UK flight cancellation compensation
This is a guide to UK flight cancellation compensation.
Are you dealing with a cancelled flight in the UK? You might be entitled to compensation, depending on the circumstances! If your flight has been cancelled because of something on the airline's end (like technical issues) and the flight was to or from the UK, you could receive compensation of up to GBP 520 under UK regulations. Read on for more information about the rules surrounding flight cancellation compensation in the UK.
The regulations in the UK are very similar to those in the EU.
Check your compensation online.
UK air passenger rights
Air passenger rights are the same in the EU, EEA, and UK.
This is why we call them European air passenger rights. We also have an in-depth guide on UK/EU flight cancellation compensation. So, consider this guide as a summary of the in-depth guide we have created. It’s a summary with a focus on the UK.
In the UK, you are protected not only against flight cancellations, but also against flight delays and denied boarding. Passenger rights are clearly stated in the EU Regulation 261/2004, which has been adopted into UK law after Brexit. We will refer to the latter as the Regulation UK261. It is important to note that these rights apply not only to flights departing from any airport in the UK, but also to those arriving in the UK.
Here are all the possible scenarios:
- In case of UK airlines, these rules apply to all flights to and from the UK
- In case of EU airlines, these rules apply to all flights to and from the UK, as well as EU
- With non-European airlines — flights departing from Europe or the UK
In some cases, you can refer to either UK or EU laws when making a compensation claim for cancelled flight, in others — only to one. For a connecting flight, remember that the final destination is the destination of your last stop, not the layover city.
1. UK flight cancellation compensation: Rules
Flight cancellation compensation rules in the UK are simple.
Although they may appear complex initially, they are not.
1.1 You're notified 7-14 days in advance
You are notified of the cancellation 7-14 days in advance:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensation.
If you reach your destination at least 4 hours late, you are entitled to UK flight cancellation compensation. Even though, you've been taken to your destination at no extra cost for you.
1.2 You're notified less than 7 days in advance (last-minute)
You are notified of the flight cancellation less than 7 days in advance:
- You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation you are not entitled to compensation.
- In other situations you are entitled to compensation.
If your flight reaches its destination 2+ hours late, you are eligible for UK flight cancellation compensation according to UK flight cancellation rules. As you can see, sometimes even a 2-hour flight delay (you arriving later than planned) is enough for you to be entitled to compensation. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to these minor details which might seem unimportant.
Just a quick reminder — even if your airline has already provided a full refund or taken you to your destination, you may still be eligible for compensation.
1.3 Other things to take into account
A few things to take into account when requesting UK flight compensation.
- These rules apply to all flights operated by UK airlines, such as British Airways and easyJet, including flights to and from the UK. Therefore, if you are flying on a British Airways flight from Singapore to London, you can still receive compensation. Because with UK airlines these rules apply to all flights, regardless of their origin or destination.
- Similar regulations apply to EU airlines. If your flight is with a EU airline, these rules apply to all flights to and from the EU, including their UK flights.
- It applies also to non-UK, non-EU airlines. European regulations apply also to airlines that are not based in the UK or EU. If you are travelling with such an airline, these regulations apply to flights that depart from Europe. For instance, if your flight with Qatar Airways from London to Doha is delayed for more than 3 hours due to the airline's fault, you may be eligible for compensation for the delay from the airline.
- All passengers are equally protected. European laws protect all passengers on all flights, regardless of citizenship or destination. You don't have to be European to be entitled to UK flight cancellation compensation.
- All commercial airlines have to follow these rules. These regulations apply to all commercial airlines operating to, from or within the UK, including charter airlines like TUI and low cost airlines like Ryanair and easyJet.
- Flight problem must be due to the airline's fault. In Europe, the airline operating a flight is responsible for a range of issues, including inadequate planning, technical difficulties with the aircraft, missing planes, and staffing shortages. For you to be entitled to compensation, it must be a delay or cancellation due to any of that.
With flight delays and overbooking rules are similar.
1.4 When you can get compensation from the airline
You are entitled to flight cancellation compensation if:
- It’s a last-minute cancellation (see above)
- It is due to the airline's fault (technical issues, crew shortages, etc.)
- You are flying with a UK or EU airline
- It’s not a EU/UK airline, but the flight departs from the UK/EU
You can get flight cancellation compensation also for old flights.
1.5 When you can’t get compensation from the airline
Situations when you can’t get compensation for cancelled flight:
- Flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances
- Flight is cancelled due to a strike unrelated to the airline
- You are flying a non-EU/non-UK airline, and your flight arrives in the UK (it departed from outside the EU/UK)
Even if you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation, keep in mind that you still have a right to care from the airline. More on that below.
2. How to claim UK flight cancellation compensation?
How to claim UK flight cancellation compensation?
2.1 Contact the airline directly
Do you want to claim compensation for a cancelled flight?
One of the ways is to contact your airline directly.
You can send an email to their customer service or use a contact or cancellation compensation claim form on their website. Unfortunately, obtaining compensation is not always as simple as sending an email or filling out a form — it can end up being a time-consuming process.
Why? Because your claim may get refused.
2.2 Seek legal representation (work with us!)
The second option is to seek legal representation.
We provide legal representation services in both the EU and UK. To make a request, you only need to fill out a single form and have your passport or ID, as well as your boarding pass or flight confirmation ready. We will handle the rest for you.
When working with us, here is all you will have to do:
- Go to this page;
- Fill in the details about yourself and your cancelled flight;
- Upload your boarding pass and passport copy;
- Sign the claim online.
And that’s it, we’ll take it from there.
Read more: How to claim UK flight compensation?
3. How much can you claim for flight cancellation in the UK? How much is flight cancellation compensation?
The compensation amount for a flight cancellation is comparable to the EU flight cancellation compensation amount, but it is given in British pounds.
Your compensation is determined by the distance of your flight, so the farther you travel, the more you can claim from the airline. The compensation amount is unrelated to the price of your ticket, and insurance is not required.
Compensation amounts in the UK are as following:
- 1,500 km or less (mostly 1-2h) — GBP 220
- Between 1,500 km and 3,500 km - GBP 350
- Greater than 3,500 km - GBP 520
As you see, the longer the flight, the bigger compensation.
You can get the same also for your child. Children under 2 years old are also eligible for full flight compensation, even if a separate seat was not booked for them.
4. How long does it take to get UK cancellation compensation from an airline?
How long does it take until you receive UK flight cancellation compensation?
According to the law, airlines should provide prompt payment for compensation in the UK. However, it typically takes a minimum of 2-3 months before most people receive their compensation in their bank account. While some are fortunate enough to receive their payment in a few weeks, it's not the norm — so don't get your hopes up too high. It takes time.
It’s the same with flight delays and flight overbooking.
Read more:
5. Flight Cancellation Refund in the UK
When is it possible to get a refund for a cancelled flight?
You can get a refund for a cancelled flight every single time, if you choose so. As long as it’s a flight cancellation initiated by the airline. You don’t have to agree to alternative flights, if you don’t want to. According to the Regulation UK261, you are entitled to a full refund in case of flight cancellation, no matter the reason or timing of the cancellation.
If you are traveling on an airline that is registered in the UK and your flight gets cancelled, you are entitled to a refund. However, if you are flying with a non-European airline, you can only receive a refund if your flight was departing from a European airport.
Sometimes you can get both — it’s super simple:
- If your flight is cancelled up to 2 weeks before departure, you can get BOTH - a refund or new flight and UK flight cancellation compensation;
- If your flight is cancelled more than 2 weeks before departure, you can get a refund or new flight to your destination.
These rules are the same in the EU.
6. Right to care in the UK
What does “right to care” mean?
In the UK, the "right to care" for airline passengers includes getting help with food, lodging, and transportation if their flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked. If you are stuck waiting at the airport for a certain amount of time, the airline is responsible for your needs. For instance,
- If you have to wait for three hours or longer, you are entitled to receive free food and refreshments while you wait. You will usually receive coupons that you can use at the airport.
- However, if you have to wait overnight and beyond three hours, the airline must offer you free accommodation — a room in a hotel and transport to and from this hotel.
Another option is to pay for the services and then seek reimbursement later.
Your first step should be trying to contact the airline and requesting these services. If this approach fails, or there is no one available to assist you, pay for the meal or hotel room yourself, ensure that you save the receipts, and submit a claim for any additional expenses incurred.
However, please note that reimbursement is only available for essential expenses and not for extravagant meals or stays at luxury hotels.
Has something like this happened to you?
Submit your claim for UK flight cancellation compensation.
By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Featured photo by Nikolaos Dimou