, while rules for infants travelling without a fare need closer checking.
A group claim should preserve the names, booking documents and consent of every passenger. The airline may pay each claimant separately or settle through the lead passenger, depending on the process used.
UK261 compensation bands
These are the standard fixed amounts for an eligible claim. Cancellation and denied-boarding cases can be reduced when rerouting gets the passenger to the final destination within set time limits.
| Flight distance | Typical qualifying delay | Maximum fixed amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 3 hours or more at destination | £220 per passenger |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | 3 hours or more at destination | £350 per passenger |
| Over 3,500 km | 3 to 4 hours | £260 per passenger |
| Over 3,500 km | More than 4 hours | £520 per passenger |
How to prepare a claim
- Identify the operating airline, flight number, date and full route.
- Keep the booking confirmation, boarding pass and disruption messages.
- Record the scheduled and actual final arrival times.
- Keep reasonable, itemised receipts for care the airline did not provide.
- Ask the operating airline for fixed compensation, expenses and any refund as separate items.
If the airline rejects the claim or takes more than eight weeks to respond, check whether its approved alternative dispute-resolution provider can review the case.
Common questions
Is £520 the maximum under UK261?
It is the highest standard fixed band per passenger, although separate reasonable expenses may also be recoverable.
Does business class receive more?
Not under the fixed bands. Cabin class and ticket cost do not normally increase UK261 compensation.
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority delay guidance, cancellation guidance and eligibility guidance. Rules and outcomes depend on the facts of each journey.