THE SHORT ANSWER
What is UK261?
UK261 is the UK’s copy of EU Regulation 261/2004. The UK kept it in its own law after Brexit, and it has been in force since 1 January 2021.
Three things trigger it: an arrival 3 or more hours late, a cancellation with under 14 days’ notice, or being bumped. Each pays a fixed amount per person.
WHICH FLIGHTS
Which flights does UK261 cover?
Two questions decide it: where the flight departs, and who flies it.
Leaving a UK airport: covered, on any airline
Heathrow to Boston on United is covered. So is Manchester to Malaga on Ryanair. The airline’s nationality doesn’t matter.
Coming into the UK on a UK or EU airline: covered
New York to Heathrow on British Airways is covered. The same route on Delta isn’t.
From the EU into the UK: EC261 applies instead
Paris to London departs the EU, so EC261 is the rule for that flight, with its euro amounts.
THE MONEY
How much does UK261 pay?
Three amounts, by distance, per person: £220 up to 1,500 km, £350 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £520 over 3,500 km.
The amount is per person, not per booking. A family of four on a 4,000 km flight is owed £2,080.
UK261 VS EC261
What’s the difference between UK261 and EC261?
The rights match. The money and the flights differ. UK261 pays £220, £350 or £520. EC261 pays €250, €400 or €600.
Where the flight departs decides which one you get. Leaving a UK airport, it’s UK261. Leaving an EU airport, including a flight to the UK, it’s EC261. Check where the plane took off, not where it landed.
WHEN THE AIRLINE SAYS NO
Where do I escalate a UK261 claim?
Claim from the airline first, in writing, with your booking reference and every name on the booking. If it refuses:
Find out if the airline belongs to an approved dispute scheme
CEDR and AviationADR are the two main ones. The airline’s website says which scheme it uses.
If it does, escalate there
Send the refusal and your file to the scheme.
If it doesn’t, go to the CAA
The CAA’s complaints team can take it.
THE CLOCK
How long do I have to claim UK261 compensation?
Six years in England and Wales. Five in Scotland. A flight from 2022 is usually still live.
See exactly what your flight owes you — free, no card. We check it against the rules, and if it qualifies and you say go, we file the claim for you.
Check my flight →COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions people ask
Is UK261 the same as EC261?
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It’s the UK’s copy of it. The rights match. UK261 pays in pounds and covers the flights set out above.
Does UK261 cover a flight from the UK to the US?
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Yes, on any airline, because it departs a UK airport. Heathrow to Boston on United is over 3,500 km, so £520 per person.
Does UK261 cover a flight from the US to the UK?
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Only on a UK or EU airline. New York to London on British Airways is covered. The same route on Delta or American isn’t.
How much is UK261 for a family of four?
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£2,080 over 3,500 km, £1,400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £880 up to 1,500 km. The amounts are per person.
How long do I have to claim?
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Six years in England and Wales, five in Scotland.
Who do I complain to if the airline says no?
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The airline’s approved dispute scheme, such as CEDR or AviationADR. If it isn’t in one, the CAA’s complaints team can take it.
General information, not legal advice. Compensation depends on the facts of each disruption and the airline’s evidence. MyAirAdvocate files claims for a flat $39, charged only if the airline pays, and never takes a percentage of what you are owed.