Official-source guide
UK261 passenger rights
UK passenger-rights rules broadly cover flights departing the UK and some UK/EU airline flights arriving in the UK. They can include care, rerouting or reimbursement, and fixed compensation for qualifying disruption.
This guide is a concise summary based on official sources. It is not legal advice, rules can change, and passengers should check the linked official sources.
When it generally applies
- Flights departing a UK airport.
- Flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline in circumstances described by UK CAA guidance.
- Self-transfer itineraries and separate bookings may have different protection; check official CAA guidance.
Common disruption types
- Delays reaching final destination.
- Cancelled flights, including short-notice cancellations.
- Denied boarding when there are too few seats for checked-in passengers.
Before claiming
- Claim directly with the airline using the airline-owned claim or complaint channel.
- Keep receipts for reasonable care expenses if the airline did not provide care directly.
- Use CAA guidance to understand escalation routes if the airline rejects or ignores a claim.