Delayed UK flight compensation

Thank you for your query regarding compensation for a delayed flight departing from the UK. I will outline the current legal position under the law of England and Wales, which incorporates retained EU law on air passenger rights, and suggest practical steps. Please note that eligibility for compensation depends on specific details such as the length of the delay, flight distance, reason for the delay, and whether extraordinary circumstances apply. If you provide more details, I can offer more tailored guidance.

Legal position:
Under the UK version of Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (as retained and amended post-Brexit), passengers may be entitled to compensation for flight delays if the flight departs from a UK airport (or arrives in the UK on a UK or EU airline) and the delay at the final destination exceeds certain thresholds. This applies to most commercial flights, but not to those caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control, such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, or security risks.

The key thresholds for compensation are based on the flight distance and the delay length:
– For flights up to 1,500 km, compensation applies if the delay is more than 2 hours.
– For flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, more than 3 hours.
– For flights over 3,500 km, more than 4 hours (or 3 hours if within the EU).

Compensation amounts are fixed: typically £220 for short-haul, £350 for medium-haul, and £520 for long-haul flights (reduced to £260 for long-haul if the delay is between 3 and 4 hours). Airlines must also provide care and assistance during the delay, such as meals, refreshments, and accommodation if necessary. Claims can generally be made up to 6 years after the flight in England and Wales.

This is subject to the airline proving extraordinary circumstances; technical faults or crew issues are usually not considered extraordinary. Guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is a key authoritative source for interpreting these rules.

Practical next steps:
To pursue a claim, I recommend starting with informal and low-cost options before considering escalation, as court action can be time-consuming and carries risks such as costs if unsuccessful.

1. Gather evidence: Collect your booking confirmation, boarding pass, details of the delay (including announcements or emails from the airline), and any expenses incurred (with receipts).

2. Contact the airline: Write to them formally (via their website form or complaints email) within a reasonable time, ideally soon after the flight. Explain the delay, reference UK Regulation 261, and request compensation. Provide your evidence and keep records of all correspondence.

3. If no response or denial: Airlines must reply within a set period, but if they refuse or ignore you, check if they subscribe to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme approved by the CAA, such as CEDR or AviationADR. This is free or low-cost and binding on the airline if you win.

4. Escalate if needed: If ADR fails or is unavailable, you could consider a claim in the County Court via the small claims track for amounts under £10,000. This involves a fee (recoverable if you win), but weigh the costs, evidence strength, and likelihood of success. Online tools like the CAA's resolver service can help draft letters.

If your flight involved another jurisdiction (e.g., departing from outside the UK), the position may differ, and I suggest consulting a specialist in that area or selecting our worldwide lawyer, Atlas, for broader advice. If the delay was due to a package holiday, additional rights under the Package Travel Regulations 2018 might apply.

If you share more specifics, such as the airline, flight details, delay duration, and reason given, I can refine this advice.