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Flight Delay Compensation: How to Claim Up to £520 / €600

If your flight was delayed 3+ hours, cancelled, or you were denied boarding, the airline almost certainly owes you money. Here's exactly how to claim it.

The law: UK 261 & EU 261/2004

Two near-identical regulations protect air passengers:

  • UK 261— covers flights departing from the UK, or arriving in the UK on a UK airline.
  • EU 261/2004— covers flights departing from the EU/EEA (including Ireland), or arriving in the EU/EEA on an EU airline.

Both create a statutory rightto fixed compensation. It doesn't matter what you paid for the ticket.

How much are you owed?

DistanceDelayCompensation
Under 1,500 km3+ hours€250 / £220
1,500 – 3,500 km3+ hours€400 / £350
Over 3,500 km4+ hours€600 / £520

Cancellation with less than 14 days' notice: same amounts. Denied boarding: same amounts plus re-routing.

When airlines don't have to pay

Airlines can avoid paying only if the disruption was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” genuinely outside their control, such as:

  • Severe weather (not just bad weather)
  • Air traffic control strikes
  • Security threats
  • Political instability

Technical faults, crew shortages, and most operational issues are notextraordinary circumstances. The airline must prove the exception applies — the burden is on them.

Step-by-step: how to claim

  1. 1

    Write a formal demand letter

    Your letter must name the regulation (UK 261 or EU 261/2004), state the flight details, the length of the delay, and the specific compensation amount you're claiming.

  2. 2

    Set a 14-day deadline

    Give the airline 14 days to respond. This is standard and demonstrates you're serious about escalating.

  3. 3

    Send it to the airline

    Email or post to the airline's complaints department. Keep a copy and note the date you sent it.

  4. 4

    Escalate if they ignore you

    UK: Escalate to the CAA or the airline's ADR scheme (e.g., Aviation ADR, CEDR). Ireland/EU:File with the national enforcement body or use the European Small Claims Procedure for claims under €5,000.

Time limits

  • UK: 6 years from the date of the flight (5 years in Scotland)
  • Ireland/EU: varies by country, but typically 2–6 years

Don't wait. Airlines count on you forgetting.

Generate your flight compensation letter for free

Describe your flight disruption in plain English. FightBack writes a demand letter citing UK 261 or EU 261/2004, names the right compensation tier, sets the deadline, and tells you exactly where to escalate.

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