Flight disruptions are stressful and frustrating, especially when you’re left waiting at the airport with little information. Many travellers are unsure of their rights when a flight is delayed or cancelled, and airlines don’t always make things clear. To help, we’ve answered some of the most common questions passengers ask when things don’t go to plan.
What do I do if my flight is delayed?
If your flight is delayed, the first step is to check with the airline for the reason and the estimated length of the delay. Airlines are legally required under UK261 Regulation to provide certain forms of assistance when delays reach specific thresholds.
- If you are delayed for more than 2 hours, you should be given food and drink vouchers.
- If your delay stretches to 5 hours or more, you may have the option to cancel your journey and receive a full refund.
- If the delay forces you to stay overnight, the airline must provide hotel accommodation and transport.
Most importantly, if your delay causes you to arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late, and the reason for the delay was within the airline’s control (not extreme weather or strikes, for example), you could be entitled to compensation of up to £520 per passenger.
What do I do if my flight is cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled, you have the right to either:
- A full refund, or
- An alternative flight to your destination at no extra cost.
If the cancellation leaves you stranded for hours, the airline must also provide food, drinks, and accommodation where necessary.
In addition, you may be entitled to compensation under UK261 if the cancellation was the airline’s fault and you were given less than 14 days’ notice. The amount, again, can be up to £520 per person, depending on flight distance and the length of the delay to your final arrival time.
Can I claim for a missed connection?
Yes – if you miss a connecting flight because your first flight was delayed and both flights were part of the same booking, the airline is responsible for getting you to your destination. If that delay pushes your final arrival back by more than 3 hours, compensation may apply.
What if my delay or cancellation was years ago?
A lot of people don’t realise this, but you can actually claim for flight delays and cancellations that happened up to 6 years ago in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (5 years in Scotland). That means if you experienced a disruption in recent years, there’s still time to check if you could be owed money.
How much compensation can I get?
The level of compensation is set by law and depends on the distance of your flight and the length of the delay:
- £220 for short flights up to 1,500km delayed 3+ hours
- £350 for medium-haul flights between 1,500–3,500km delayed 3+ hours
- £520 for long-haul flights over 3,500km delayed 4+ hours
How do I start a claim?
Making a claim doesn’t have to be complicated. Airlines sometimes reject or delay claims from passengers who go it alone, but using a specialist service ensures your rights are enforced.
At Flightdelay.expert, we make it simple:
- Free, no-obligation eligibility check in minutes
- No win, no fee – you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds
- Access to official flight records to support your case
Don’t leave it too late and get the compensation you deserve
Flight delays and cancellations are frustrating, but the law is on the side of passengers. If your flight was disrupted in the last six years, you may still be owed compensation – often up to £520 per person.
