Can you claim?
Where did the flight depart from, or which airline operated it?
US: No federal compensation right. You can claim a refund (see rights).
UK: UK departure (any airline) or UK/EU airline arriving in the UK: UK261 applies.
Europe: EU departure (any airline) or EU airline arriving in the EU: EU261 applies.
How late did you arrive, or was the flight cancelled?
3+ hours late on arrival, or cancelled, opens compensation under UK261/EU261.
Was it caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' (e.g. weather, air traffic control)?
If yes, no compensation, but care and refund rights remain. Most technical faults and airline-staff strikes do not count as extraordinary (EU page).
Your rights
DOT automatic refund rule
- Refund
- Full refund (incl. taxes/fees) if the airline cancels or significantly changes the flight and you decline the alternative. Significant change: >3h domestic, >6h international.
- Baggage
- Checked-bag fee refund if bag not delivered within 12h (domestic) / 15-30h (international).
- Timeline
- Card payments: within 7 business days. Other methods: within 20 calendar days.
- No compensation note
- DOT does not require airlines to pay cash compensation for domestic flight delays or cancellations, unlike the UK/EU rules — this rule covers refunds only. Some airlines voluntarily commit to compensation or amenities (meals, hotels, rebooking) for disruptions within their control; check the DOT's Airline Customer Service Dashboard for what a specific airline has committed to. DOT states it will hold airlines accountable to those commitments.
UK261
- Compensation
- Under 1500km
- £220
- 1500 3500km
- £350
- Over 3500km
- £260 (3-4h late) / £520 (4h+ late)
- Threshold
- Arrive 3+ hours late
- Escalation
- Complain to airline; if unresolved after final response or 8 weeks, go to the airline's ADR provider, or CAA PACT if the airline has none.
- Time limit
- The CAA does not publish a UK261-specific claim deadline. The general civil claim time limit applies instead: 6 years from the date of the flight in England and Wales (Limitation Act 1980, the standard limit for breach-of-contract claims), and 5 years in Scotland (Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, the standard prescriptive period for contractual obligations).
EU261
- Compensation
- Up to 1500km
- €250
- 1500 3500km
- €400 (and >1500km intra-EU)
- Over 3500km
- €600
- Threshold
- Arrive 3+ hours late (4h for the €600 tier on some non-EU flights); cancellation notified under 14 days before departure
- Care
- Meals, 2 calls/messages, hotel + transport if overnight. Refund option at 5h+ departure delay.
- Escalation
- Airline first; no reply in 2 months -> national enforcement body; ADR; European Small Claims.
- Time limit
- Set by each country's national limitation rules (no single number)
Evidence to gather
- Booking confirmation
- Boarding pass
- Screenshot of actual vs scheduled arrival time
- Airline messages explaining the cause
- Receipts for meals/hotel/transport
Steps
- Keep evidence and receipts
- Written claim to the airline
- Wait 8 weeks (UK) / 2 months (EU)
- Escalate to ADR / CAA PACT / national body
- Small claims court
Your tools
Generators
Templates
Calculators
Information, not legal advice. Figures verified against the official sources linked above.