To check whether a delay qualifies for compensation, first identify the route and the airline that operated the flight, then measure how late you reached your final destination. Under UK and EU passenger-rights rules, fixed compensation generally requires arrival at least three hours late, and may not be due if extraordinary circumstances caused the delay. In the United States, the main federal protection is usually a refund if you reject a significant delay or schedule change—not automatic cash compensation for inconvenience.
Start with the route and operating airline
There is no single worldwide delay-compensation rule. The departure airport, destination, and operating carrier help determine which rules apply. Check the airline that actually operated each flight; it may differ from the company that sold the ticket or whose name appears on the booking.
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| Journey | Rules to check |
|---|---|
| Departing from a UK airport | UK261 applies to departures from UK airports on any airline, according to UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance. |
| Arriving at a UK airport | UK261 may apply when the operating airline is UK- or EU-based, according to UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance. |
| Arriving at an EU airport | UK261 may apply when the operating airline is UK-based. EU passenger-rights rules also cover relevant EU departures and certain arrivals operated by EU-licensed carriers; check the itinerary and carrier against the European Commission’s guidance. |
| Flight to, from, or within the United States | Check US Department of Transportation (DOT) refund rules and the operating airline’s disruption commitments. These are separate from UK/EU fixed-compensation rules. |
For a journey that crosses jurisdictions, do not assume that the rules governing one leg automatically determine the result for every leg. The operating carrier and the route matter.
Measure the delay at the final destination
For UK and EU fixed delay compensation, the relevant clock generally measures how late you arrived at the ticketed final destination—not just how late the aircraft left or when you first landed. UK CAA guidance describes the threshold as reaching the destination more than three hours late; the European Commission’s FAQ says arrival at the final destination at least three hours late may qualify. Check the applicable rule for your route, especially if your arrival was close to the three-hour mark.
On a connection, note the scheduled and actual arrival times for the whole itinerary. The European Commission says connected flights must be on a single reservation for the final-destination approach to apply. Do not assume separately booked tickets count as one protected connection.
Check what caused the delay
Meeting the arrival-time threshold does not by itself establish a right to fixed compensation. Under UK and EU guidance, extraordinary circumstances may exempt an airline from paying, even if the delay was long enough. UK CAA examples include severe weather, air-traffic-control decisions, natural disasters, bird strikes, and political instability.
The label alone is not the whole answer: ask the airline what happened and how it caused your particular delay. A broad explanation such as “weather” or “technical issue” does not tell you, by itself, whether the applicable legal test is met. Keep the airline’s explanation and any later correspondence.
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If the route is covered, your final arrival met the applicable threshold, and no exception defeats the claim, the distance band determines the standard amount. The UK figures below are those given in current UK CAA guidance accessed on 4 October 2026. The EU figures are the standard amounts described by the European Commission in its 2026 announcement.
| Flight distance | UK261 amount per passenger | EU standard amount per passenger |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | £220 | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | £350 | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | £260 if arrival is between three and four hours late; £520 if arrival is more than four hours late | €600 |
These are jurisdiction-specific amounts, not a choice of currency or a worldwide schedule. For UK long-haul flights over 3,500 km, the amount depends on whether arrival was between three and four hours late or more than four hours late. The European Commission said a political agreement announced on 15 June 2026 maintained the existing EU standard amounts and three-hour threshold. That announcement alone did not change the operative rules: revised rules would apply only after formal adoption and publication in the Official Journal, followed by a further 12 months. Check the official EU rule status before relying on the figures for a claim made later.
Keep compensation, care, and refunds separate
A passenger may have a right to practical care or a ticket refund without qualifying for fixed delay compensation. Each remedy has its own trigger.
Care while you wait in the UK
UK care rights are tied to the departure delay and flight distance, not the three-hour final-arrival compensation test. UK CAA and GOV.UK guidance describe care thresholds of at least two hours for flights under 1,500 km, three hours for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and four hours for flights over 3,500 km. Care can include meals and refreshments, and overnight accommodation and transport when needed. If you arrange reasonable care yourself, keep the receipts.
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Choosing not to travel after a long delay
For a UK flight delay of five hours, passengers may choose not to travel and seek a refund for unused flights. A refund for abandoning the journey is a different remedy from fixed compensation for arriving late.
Refunds and amenities in the United States
US DOT rules may entitle you to a ticket refund after a significant delay or schedule change if you decide not to travel or accept a travel credit, voucher, or other alternative. If you take the changed or rebooked flight, DOT rules generally do not provide a ticket refund simply because the trip was delayed. For meals, hotels, or other disruption amenities, check the airline’s current commitments and whether the cause was within its control. DOT examples of controllable causes include maintenance or crew problems, cabin cleaning, baggage loading, and fueling. The DOT’s Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard lists airline commitments; as of 4 October 2026, its table listed no major airline promising cash compensation for a controllable delay resulting in a wait of at least three hours. Those commitments can change, so check the live dashboard and airline policy.
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- Gather your records. Save the booking confirmation, scheduled and actual arrival details at the final destination, delay notices, the airline’s explanation, and receipts for reasonable expenses.
- Claim directly from the airline. UK CAA guidance says to make the compensation claim with the airline first. Keep a copy of the claim and any response.
- Escalate a UK claim when appropriate. If the airline’s final response is unsatisfactory, or it has not replied after eight weeks, UK CAA guidance says you may be able to take the complaint to the airline’s approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider or to CAA PACT, depending on the airline’s membership.
For a claim in another jurisdiction, use the relevant regulator’s current complaint process. A compensation calculator or an airline’s first response cannot replace checking which rules apply to your route and circumstances.
Quick Recap
Quick eligibility checklist
- Which country’s passenger-rights rules cover the route?
- Which airline operated the delayed flight or each leg?
- How late did you arrive at the ticketed final destination?
- For a connection, were the flights on one reservation?
- What specific cause did the airline give, and could an extraordinary-circumstances exception apply?
- Are you seeking fixed compensation, care expenses, or a ticket refund? They are separate remedies.
- Have you saved the booking, timing evidence, airline explanation, and relevant receipts?
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