London Heathrow (LHR) Flight Delays: EU261 Compensation
London Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe and a major transatlantic hub. UK261 applies to all flights departing LHR, entitling passengers to up to 520 GBP per person for delays of 3 or more hours. Here is how to claim.
UK261 Covers Every LHR Departure
London Heathrow is covered by UK261 for all departing flights, regardless of airline. Whether you fly British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta, United, or any other carrier, a delay of 3 or more hours at your final destination triggers UK261 compensation.
Every airline at LHR is covered. Unlike some jurisdictions, UK261 applies based on the departure airport, not the airline's home country. A Delta flight from Heathrow is covered by UK261 even though Delta is a US carrier.
Compensation Amounts from LHR
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Short-haul (up to 1,500 km): £220 per person. Example: LHR to Dublin, Amsterdam, Paris.
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Medium-haul (1,500 to 3,500 km): £350 per person. Example: LHR to Istanbul, Cairo.
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Long-haul (over 3,500 km): £520 per person. Example: LHR to New York, Los Angeles, Singapore.
Most LHR transatlantic flights fall in the long-haul category: £520 per person. A family of four on a delayed LHR to JFK flight could claim £2,080. See our EU261/UK261 guide and UK261 vs EU261 comparison.
How to Claim from LHR
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Identify the operating carrier (the airline that flew the plane).
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File a UK261 claim with the operating carrier, citing UK261 or the Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
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State the compensation amount based on distance.
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Allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response.
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If rejected, escalate to the UK CAA.
The UK has a 6-year limitation period. LHR flights disrupted up to 6 years ago are still claimable. Check your flight to verify eligibility. See Heathrow's official site for real-time flight status.
Common LHR Disruptions
Heathrow operates near maximum capacity and is vulnerable to cascading delays. Common causes include fog (especially in autumn and winter), ATC slot restrictions, and runway closures. Despite these challenges, routine operational delays are not extraordinary circumstances under UK261.
For airline-specific guides, see our British Airways and EasyJet articles. For EU261 rights or UK261 rights, see our rights pages.