UK261 is the UK's post-Brexit version of EU Regulation 261/2004, incorporated into domestic law as the 'Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.' It provides the same core protections as EU261, fixed compensation for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, but applies to UK flights rather than EU flights.

Is UK261 the same as EU261?

The protections are very similar, but not identical. The compensation amounts are denominated in pounds (£220 / £350 / £520) rather than euros (€250 / €400 / €600). The triggers, extraordinary circumstances rules, and care obligations are essentially the same. The key coverage difference: UK261 applies to UK departures (any airline) and UK arrivals on UK-based carriers, while EU261 applies to EU departures (any airline) and EU arrivals on EU-based carriers.

Which airlines does UK261 cover?

For flights departing from UK airports, UK261 covers ALL airlines, British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, American Airlines, Delta, Emirates, and any other carrier operating from a UK airport. For flights arriving into UK airports, UK261 only covers UK-based carriers: British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Airways, Jet2, Wizz Air UK, and others registered in the UK.

How far back can I claim under UK261?

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can claim up to 6 years back from the date of your flight under the Limitation Act 1980. In Scotland, the limit is 5 years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. This is one of the more generous windows in Europe, many passengers with flights from 2019, 2020, or 2021 may still have valid claims.

What if my flight was between the UK and EU?

It depends on the airline and direction. UK to EU: UK261 applies at the UK departure airport, regardless of airline. EU to UK on a UK carrier (BA, easyJet, etc.): UK261 applies. EU to UK on an EU carrier (Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, etc.): EU261 applies at the EU departure. For round trips, you may be covered by UK261 on one leg and EU261 on the other, potentially different compensation amounts. TravelStacks checks both.

What is the CAA and how do I escalate to them?

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK's aviation regulator and the enforcement body for UK261. If an airline ignores or wrongly denies your UK261 claim, you can file a complaint with the CAA at caa.co.uk. The CAA can investigate the airline and require payment. Filing a CAA complaint is free and often prompts airlines to settle. TravelStacks escalates to the CAA automatically when airlines don't respond.

Does UK261 cover connecting flights?

Yes, in most cases. UK courts follow the same principle as EU courts: UK261 covers the entire journey booked under a single booking reference. If a delay on the first leg caused you to miss a connection and arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late, UK261 applies based on the distance of the entire journey. The first leg must depart from a UK airport (or be operated by a UK carrier arriving into UK) for UK261 to apply.

Is UK261 compensation paid in cash or as a voucher?

UK261 requires airlines to pay compensation in cash or by bank transfer. Airlines may offer vouchers, but you are not required to accept them. A travel voucher does not satisfy the airline's UK261 obligation unless you explicitly agree to accept it in lieu of cash. If an airline offers a voucher, decline it and request cash payment.

UK261 is the UK's post-Brexit version of EU Regulation 261/2004, incorporated into domestic law as the 'Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.' It provides the same core protections as EU261, fixed compensation for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding, but applies to UK flights rather than EU flights.

Is UK261 the same as EU261?

The protections are very similar, but not identical. The compensation amounts are denominated in pounds (£220 / £350 / £520) rather than euros (€250 / €400 / €600). The triggers, extraordinary circumstances rules, and care obligations are essentially the same. The key coverage difference: UK261 applies to UK departures (any airline) and UK arrivals on UK-based carriers, while EU261 applies to EU departures (any airline) and EU arrivals on EU-based carriers.

Which airlines does UK261 cover?

For flights departing from UK airports, UK261 covers ALL airlines, British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, American Airlines, Delta, Emirates, and any other carrier operating from a UK airport. For flights arriving into UK airports, UK261 only covers UK-based carriers: British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Airways, Jet2, Wizz Air UK, and others registered in the UK.

How far back can I claim under UK261?

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you can claim up to 6 years back from the date of your flight under the Limitation Act 1980. In Scotland, the limit is 5 years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. This is one of the more generous windows in Europe, many passengers with flights from 2019, 2020, or 2021 may still have valid claims.

What if my flight was between the UK and EU?

It depends on the airline and direction. UK to EU: UK261 applies at the UK departure airport, regardless of airline. EU to UK on a UK carrier (BA, easyJet, etc.): UK261 applies. EU to UK on an EU carrier (Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, etc.): EU261 applies at the EU departure. For round trips, you may be covered by UK261 on one leg and EU261 on the other, potentially different compensation amounts. TravelStacks checks both.

What is the CAA and how do I escalate to them?

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK's aviation regulator and the enforcement body for UK261. If an airline ignores or wrongly denies your UK261 claim, you can file a complaint with the CAA at caa.co.uk. The CAA can investigate the airline and require payment. Filing a CAA complaint is free and often prompts airlines to settle. TravelStacks escalates to the CAA automatically when airlines don't respond.

Does UK261 cover connecting flights?

Yes, in most cases. UK courts follow the same principle as EU courts: UK261 covers the entire journey booked under a single booking reference. If a delay on the first leg caused you to miss a connection and arrive at your final destination 3 or more hours late, UK261 applies based on the distance of the entire journey. The first leg must depart from a UK airport (or be operated by a UK carrier arriving into UK) for UK261 to apply.

Is UK261 compensation paid in cash or as a voucher?

UK261 requires airlines to pay compensation in cash or by bank transfer. Airlines may offer vouchers, but you are not required to accept them. A travel voucher does not satisfy the airline's UK261 obligation unless you explicitly agree to accept it in lieu of cash. If an airline offers a voucher, decline it and request cash payment.

UK261 · Passenger Rights

Up to £520 Per Passenger. The Airline Is Hoping You Give Up.

After Brexit, the UK retained EU261 as domestic law, giving passengers the same core rights for UK flights. Most passengers never file. Airlines send template denials and wait. Here is exactly what you are owed and how to get it.

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Which flights and passengers does UK261 cover?

UK261 applies to: (1) any flight departing from a UK airport, regardless of the airline, including US, EU, and other international carriers; and (2) flights arriving at a UK airport operated by a UK-based carrier (British Airways, easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, TUI Airways, Wizz Air UK, and others). If you flew Ryanair from London Gatwick to Madrid, the UK261 departure rules apply. If you flew Iberia from Madrid to London, only EU261 applies (since Iberia is not UK-based).

How much compensation does UK261 pay?

Like EU261, UK261 compensation is a fixed amount that doesn't depend on your ticket price. The amounts are denominated in pounds sterling and updated periodically.

Under 1,500 km

£220

e.g. London to Amsterdam

1,500 to 3,500 km

£350

e.g. London to Cairo

Over 3,500 km

£520

e.g. London to New York

When does UK261 compensation apply?

UK261 triggers are the same as EU261: (1) your flight arrives 3 or more hours late at the final destination; (2) your flight is canceled with less than 14 days' notice and the airline doesn't reroute you to arrive within 2-4 hours of your original schedule; or (3) you are involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking. Voluntary bumping, where you accept the airline's offer to take a later flight, does not trigger UK261, though you can still negotiate compensation in that case.

How does UK261 differ from EU261 after Brexit?

Before Brexit, all flights between the UK and EU were covered by EU261. Now, coverage depends on the airline and direction: UK to EU: UK261 applies (departure from UK airport). EU to UK on a UK carrier: UK261 applies (UK-based airline arriving in UK). EU to UK on an EU carrier: EU261 applies (EU-based airline, EU departure rules). For flights between the UK and EU, both regulations can potentially apply on different legs of a round trip. TravelStacks checks both automatically and claims under whichever regulation provides better coverage for your specific itinerary.

How far back can I claim?

The UK261 claim window is determined by general limitation law, not UK261 itself. Both windows are more generous than most EU countries, meaning passengers with flights from 2019, 2020, or 2021 may still have valid claims:

England / Wales / NI

6 years

Limitation Act 1980

Scotland

5 years

Prescription Act 1973

Airlines apply the same denial tactics as EU261

UK airlines have adopted the same playbook as their EU counterparts: deny on first submission hoping passengers accept it, cite 'extraordinary circumstances' for technical faults that don't qualify, and offer vouchers rather than cash. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK enforcement body, filing a CAA complaint after an airline denial is free and often prompts a settlement. TravelStacks escalates to the CAA automatically when airlines don't respond.

How TravelStacks helps

TravelStacks checks your UK flight against UK261 criteria, calculates your exact compensation in pounds sterling, and handles the full claim process, including escalation to the CAA if the airline delays or denies. We charge 25% of what we recover, nothing if we don't. No paperwork, no calls to the airline.

Check my UK flight

UK261 passenger rights, frequently asked questions

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Check my UK flight

Works for past flights too. US DOT: up to 1 year. EU261 and UK261: up to 6 years back.

Up to £520 Per Passenger. The Airline Is Hoping You Give Up.

Which flights and passengers does UK261 cover?

How much compensation does UK261 pay?

When does UK261 compensation apply?

How does UK261 differ from EU261 after Brexit?

How far back can I claim?

UK261 passenger rights, frequently asked questions

Related passenger rights guides

Check your UK flightWe handle everything. You keep more.

Check your UK flight
We handle everything. You keep more.