<p>If your flight from Heathrow arrives more than 3 hours late, and the delay was within the airline's control, UK261 entitles you to fixed compensation of £220, £350, £260 or £520 per person depending on the flight distance and length of delay. Separately, and regardless of whether compensation is owed, your airline must also look after you with food, drink and, if needed, overnight accommodation. These figures come directly from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Checked 2026.</p>
<h2>What UK261 is</h2>
<p>UK261 is the short name for UK Regulation (EU) No. 261/2004, retained in UK law after Brexit, which sets out passenger rights when a flight is delayed, cancelled, or when boarding is denied due to overbooking. It applies to flights departing from a UK airport such as Heathrow regardless of which airline you are flying, and to flights arriving into the UK on a UK or EU airline. If you are flying home to Heathrow on a non-UK, non-EU airline from outside the EU, UK261 will not apply, and you will need to check that airline's own compensation rules instead.</p>
<h2>Compensation amounts: how much you can claim</h2>
<p>Compensation is a fixed amount set by flight distance, not the price you paid for your ticket, and only applies once you arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late.</p>
<div class="table-wrap"><table><thead><tr><th>Flight distance</th><th>Example route</th><th>Compensation</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Under 1,500km</td><td>Heathrow to Glasgow or Amsterdam</td><td>£220 per person</td></tr><tr><td>1,500km to 3,500km</td><td>Heathrow to Cairo or Marrakesh</td><td>£350 per person</td></tr><tr><td>Over 3,500km, arriving 3 to 4 hours late</td><td>Heathrow to New York or Dubai</td><td>£260 per person</td></tr><tr><td>Over 3,500km, arriving more than 4 hours late</td><td>Heathrow to New York or Dubai</td><td>£520 per person</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<p>These figures are set by the CAA and apply per passenger, not per booking, so a family of four delayed on a qualifying flight can each claim the relevant amount separately. Flight distance is measured using the Great Circle Route method, which a third-party flight-distance calculator can work out for you if you are unsure which band your route falls into.</p>
<h2>When you are not entitled to compensation</h2>
<p>Airlines do not have to pay compensation if the delay or cancellation was caused by “extraordinary circumstances” outside their control, such as severe weather, air traffic control strikes, security risks, or a bird strike. Ordinary technical faults with the aircraft and most staffing or scheduling problems generally do not count as extraordinary circumstances and do not remove your right to compensation. If your airline refuses a claim on these grounds, it should explain specifically why, and you are entitled to challenge that explanation.</p>
<h2>Your right to care, regardless of compensation</h2>
<p>Separately from compensation, your airline has a duty of care once a delay passes a certain length, and this applies even when the delay is due to extraordinary circumstances that rule out compensation.</p>
<div class="table-wrap"><table><thead><tr><th>Flight distance</th><th>Care applies after a delay of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Under 1,500km</td><td>2 hours</td></tr><tr><td>1,500km to 3,500km</td><td>3 hours</td></tr><tr><td>Over 3,500km</td><td>4 hours</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<p>Once the relevant threshold is passed, your airline must provide food and drink appropriate to the wait, a way to make two phone calls or send two emails, and, if you are delayed overnight, hotel accommodation and transport between the airport and the hotel. This is usually issued as a physical or digital voucher to spend at the airport. If your airline does not offer this automatically, ask a member of its staff, and if it still does not provide it, you can pay for reasonable costs yourself and claim them back afterwards, keeping itemised receipts. Airlines are unlikely to reimburse alcohol, luxury hotels or lavish meals as “reasonable” costs.</p>
<h2>If your flight is delayed more than 5 hours</h2>
<p>If your delay reaches 5 hours or more and you decide you no longer want to travel, you can choose a full refund instead of continuing your journey, on top of any compensation and care you are entitled to.</p>
<h2>How to actually claim</h2>
<p>Compensation is not paid automatically. You need to submit a claim directly to your airline, and many airlines have a dedicated online form for this. You may need to make separate claims for compensation and for reimbursed expenses, since these are handled differently. If your airline rejects your claim or does not respond within 8 weeks, you can escalate the complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider if your airline is signed up to one, or to the CAA's own Passenger Advice and Complaints Team if not.</p>
<h2>Lost or damaged baggage is a separate claim</h2>
<p>UK261 covers delay and cancellation compensation, not lost or damaged luggage, which instead falls under the Montreal Convention with its own claims process and limits. If your bags are affected rather than your flight timing, see the <a href='https://heathrowairportguide.pages.dev/articles/heathrow-lost-property-how-to-get-your-item-back'>guide to Heathrow lost property</a> and check with your airline directly, since baggage claims are handled separately from flight-delay compensation.</p>
<h2>What to do at Heathrow while you wait</h2>
<p>If you are stuck at Heathrow during a qualifying delay, ask your airline's staff for your food and drink voucher as soon as the relevant time threshold passes rather than waiting for it to be offered. It is also worth checking the <a href='https://heathrowairportguide.pages.dev/articles/heathrow-stay-play-kids-play-areas-by-terminal'>terminal kids' play areas</a> if you are travelling with children during a long wait, and the guide to <a href='https://heathrowairportguide.pages.dev/articles/what-to-do-if-you-miss-your-flight-at-heathrow-airport'>what to do if you miss a connecting flight because of a delay</a> if the disruption causes you to miss a later leg of your journey.</p>
<h2>The takeaway</h2>
<p>A delay of more than 3 hours on a qualifying Heathrow flight can be worth £220 to £520 per person in UK261 compensation, on top of food, drink and possible overnight accommodation your airline owes you regardless of the cause. Compensation is not automatic, so keep your boarding pass and any receipts, and claim directly from your airline rather than assuming it will be offered.</p>