UK261 is the UK passenger-rights framework covering qualifying delays, cancellations and involuntary denied boarding, with fixed compensation bands from £220 to £520 per passenger.
Which flights does UK261 cover?
Coverage is usually strongest for departures from the UK because any operating airline can be covered. Arrivals into the UK generally require a UK or EU operating airline. UK-airline flights arriving in the EU can also fall within the rules.
Connections, code shares and separate tickets can change the analysis. The operating carrier matters more than the company that sold the ticket, and a through booking may be assessed to the final destination.
What rights sit inside UK261?
The rules cover more than cash compensation. They also include care during qualifying disruption, refund or rerouting choices after cancellation, refund rights after a delay of at least five hours and specific protection for involuntary denied boarding.
Fixed compensation is not automatic. The severity of the disruption, the cause, the notice given and the replacement travel offered can all change the result.
UK261 and EU261 are not identical
The two regimes share a common origin, but UK claims use sterling amounts and UK coverage tests. A journey can sometimes engage one regime, the other, or different protection on different legs.
For a practical first check, identify the departure country, arrival country, operating airline, booking type and final arrival delay. Those facts determine which framework to examine.
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
Does UK261 apply after Brexit?
Yes. The UK retained and amended the passenger-rights rules, with compensation amounts expressed in pounds.
Who pays a valid claim?
The claim is normally made against the operating airline, not the booking website or travel agent.
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority delay guidance, cancellation guidance and eligibility guidance. Rules and outcomes depend on the facts of each journey.