A flight that reaches its final destination three hours or more late may qualify for UK261 compensation when the route is covered and the airline was responsible for the disruption.
Arrival time matters more than take-off time
The compensation test focuses on the delay at the final destination. A flight that leaves three hours late but arrives two hours and forty minutes late will not normally satisfy the three-hour compensation threshold.
For practical evidence, record the time at which passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft. Screenshots from flight trackers can help, but the airline’s operational record remains important.
Three hours does not guarantee a payment
The delay length is only one part of the test. The route must be covered, the passenger must have held a valid booking, and extraordinary circumstances may remove the airline’s obligation to pay fixed compensation.
The airline still has care duties during certain delays even where fixed compensation is not due. Food, communication and overnight accommodation rights depend on the route length and waiting time.
Long-haul flights have an extra distinction
On journeys over 3,500 km, a three-to-four-hour arrival delay can carry £260. The amount can rise to £520 once the arrival delay exceeds four hours, assuming the remaining tests are met.
Do not estimate solely from the advertised flight duration. Compensation distance is measured by the great-circle route between the relevant airports.
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
What if the delay is exactly three hours?
A delay reaching the qualifying threshold can be considered, but exact arrival evidence and all other eligibility factors still matter.
What if I miss a connection?
A through booking may be assessed by delay at the final destination. Separate tickets are treated differently.
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority delay guidance, cancellation guidance and eligibility guidance. Rules and outcomes depend on the facts of each journey.