Your guide to your air travel rights and compensation claims

Regulations regarding delayed flight compensation

Flight delay compensation in the UK and EU is governed by Regulation EC 261/2004 (and its UK equivalent, UK261). This law gives passengers the right to financial compensation when their flight arrives at the final destination more than three hours late — provided the delay was caused by something within the airline's control.

The regulation applies to:

• All flights departing from an EU or UK airport, regardless of the airline.
• All flights arriving in the EU or UK operated by an EU- or UK-based carrier.

The rules cover delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. For delays, the three-hour threshold is measured at the actual arrival time at the gate — not the scheduled time, and not when the wheels touch down.

Delayed flight compensation: How much can I get?

The amount you can claim depends on the distance of the flight:

If the airline offered you re-routing and you arrived within 2–4 hours of your original schedule, the compensation may be reduced by 50%. These amounts are fixed by law — airlines cannot negotiate them down.

In addition to the fixed payment, you are also entitled to duty of care while you wait: meals, refreshments, and hotel accommodation for overnight delays. Keep all receipts if the airline does not provide vouchers.

Can I get flight delay compensation for a flight outside of the UK or EU?

EC 261/2004 and UK261 have a clear geographic scope. You are covered if:

• Your flight departed from a UK or EU airport — even if the destination is outside the UK/EU and even on a non-EU/UK carrier.
• Your flight arrived in the UK or EU on a UK or EU carrier — flights from a non-UK/EU airport on a non-UK/EU carrier fall outside the regulation.

For example, a Ryanair flight from New York to Dublin is covered because Ryanair is an EU carrier. A United Airlines flight from New York to Dublin is not covered under EU261 (though it may be covered by US Department of Transportation rules).

If your flight falls outside EC 261 coverage, some countries have their own national compensation frameworks. Flycop can advise you on the best route for your specific journey.

Can the airline deny me flight delay compensation?

Airlines can legally refuse to pay compensation only if they can prove the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances — events outside their control that could not have been avoided even with all reasonable measures. Accepted examples include:

• Severe weather (storms, hurricanes, volcanic ash)
• Air traffic control strikes
• Airport security incidents
• Bird strikes discovered during pre-flight checks

Airlines cannot use the following as extraordinary circumstances:

• Technical faults discovered during routine maintenance
• Staff shortages or crew scheduling issues
• Knock-on delays from earlier flights in the same day

In practice, airlines frequently reject valid claims by citing extraordinary circumstances incorrectly. If your claim is turned down, do not accept the first refusal — Flycop will review the grounds and escalate to the national enforcement body if needed.

How long do I have to submit my flight delay compensation claim in the UK?

In the UK, the time limit to file a flight delay compensation claim is 6 years from the date of the disrupted flight (under the Limitation Act 1980). This is one of the most generous windows in Europe.

EU member states vary between 2 and 6 years depending on national limitation laws:

• Germany, Austria: 3 years
• France, Spain, Italy: 5 years
• Sweden, Netherlands: 3 years

However, Flycop only accepts claims from the last 3 years to ensure the highest chance of success — older evidence is harder to gather and some airlines destroy records beyond this window. If your flight was more than 3 years ago, contact us to discuss your options.

Can additional expenses due to a delayed flight also be reimbursed?

Yes. Alongside the fixed compensation amount, EU261 and UK261 also entitle you to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses caused directly by the delay, including:

• Meals and drinks during the wait (proportionate to waiting time)
• Hotel accommodation if you were stranded overnight
• Transport to and from the hotel
• Two free phone calls, emails, or faxes
• A replacement flight or full refund if you choose not to travel

These are separate from the fixed €250–€600 payment. You cannot claim for consequential losses such as a missed business meeting or a non-refundable hotel at your destination — those fall outside the scope of EC 261.

Always keep your receipts. If the airline did not provide vouchers, submit your receipts alongside your compensation claim.

How long will it take to get my delayed flight compensation?

The timeline varies depending on whether the airline pays voluntarily or requires escalation:

• Direct airline payment: Airlines are expected to respond within 14 days. Some pay within days; others take 6–8 weeks.
• Escalated claims (via Flycop): If the airline rejects or ignores the claim, we escalate to the relevant national enforcement body (CAA in the UK, or the national aviation authority in the EU country). This process typically takes 3–6 months.
• Legal action: In rare cases where enforcement fails, a court claim through the small claims track can resolve matters in 6–12 months.

Most Flycop clients receive their compensation within 8–12 weeks. You will be kept updated at every stage.

How to claim flight delay compensation?

There are two ways to claim:

Option 1 — Claim directly with the airline

1. Find the airline's compensation claim form on their website.
2. Submit your booking reference, flight details, and the actual delay at arrival.
3. Wait up to 14 days for a response.
4. If rejected or ignored, escalate to the national enforcement body.

Option 2 — Use Flycop (recommended)

1. Enter your departure and destination airports above.
2. Fill in your flight details — takes under 5 minutes.
3. Flycop reviews your case, contacts the airline, and escalates if needed.
4. You receive your compensation minus a success fee only if we win. No win, no fee.

Flycop handles all communication with the airline and enforcement authorities, so you do not have to chase anyone yourself.