UK 261 Flight Compensation & Claim Guide for US Travelers
It pays to know your UK passenger rights:
You could get up to $600 in compensation.
UK 261 covers delays, cancellations, and overbooking.
Protection for ALL travelers - US citizens included!
Few things are more frustrating than a delayed or canceled international flight, especially when you're thousands of miles from home. Here's some good news: UK 261 regulation has your back when airlines mess up your travel plans.
UK 261 protects your rights and gets you compensation when airlines cancel flights, delay them over 3 hours, or overbook and deny you boarding. If the disruption is the airline's fault, you could be entitled to serious money—regardless of your nationality.
AirHelp has won compensation for 3 million passengers worldwide.
AT A glance
Know your rights under UK 261
UK 261 applies on all flights departing from any UK airport, no matter which airline you're flying with or where you're from.
International arrivals into the UK are also covered when operated by a UK or EU airline. Plus, UK 261 covers flights to the EU with a UK airline.
Airlines have to compensate you for cancellations, delays of 3+ hours or denied boarding, when they are at fault.
You can get cash compensation between $270 and $600 per person, based on flight distance.
You're also entitled to meals, hotels, and replacement flights (or a refund) when they are needed.
step 1
File your claim (2 minutes)
Enter your flight details in our quick, secure and straightforward form.
step 2
We handle the heavy lifting
No paperwork, no endless waits on hold, no stress. Our experts do it all.
step 3
You get paid $$$
Our fee comes out of your winnings only. No win? No fee.
AirHelp's no win, no fee promise
We only charge after we've successfully gotten you compensation. For more details check out our transparent, affordable fees.
Let's be real - airlines don't make claiming UK 261 compensation easy. You could go it alone through the airline's website, but the process is typically slow, complicated, and designed to wear you down.
That's exactly why we exist. Our team of 400+ expert AirHelpers handles the tough stuff—chasing down airlines, managing mountains of paperwork, and even taking cases to court when needed.
All you do is plug your flight details into our user-friendly compensation checker, and we'll get you your money.
| What you get | When you get it |
|---|---|
| Up to $600 compensation | Delays over 3 hours, cancellations under 14 days, denied boarding |
| Right to care (food, hotel, transport) | Extended delays at the airport |
| Full refund or new flight | Cancellations and denied boardings that were not your fault |
When can you claim UK 261 compensation?
There are 3 main scenarios where you could be entitled to between $270 -$600 from the airline:
Long flight delays (over 3 hours)
You can get compensated when the delay affects your arrival time (not just when the plane takes off). More about delay compensation.
Flight cancellations
If the airline gave you less than 14 days' notice before your departure, you could be eligible for compensation. More about cancellation compensation.
Denied Boarding
This happens when the airline stops you from boarding even though you had a valid ticket and showed up on time. It's most common when airlines overbook flights and need to bump passengers. More about overbooking compensation.
We enforce your rights as a consumer
Compensation calculator
Check what you're entitled to
$270
up to 1,500 km
$430
1,500 - 3,500 km
$650
from 3,500 km
How much money should I get?
The following table shows UK 261 compensation amounts by flight distance:
| $270 | $430 | $600 |
|---|---|---|
| Flights 1,500 km or less (932 miles) | Flights 1,500-3,500 km (932 - 2,175 miles) | Flights 3,500 km or more (2,175 miles) |
Pro tip: Your compensation is based on flight distance, not what you paid for your ticket. Even budget fares qualify for full compensation.
If you’re flying between the US and the UK, the UK 261 regulation protects your rights, even if you’re not a UK or EU citizen. What matters is where your flight departs from, and which airline operates it:
Almost all flights to or from the UK are covered and could qualify for compensation.
Flights from the US to the UK are covered when you fly with a UK airline (for example, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic).
| UK airline | Non-UK airline | |
|---|---|---|
| Departing from UK | ✔️ Covered | ✔️ Covered |
| Arriving in UK | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
| Arriving in EU | ✔️ Covered | ❌ Not Covered |
Remember: Your route may also be covered by other regulations (like EU passenger rights). The easiest way to know for sure? Use our AirHelp Eligibility Check.
Are connecting flights covered?
Yes. UK 261 can cover connecting flights. The rules can get complex, but that's exactly why our experts are here to figure it out for you.
UK 261 vs EU 261: key differences for US travelers
After Brexit, the UK regulated air passenger rights with the law commonly known as UK 261, which fully incorporates the protections of European Regulation EC 261. Both laws offer:
Same compensation amounts
Same qualifying events (3+ hour delays, cancellations, denied boarding)
Same passenger care (meals, hotels, transport, rebooking)
The main differences concern:
Which flights are covered
Claim time limits: UK 261 gives you up to 6 years to claim (5 years in Scotland), while EU 261 deadlines vary by country (often 2–3 years).
Want the full story? Check out our guide to EU Regulation EC 261.
Disruptions outside the airline's control - like volcanic eruptions or air traffic control strikes - typically aren't eligible for UK 261 compensation.
But here's where it gets interesting: There are gray areas where a claim might still succeed. For example, if other airlines managed to handle bad weather just fine but yours got delayed, you could still be owed money.
Quick reference—what qualifies:
Airline staff strikes—eligible for compensation
Technical problems—eligible for compensation
Crew scheduling issues—eligible for compensation
Air traffic control strikes—usually an extraordinary circumstance
Severe weather—usually an extraordinary circumstance
How to file a UK 261 claim
You've got two options for claiming UK 261 compensation. Go it alone against the airline, or use an expert service like AirHelp.
| Filing solo | Filing with AirHelp |
|---|---|
| ❌ High effort – you do all the legwork | ✔️ Zero hassle – we handle everything |
| ❌ Hit or miss – depends on your legal know-how | ✔️ Proven results – we know how to win your claim |
| ❌ You're on your own – no legal backup | ✔️ Expert support – we work with UK 261 specialists |
| ❌ Free, but less likely to succeed | ✔️ No win, no fee guarantee |
Start your claim with AirHelp
Enter your flight details and we'll check if you qualify.
Upload your documents — we'll tell you exactly what you need.
Relax and wait for your money to arrive!
We handle the entire process from start to finish, making it as painless as possible to get what you're owed.
AirHelp has over 400 team members specializing in air passenger rights such as regulation UK 261. Since 2013, we've helped 3 million passengers worldwide get the compensation they deserve.
We're the global leader in flight compensation
253+ million
flights checked last year
12+ million
have protected their trips with AirHelp+
3+ million
passengers successfully compensated
60+
partnerships with top travel brands worldwide
Our no-risk promise
AirHelp believes everyone deserves access to justice. That's why we offer a no-win, no-fee guarantee – you don't pay us a dime upfront, even if your case goes to court.
How our fees work:
Standard cases: 35% of your compensation (you keep 65%)
Court cases: Additional 15% fee (50% total, you keep 50%)
No win: You pay absolutely nothing
The money you keep is yours to spend however you want – whether that's your next vacation or just covering the costs from your disrupted trip.
Every airline has different requirements, but don't worry – we'll tell you exactly what's needed for your specific case when you start your claim.
Typical documents include:
Booking confirmation
Boarding passes (digital screenshots, or photos of a paper ticket work fine)
Any communication from the airline about your delay or cancellation
Your UK 261 claim checklist
Keep your boarding pass and travel documents
Gather evidence (photos of departure boards, airline emails, etc.)
Check your eligibility with our free checker.
File your claim through AirHelp.
That's it! We take over from here.
Lost your boarding pass?
No problem! We can help you recover the information needed for your claim.
Need reimbursement for hotels or meals?
Hold on to your receipts, invoices or bank statements. You'll need those to claim the money back.
We can help some passengers as part of a compensation claim. Or you can claim these costs directly from your airline.
Getting your compensation typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months – it depends on how cooperative the airline is and whether we need to take legal action. We'll keep you updated every step of the way with regular progress reports.
Good news: Your right to UK 261 compensation doesn't expire for 6 full years under UK law.
Beyond just money – Your full rights under UK regulation 261
UK 261 is modeled after the European EU 261 regulation, making it one of the world's most comprehensive passenger protection laws.
You're not just entitled to cash compensation – airlines must also take care of you during disruptions.
Flight canceled? You can choose:
Full refund of your original ticket, OR
Rebooking on the next available flight to your destination
PLUS compensation for your time and trouble
Delayed over 5 hours? You can:
Choose not to travel and get a full refund
Still claim compensation even if you decide not to fly
Most airlines will provide food and drink after a delay of a few hours. These are the limits specified by UK 261:
| Distance of flight | Length of delay |
|---|---|
| All flights 1,500 km or less | 2 hours or more |
| Flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km | 3 hours or more |
| Flights over 3,500 km | 4 hours or more |
Airlines are legally required to display information about UK 261 passenger rights – usually at check-in counters. You can also find the official Department for Transport guide to your rights online.
But here's the thing: Airlines often don't make this information easy to find or understand. That's exactly why AirHelp exists – to cut through the confusion and get you what you're legally owed..