The short answer
- EU and UK flights: if you reach your destination three or more hours late, or your flight is cancelled at short notice, for a reason within the airline's control, you can usually claim €250 to €600 (EU) or £220 to £520 (UK), plus meals, hotels and a refund or rerouting.
- US flights: there is no cash compensation for delays by law. If your flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you choose not to travel, you are owed an automatic refund.
- Canada: large airlines owe up to C$1,000 for delays within their control, depending on how late you arrive.
The details, and how to claim, are below. Rules change, so check the regulator's current guidance before you claim.
Europe: EU261
EU Regulation 261/2004 (EU261) covers:
- All flights departing from an EU airport, on any airline.
- Flights arriving in the EU from outside, if operated by an EU airline.
- Iceland, Norway and Switzerland apply the same rules.
Compensation amounts
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| Within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights 1,500 to 3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (between the EU and non-EU countries) | €600 |
Delays: compensation applies if you arrive at your final destination three hours or more late. For flights over 3,500 km, it can be cut by half if you arrive between three and four hours late.
Cancellations: compensation applies if you are told less than 14 days before departure, unless the airline offers a reroute close to your original times.
Denied boarding (for example, overbooking) also qualifies.
The 2026 reform
The EU has agreed the first major update to these rules in two decades. The European Parliament approved the changes in July 2026, and the new rules are expected to apply from 2027. According to the final deal as reported, the three-hour threshold and the €250 to €600 amounts stay the same, a free small cabin bag must be included in the ticket price, families with children under 14 cannot be charged to sit together, and airlines must proactively tell passengers how to claim. Until the new rules take effect, the existing regulation applies. Check the European Commission's passenger rights pages for the date the changes start.
United Kingdom: UK261
After Brexit, the UK kept the same rules in its own law, with compensation in pounds:
| Flight distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | £220 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km | £520 |
UK261 covers flights departing the UK on any airline, and flights arriving in the UK on UK or EU airlines. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) publishes guidance.
Extraordinary circumstances
Under EU and UK rules, no compensation is due if the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided, such as:
- Severe weather.
- Air traffic control restrictions or strikes by air traffic controllers.
- Security risks, political instability, airport closures.
- Bird strikes, in most cases.
Generally not extraordinary, according to court rulings: most technical faults, airline staff shortages and strikes by the airline's own staff. Airlines sometimes cite extraordinary circumstances when they should not, so ask for the specific reason in writing.
Care and assistance: owed even without compensation
Even when the cause is extraordinary, EU and UK airlines must provide care during long delays:
- Meals and drinks in proportion to the wait, often as vouchers.
- Hotel accommodation and transport to it if you are delayed overnight.
- Means of communication, such as calls or emails.
For cancellations, and delays of five hours or more, you can choose a full refund instead of travelling. If the airline does not provide care, keep receipts for reasonable costs and claim them back.
United States
- No compensation for delays. In 2025, the US Department of Transportation withdrew a proposed rule that would have required airlines to pay cash compensation for delays.
- Refunds: under rules required by Congress, airlines must automatically refund you if your flight is cancelled or significantly changed (a departure or arrival time change of more than three hours domestic or six hours international, among other changes) and you choose not to travel or accept an alternative. Refunds are due within seven business days for card purchases and 20 calendar days for other payments, in the original form of payment, not vouchers, unless you agree.
- Airline commitments: many US airlines publish customer service plans that promise meals, hotels or rebooking when a delay or cancellation is their fault. Check your airline's plan.
- Overbooking: if you are involuntarily bumped, you are entitled to denied boarding compensation, based on the ticket price and how late you arrive.
Canada
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations require large airlines to pay compensation for delays or cancellations within their control, based on arrival delay:
| Arrival delay | Large airlines | Small airlines |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 6 hours | C$400 | C$125 |
| 6 to 9 hours | C$700 | C$250 |
| 9 hours or more | C$1,000 | C$500 |
The Canadian Transportation Agency handles complaints.
Other countries
Many countries, including India, Brazil and Turkey, have their own passenger rights rules, and there is no global standard. Check the aviation regulator for the country you are flying from. For lost or damaged bags on international flights, the Montreal Convention sets airline liability limits in most countries.
If a disruption leaves you rebooked through another country, check the transit visa rules for the new route. And when you book again, our guide to the best time to book international flights can help.
How to claim
- Keep everything: booking confirmation, boarding pass, and notes or photos of departure boards and announcements. Note your actual arrival time (when the doors opened).
- Ask the airline for the reason for the delay or cancellation, in writing.
- Claim directly from the airline using its online form. It is free.
- Be specific: quote the regulation (EU261, UK261), the flight number, date and amount you are claiming.
- If refused or ignored after about eight weeks, escalate to the airline's approved dispute resolution scheme (ADR) or the national enforcement body, such as the CAA in the UK.
- Court is a last resort; small claims courts handle many cases.
Key takeaways
- EU and UK: up to €600 or £520 for arrival delays of three hours or more within the airline's control.
- Airlines must provide meals and hotels during long delays, even in bad weather.
- US: no delay compensation, but automatic refunds for cancellations and significant changes.
- Claim directly from the airline for free; claims companies take a cut.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Passenger rights rules change; check the current guidance from the relevant regulator before making a claim.