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What are my air passenger rights in the UK after Brexit?
Before Brexit occurred, the UK followed EU regulation for air passenger rights, as the UK was part of the EU. However, after Brexit, the UK incorporated EU regulations into their regulations as UK261. Passenger rights, such as compensation amount according to the flight distance, remained the same as EU261.
Not every case of a delayed or cancelled flight is eligible for compensation. You must also consider the distance of your delayed or cancelled flight. Check out the table below for more information.
| Distance of your flight | Compensation according to UK261/EU261 |
|---|---|
| Flights shorter than 1,500 km | €250 per passenger |
| Flight between 1,500 and 3,500 km | €400 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres within the EU | €400 per passenger |
| Flights of over 3,500 kilometres outside of the EU | €600 per passenger |
Be aware that many airlines try to avoid paying out the flight compensation. In some cases, there are extraordinary circumstances (see more about these below) that rightfully allow the airline to deny you flight compensation. However, in many other cases, the truth is on the passenger’s side — but the airline still insists on denying the claim, especially if the passenger is not aided by a legal expert.
If you wish to have your flight delay compensation case handled by professionals, count on Flight Delayed. We have legal teams in 9 countries and have been fighting airlines in courts for over 10 years. There is no risk for you — we only collect a fee when the airline actually pays the compensation. Just take a few minutes to submit your claim through our easy-to-use system (it even works on your phone!) and we’ll handle all the paperwork for you moving forward.
Can I claim compensation for a flight from outside of the UK?
Yes, at least in some cases.
The air passenger rights covered by the British equivalent of the EU Regulation EC 261/2004 guarantee compensation for all delayed and cancelled flights departing from the UK.
However, if you are flying into the UK, the airline must be headquartered in the EU or UK for you to be eligible for compensation. See the table below for details.
| Type of flight | Example | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Flying with a British carrier | Tokyo to London with British Airways | Yes |
| Flying with a EU carrier | Amsterdam to London with KLM | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier from the UK | London to Tokyo with Japan Airlines | Yes |
| Flying with a non-UK/non-EU carrier to the UK | Tokyo to London with Japan Airlines | No |
Exercise your air passenger rights even after Brexit!
What are my air passenger rights in the UK if my flight is delayed?
After Brexit, the UK implemented EU261 into their own regulation called UK261. This means your air passenger rights in the UK still remains the same as before. Therefore, under the British and EU regulations, you may be eligible for a delayed flight compensation if:
- Your flight was delayed for more than 3 hours.
- The airline was responsible for the delay.
What are my air passenger rights if my flight is cancelled?
Was your flight cancelled? Don’t worry! Your air passenger rights in the UK after Brexit remains the same, as the UK regulations incorporated EU261. This means under the British and EU regulations, you may be eligible for a cancelled flight compensation if:
- Your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before the departure
- The airline was responsible for the cancellation
| Cancellation notice | Alternative flight | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 7 days in advance | Departs 1h+ earlier or arrived 2h+ later | Yes |
| 7-14 days in advance | Departs 2h+ earlier or arrived 4h+ later | Yes |
| Fewer than 14 days in advance | No alternative flight offered | Yes + refund |
Additionally, you may also be eligible for a cancelled flight refund if:
- The airline did not offer you an alternative flight
- The airline did offer you an alternative flight but you did not accept it
Unsure if you are entitled to flight compensation?
Check your flight in less than a minute with our free Claim Calculator!
Can the airline deny me compensation?
Yes. In some cases, the airline may deny to compensate you for a delayed or cancelled flight hoping that you won’t take them to court.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are also situations in which the airline is not obliged to compensate the passengers. Under UK261, these situations are called extraordinary circumstances. The examples include severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain and dense fog, natural disasters, such as wildfires and hurricanes, and a strike caused by workers within the aviation industry (eg. baggage handlers). However, keep in mind that a strike caused by workers associated with the airline (eg. pilots and flight attendants) is NOT considered an extraordinary circumstance.
Due to these extraordinary circumstances, it may be difficult to assess the chances of getting cancelled or delayed flight compensation by yourself. But there is a simple solution — use our free, no-obligation Claim Calculator to quickly check your compensation eligibility. If you do, we can then help you get your money back. If needed, we will even go to court to fight the airline in your name.
What’s best, as we work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, you don’t have to pay us anything until you get your money back from the airline.
Are you still entitled to flight compensation?
Check it now with our free Claim Calculator!
How long do I have to submit my claim?
The UK has some of the longest periods to submit a flight delay compensation or cancelled flight compensation claim — you can do so up to 6 years after the original flight date.
If you had a case of a cancelled or significantly delayed flight during this period, check your eligibility for compensation before the time runs out!
How long will it take to get my flight compensation?
This highly depends on the airline’s willingness to cooperate. In some cases, it might take as little as a few weeks; in others, you might need to wait even around 2 years.
It might sound like a long time but be aware that in most cases the law is on the passenger’s side. To make sure you are compensated, if needed, our legal experts at Flight Delayed will even go to court — to this day, we have won 98% of court cases against airlines. We operate exclusively on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis so you can be sure you don’t have to pay us anything until the airline sends you the money.
Learn more about our pricing on our Price List page or use our free Claim Calculator right away to find out how much compensation you can be eligible for.
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