UK261 Compensation: Claim Up to £520 for Flight Delays from UK Airports
Your complete guide to claiming cash compensation under UK law after Brexit. Learn why airline vouchers aren't enough—and how to get the money you're legally owed.
Was your flight from a UK airport delayed over 3 hours or cancelled? You could be owed up to £520 in cash compensation under UK law—regardless of what the airline tells you.
Since Brexit, UK passengers are protected by UK261—the UK's version of EU passenger rights law. Airlines often offer vouchers hoping you'll accept them instead of cash. Don't fall for it.
Whether you flew with British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, TUI, or Virgin Atlantic from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, or any other UK airport, your rights are protected.
Key Takeaway
Accepting a voucher does NOT waive your right to UK261 cash compensation. You can claim both—the voucher for immediate care and up to £520 in compensation separately.
How Brexit Changed Your Flight Compensation Rights
When the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, it retained EU passenger rights law as UK law. Here's what that means for you:
What Stayed the Same
- Same compensation amounts (converted to GBP)
- Same 3-hour delay threshold
- Same "right to care" provisions
- Same rules for cancellations and overbooking
What Changed
- UK flights: Now covered by UK261, not EU261
- Compensation in GBP: £220, £350, or £520
- CAA enforces: Not EU national enforcement bodies
- UK courts: Have jurisdiction for UK flight claims
Your Rights Are Protected
Brexit didn't weaken your compensation rights—it just changed which law applies. If your flight departed from a UK airport, you have the same strong protections under UK261.
Airline Vouchers vs UK261 Compensation: What's the Difference?
Airlines like British Airways, easyJet, and Jet2 often offer vouchers instead of cash. Here's the crucial difference that could be worth £520 to you:
Airline Vouchers & Coupons
- Goodwill gestures from airlines
- Usually for future travel credit only
- Often have expiry dates (6-24 months)
- Can only be used with same airline
- Not a legal entitlement
UK261 Compensation
- Legal right under UK law
- Cash payment of £220-£520
- No expiry on the money
- Spend however you want
- Claim up to 6 years back
You're Entitled to Both!
Care vouchers (meals, hotels) and cash compensation are separate entitlements. Never accept one instead of the other—claim everything you're owed.
UK261 Compensation: Your Legal Right to Cash
UK261 is the UK's retained version of EU Regulation 261/2004 after Brexit. It gives passengers legal protection when flights are delayed, cancelled, or overbooked. Unlike vouchers, this is money you're legally owed.
How Much Can You Claim?
When Does UK261 Apply?
You may be eligible for £220-£520 if any of these situations occurred:
You Can Claim If:
- Flight delayed 3+ hours at arrival
- Flight cancelled less than 14 days before departure
- Denied boarding due to overbooking
- Flight departed from UK airport (any airline)
- Flight arrived in UK on UK carrier
You Cannot Claim If:
- Extraordinary circumstances (severe weather, ATC strikes)
- Delay under 3 hours
- Given 14+ days notice of cancellation
- Arrived in UK on non-UK airline from outside UK
- Missed flight due to your own actions
UK261 vs EU261: Which Law Applies to You?
After Brexit, the UK retained EU261 as UK law (UK261). The rules are very similar, but which one applies depends on where your flight departed from.
UK261 Applies When:
- Flight departs from any UK airport
- Flight arrives in UK on UK airline (BA, easyJet, Virgin, etc.)
- Compensation paid in GBP (£220, £350, £520)
- CAA enforces and UK courts have jurisdiction
EU261 Applies When:
- Flight departs from EU/EEA airport
- Flight arrives in EU on EU airline
- Compensation paid in EUR (€250, €400, €600)
- EU national enforcement bodies have jurisdiction
UK261 Claim Time Limits
Unlike EU261 where limits vary by country (2-10 years), the UK has clear, generous time limits. But don't wait—airlines are harder to deal with as time passes.
Flying from the EU?
If your flight departs from an EU/EEA airport, you're covered by EU261 instead. Check out our EU261 compensation guide for details.
How to Claim Your UK261 Compensation
Follow these steps to get everything you're entitled to after a flight disruption from a UK airport.
At the Airport: Accept Care Vouchers
When your flight is delayed, immediately ask the airline for meal vouchers, refreshments, and hotel accommodation if needed. These are your "right to care" under UK261 and don't affect your compensation claim.
Document Everything
Save your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and any communication from the airline about the delay or cancellation. Take photos of departure boards showing the delay.
- Boarding pass or e-ticket
- Booking confirmation email
- Photos of delay notifications
DON'T Sign Away Your Rights
Airlines may offer travel vouchers and ask you to sign paperwork. Read carefully! Never sign anything that says you waive your right to further compensation or that the voucher is "full and final settlement."
Claim Your UK261 Compensation
Once home, submit your UK261 compensation claim. You can go directly to British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, or other airlines—but they often reject valid claims. Using a claim management service like Claimzi increases your success rate significantly.
What If the Airline Refuses? CAA & Escalation Options
If British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, or another airline rejects your valid claim, you have several escalation options in the UK.
Step 1: Complain Directly to the Airline
Start by submitting a formal complaint to the airline. Give them 8 weeks to respond. Keep copies of all correspondence.
Step 2: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
If the airline refuses or doesn't respond within 8 weeks, escalate to an ADR scheme. These are independent bodies that can make binding decisions.
- CEDR: Handles BA, easyJet, Wizz Air, and others
- AviationADR: Handles Jet2, TUI, Ryanair UK claims, and others
Step 3: Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
The CAA is the UK regulator that oversees airline compliance with UK261. They can't resolve individual disputes but can:
- Take enforcement action against non-compliant airlines
- Issue formal warnings and fines
- Provide advice on your rights
Step 4: Small Claims Court (Last Resort)
If all else fails, you can take the airline to small claims court. UK261 claims are well under the £10,000 limit.
- Court fee: £35-£115 depending on claim amount
- Can be done online via Money Claims Online
- No lawyer needed for small claims
Let Us Handle the Hassle
Dealing with airlines and escalation can be time-consuming and frustrating. Claimzi handles everything on your behalf—from the initial claim to ADR if needed—on a no-win-no-fee basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about airline vouchers and UK261 compensation.
Ready to Claim Your Compensation?
Don't settle for just a voucher. Check if you're eligible for up to £520 in cash compensation under UK261.