CAA flight compensation amounts 2026 — £220, £350, £260, £520 explained
Not legal advice. Figures below are the Civil Aviation Authority’s published fixed amounts for long delays under UK261. Claim Helper does not guarantee you will receive them. Extraordinary circumstances may defeat a compensation claim even when the delay is long enough. Source of truth: CAA — Delays.
People search for “flight compensation UK” expecting a single number. In practice the CAA publishes four fixed sums for delay compensation, depending on distance and — for the longest flights — how late you were.
The delay bands (arrival at final destination)
You may be entitled to fixed compensation if you arrive more than three hours late at your destination airport (and UK261 applies, and extraordinary circumstances do not excuse the airline).
| Flight distance (great circle) | How late you arrived | Compensation per person |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km (e.g. Glasgow–Amsterdam) | ≥ 3 hours | £220 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (e.g. East Midlands–Marrakesh) | ≥ 3 hours | £350 |
| Over 3,500 km (e.g. London–New York) | Between 3 and 4 hours | £260 |
| Over 3,500 km | More than 4 hours | £520 |
These amounts are fixed. They are not a percentage of your ticket and do not rise because you bought a flexible fare.
Source (wording paraphrased for clarity): CAA Delays — How much compensation can I claim?.
Distance: use the great-circle route
The CAA tells passengers to calculate distance using the great-circle method (a straight line on a globe between airports), often via a third-party distance tool. If you are near a band boundary, check carefully before you state an amount in a claim letter.
For connecting flights on one booking, care and compensation distance is generally based on the journey from the first to the last airport on that booking (CAA Delays).
Care is separate (and cause does not block it)
Even when compensation is refused for extraordinary circumstances, you may still have been entitled to care during the wait — food and drink, means of communication, and overnight accommodation with transfers when needed — once delay thresholds for care are met (2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance). Keep receipts if you had to arrange care yourself.
Cancellations use different tables
If your flight was cancelled (rather than merely delayed), compensation can depend on how much notice you received and how the replacement flight compares to the original schedule. See the CAA’s Cancellations page for the notice-period tables (including some half-rate figures).
Extraordinary circumstances can zero the compensation
No fixed compensation is due if the airline proves an extraordinary circumstance and reasonable measures. CAA examples include severe weather, strikes unrelated to the airline, security risks, and certain manufacturer defects. Ordinary technical problems are generally not extraordinary (CAA — Am I entitled?).
How to ask for the money
1. Claim the airline first (portal or letter).
2. State the band and £ amount × passengers.
3. Attach evidence of the delay at final destination.
4. If needed, escalate after a final rejection or more than eight weeks via ADR or CAA PACT.
Draft a DIY letter with the free UK261 letter preview, or read the longer process guide: How to claim UK261 flight delay compensation.
Claim Helper — templates and guidance only. Not legal advice. Amounts checked against CAA Delays page as of 25 October 2026 (Europe/London).