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Travel Tips

Know Your Rights: Flight Delays and Cancellations in the UK

Mark Henderson 08 March 2025 6 min read
Know Your Rights: Flight Delays and Cancellations in the UK

Since Brexit, UK passengers are protected by UK261 — essentially the same as EU261 but applied to UK flights. Under this regulation, you may be entitled to compensation of £220–£520 depending on flight distance and delay length.

Compensation applies when: your flight is delayed 3+ hours on arrival, is cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or you're denied boarding. "Extraordinary circumstances" (severe weather, ATC strikes, security threats) exempt airlines from paying.

Most airlines won't volunteer to pay — you must claim. Use the airline's own claim form first. If rejected, escalate to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body like CEDR. Claims companies take 25–35% commission — avoid them and claim directly.

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