Air passenger rights & flight compensation in the UK and the EU
Eligible for flight compensation? Under UK and EU law, you could claim up to £520 per passenger if your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked. Start your refund process today with Refundmyflight!
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Your Air Passenger Rights in the UK and EU — What You Should Know
Air travel regulations in the UK and EU protect your rights as a passenger. If your flight was delayed, cancelled, or if you were denied boarding, you could be entitled to up to £520 in compensation per passenger under UK and EU law!
In the case of a cancellation, you may also qualify for a full refund of your ticket price. Trust Refundmyflight to claim what's rightfully yours — we've been standing up for air passenger rights since 2010!
Alexander Hawley
Air passenger rights expert
Last updated on 04/05/2025
What Are Air Passenger Rights?
Air passenger rights vary across the world, but at their heart, they are regulations designed to protect travellers — ensuring fair care, assistance, and compensation in case of flight delays, cancellations, or damage to personal belongings.
Wherever you are from, as a passenger, you are entitled to protection. Regardless of the airline you fly with, you benefit from air passenger rights — usually based on the laws of the country your flight departs from.
Yet, our studies reveal that nearly 85% of passengers are unaware of their rights, meaning millions miss out on the compensation they deserve. That's where we come in.
Since 2013, Refundmyflight has been fighting for air travellers. We've helped 1 million passengers secure the compensation owed to them.
Europe: Your Rights Under Regulation EC 261
Regulation EC 261/2004 is a cornerstone of EU law, protecting air passengers when their travel plans are disrupted — provided the disruption wasn't caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline's control.
EC 261 is among the strongest passenger rights legislations worldwide. It not only defines the level of care airlines must provide, but also sets clear rules for financial compensation — between €250 and €600 per passenger — in cases of:
- Flight delays over 3 hours
- Cancellations announced less than 14 days before departure
- Denied boarding due to overbooking
All passengers departing from an EU airport are covered by EC 261. In some cases, even flights arriving into Europe from non-EU countries may fall under its protection.
EC 261 compensation amounts
Up to 1,500 km
€250
E.g., Paris - Berlin, Madrid - London
1,500 km to 3,500 km
€400
E.g., London - Istanbul, Paris - Athens
Over 3,500 km
€600
E.g., London - New York, Paris - Tokyo
"UK 261" Passenger Rights
When the UK left the European Union in 2020, it incorporated many EU passenger rights into its own law. Today, travellers flying from the UK or with UK-based airlines continue to enjoy strong protections.
Under UK 261, passengers can still claim compensation if their flight is delayed by more than 3 hours, cancelled, or overbooked — as long as the airline is responsible for the disruption.
One key difference: compensation amounts are now set in British pounds, ranging from £220 to £520. Over time, UK regulations may evolve separately from EU laws, meaning the rules could gradually diverge in the future.
"UK 261" compensation amounts
Up to 1,500 km
£220
1,500 km to 3,500 km
£350
Over 3,500 km
£520
Commonly asked questions
Find answers to common questions about air passenger rights and flight compensation.