Am I Owed Flight Compensation? EU261 / UK261 Eligibility Explained (2026)
Checked 2026-06.
As of June 2026, if your flight departed from (or, on an EU/UK carrier, landed in) the EU or UK and arrived 3+ hours late, was cancelled with under 14 days' notice, or you were denied boarding, you may be owed €250-€600 (EU261) or £220-£520 (UK261) — unless the cause was a genuine extraordinary circumstance.
AirHelp files EU261/UK261 claims on a no-win-no-fee basis (typically ~35%, more if it goes to court), which is worth it if you don't want the paperwork or the airline pushback. You can always claim yourself for free first — only use AirHelp if you'd rather not chase it.
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| Scenario | Delay / issue | Deadline | Payout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-haul ≤1,500 km | 3+ hrs arrival delay, cancellation <14 days' notice, or denied boarding | Up to 6 yrs UK / ~5 yrs ES / ~3 yrs DE | €250 / ~£220 | Airline's fault required; extraordinary circumstances exempt |
| Medium-haul 1,500-3,500 km | 3+ hrs arrival delay / cancellation / denied boarding | Same per-country limits (2-6 yrs) | €400 / ~£350 | Distance, not delay length, sets the amount |
| Long-haul >3,500 km | 3+ hrs (4+ if re-routed) / cancellation / denied boarding | Same per-country limits (2-6 yrs) | €600 / ~£520 | Can be halved to €300/£260 if re-routed & <4 hrs late |
| Any route — disruption | Extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, ATC strike, security) | n/a | €0 compensation | Still owed care + refund/re-routing; airline must prove exemption |
Two near-identical rules govern this: EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) and its retained UK version (UK261). Both cover three situations — a long delay (3+ hours late at your final destination), a cancellation you weren't warned about at least 14 days ahead, and being denied boarding on an overbooked flight. Coverage is about the route, not your nationality: any flight departing an EU/UK airport is covered, and flights arriving into the EU/UK are covered only if operated by an EU/UK-based airline.
The amount depends on flight distance, not on how late you were (above the 3-hour floor). Under EU261 it's €250 for short-haul up to 1,500 km, €400 for medium-haul 1,500-3,500 km, and €600 for long-haul over 3,500 km. UK261 mirrors this in pounds at roughly £220 / £350 / £520. These are fixed statutory amounts, not a refund — you can be owed compensation even on a ticket you flew. Note: the airline can halve the long-haul figure if you were re-routed and arrived under 4 hours late.
The big catch is 'extraordinary circumstances.' If the disruption was outside the airline's control — severe weather that grounds aircraft, air-traffic-control strikes, airport security alerts, political instability — no compensation is due, though you keep your right to care (meals, hotel) and a refund or re-routing. A strike by the airline's OWN staff is generally NOT extraordinary, so those usually still qualify. Technical faults and crew/scheduling problems also typically qualify. The airline must prove the exemption, so don't take a flat 'no' at face value.
Deadlines vary a lot by country because they follow local limitation law. In the UK you generally have up to 6 years (5 in Scotland); in Spain it's around 5 years; Germany ~3 years; France/Italy and several others are shorter (often 2-3 years). Always check the rule for the country whose courts would hear the claim, and claim sooner rather than later — evidence and goodwill both fade.
You can claim yourself for FREE: write to the airline citing EU261/UK261, your flight number and date, the delay and the amount owed; if they refuse or stall, escalate to the national enforcement body (UK CAA, or the relevant ES/DE authority). That costs nothing but your time. AirHelp and similar services do exactly this for you on no-win-no-fee, keeping roughly 35% (and more if the case goes to court) — sensible when the airline is fighting you or you simply won't chase it, but pure cost if the airline would have paid on first contact.
Check your specific case with the EU261 flight-compensation checker.
FAQ
How much flight compensation can I get under EU261/UK261?
Fixed amounts based on distance: €250 / €400 / €600 under EU261, or roughly £220 / £350 / £520 under UK261. It's not tied to how long you were delayed, as long as you cleared the 3-hour threshold. Figures checked June 2026.
Can I claim flight compensation myself for free?
Yes. Write directly to the airline quoting EU261/UK261, your flight details, the delay and the amount owed; escalate to the national regulator (e.g. UK CAA) if refused. It costs nothing. Services like AirHelp do this for you on no-win-no-fee, keeping about 35%.
What is the deadline to claim?
It depends on the country's limitation law: up to 6 years in England & Wales (5 in Scotland), around 5 years in Spain, ~3 in Germany, and 2-3 in several others. Claim as early as you can rather than relying on the longest limit.
Does bad weather mean I get nothing?
If genuinely severe weather grounded the aircraft, it's an 'extraordinary circumstance' and no compensation is due — but you keep your right to meals, a hotel and a refund or re-routing. The airline must prove the exemption, so don't accept a blanket 'weather' refusal without detail.