Delayed and cancelled flights are the most common problems encountered by travelers. Luckily, the European Union has EU Regulation 261/2004, which ensures that you, as a passenger, are not left in a difficult situation and that your rights are protected. The EU 261/2004 defines the conditions under which passengers are entitled to compensation and assistance in the event of flight disruption.
Here, you will discover everything you need to know about European Union Regulation 261 and in which situations you are entitled to compensation.
Passenger Rights under EU 261/2004
Under EU Regulation 261/2004, travelers departing from or arriving at Heathrow Airport on flights operated by EU-based airlines have certain rights if they experience significant cancellations or delays. These rights include:
- Food and drinks: Airlines must provide proper meals and beverages during the waiting period.
- Access to means of communication: Passengers should be offered two free phone calls, emails, or faxes.
- Hotel accommodation if necessary: If an overnight stay is required, the airline is obligated to provide accommodation and transportation to and from the hotel.
- Ticket refund or alternative flight: Travelers have the option to select from a full refund of their ticket or rebooking on an alternative flight to their final destination.
- Compensation: Depending on the flight distance and length of delay, passengers might be entitled to financial compensation ranging from €250 to €600.
Heathrow Airport Flight Delay Compensation
Flyers encountering flight delays at Heathrow Airport could be entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros per person, especially if the delay lasts longer than three hours. The eligibility for compensation is determined by the cause of the delay and whether it complies with UK and EU laws. The amount of compensation is determined on the time of arrival at the destination rather than departure time and is influenced by the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay.
| Less than 3 hours | Between 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Distance |
| €0 | €250 | €250 | All flights up to 1500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All flights between 1500 km and 3500 km |
| €0 | €400 | €400 | All intra-EU flights over 3500 km |
| €0 | €300 | €600 | All non-EU flights over 3500 km |
Keep in mind that airlines are not required to provide compensation for delays caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond their control.
Heathrow Airport Flight Cancellation Compensation
In case of a flight cancellation causing inconvenience at the Heathrow Airport, according to EU 261, passengers are eligible to receive compensation of up to €600 if the airline informs them of the cancellation less than 14 days before departure.
However, there are exceptions to this regulation. The airline might be exempt from compensating passengers if it provides an alternative flight that meets certain criteria, letting you arrive at your destination with the minimal delay possible:
| Advance Notice | Re-routing Requirements |
| 14 Days | None |
| 7 – 13 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 2 hours before and arriving less than 4 hours after the original flight |
| Less than 7 Days | Alternative flight departing no more than 1 hour before and arriving less than 2 hours after the original flight |
Compensation might still be available even if you agree to an alternative flight, provided your arrival at the final destination is significantly delayed. The compensation amount is calculated by the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay. You can refer to the table below to figure out the amount of compensation you are eligible for:
| Under 2 hours | 2-3 hours | 3-4 hours | Over 4 hours | Never arrived | Distance |
| €125 | €250 | €250 | €250 | €250 | All flights 1,500 km or less |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Internal EU flights over 1,500 km |
| €200 | €200 | €400 | €400 | €400 | Non-internal EU flights 1,500 km- 3,500 km |
| €300 | €300 | €300 | €600 | €600 | Non-internal EU flights over 3,500 km |
Keep in mind that airlines usually don’t provide compensation for cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances outside their control, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes.
Which Heathrow Airport Flights are Covered by EU261?
If you are departing from an airport in the European Union and flying with an airline flight originating in the EU, you are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004. This law guarantees that you have certain rights in the event of a delay, flight cancellation, denied boarding, and related issues. Here’s a more detailed table of what situations are protected by EU Regulation 261 and which are not:
| Itinerary | EU Airline | Non-EU Airline |
| Departures from Heathrow Airport to anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Arrivals at Heathrow Airport from inside the EU | Yes | No |
| Arrivals at Heathrow Airport from outside the EU | Yes | No |
How to Claim Compensation from Heathrow Airport
Flight cancellations and delays often occur due to factors such as bad weather, air traffic congestion, technical problems, or staffing issues. If you encounter a flight disruption at Heathrow Airport, you could be eligible for compensation under EU 261/2004.
To initiate a compensation claim, proceed with these steps:
- Complete our form. You’ll need to provide details like your flight number, date, and what went wrong.
- Let our experts help you. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the rest. We know the EU laws well and will do our best to obtain your rightful compensation. You are only charged if we win your case.
Recent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Was your flight delayed or cancelled? Find your flight in the table below and use our claims checker to see if you are eligible for compensation.
Did not find your flight in our table? Fill in our compensation form, and we will check it for you.
| Date | Airline (Flight number) | Route | Status | Your compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
08.05.202517:25 | Virgin Atlantic 4036 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:25 | SAS 3985 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:25 | Air France 3586 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202517:25 | KLM 6022 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | Finnair 5449 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | Aer Lingus 8749 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | Iberia 3507 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | AlphaSky 5267 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
08.05.202516:30 | British Airways 49 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:20 | Iberia 7190 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:20 | British Airways 4600 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:20 | LATAM Airlines 7492 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202519:20 | Japan Airlines 44 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:25 | KLM 6022 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:25 | Virgin Atlantic 4036 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:25 | Air France 3586 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202517:25 | SAS 3985 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:30 | Iberia 3507 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:30 | AlphaSky 5267 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:30 | Aer Lingus 8749 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:30 | Finnair 5449 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:40 | British Airways 4608 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:40 | Japan Airlines 42 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:40 | Iberia 7196 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
07.05.202509:30 | Finnair 1342 | Heathrow (EGLL) Helsinki-vantaa (EFHK) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202507:45 | British Airways 402 | Heathrow (EGLL) Ben Gurion International (LLBG) | cancelled | Refunds |
07.05.202506:00 | SWISS 345 | Heathrow (EGLL) Zurich (LSZH) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Kenya Airways 101 | Heathrow (EGLL) Jomo Kenyatta International (HKJK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Titan Airways Malta 7101 | Heathrow (EGLL) Jomo Kenyatta International (HKJK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Virgin Atlantic 6001 | Heathrow (EGLL) Jomo Kenyatta International (HKJK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202518:25 | Delta Air Lines 7541 | Heathrow (EGLL) Jomo Kenyatta International (HKJK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | British Airways 49 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | Iberia 3507 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | Aer Lingus 8749 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | Finnair 5449 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202516:30 | AlphaSky 5267 | Heathrow (EGLL) Seattle-Tacoma International (KSEA) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202513:10 | Iberia 3762 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202513:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 7120 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 7777 | Heathrow (EGLL) North Front (LXGB) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:10 | British Airways 490 | Heathrow (EGLL) North Front (LXGB) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:10 | Qatar Airways 5870 | Heathrow (EGLL) North Front (LXGB) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202510:10 | American Airlines 6824 | Heathrow (EGLL) North Front (LXGB) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:40 | Iberia 7196 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:40 | Japan Airlines 42 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:40 | British Airways 4608 | Heathrow (EGLL) Haneda Airport (RJTT) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:05 | Jet Linx Aviation 7755 | Heathrow (EGLL) John Paul II Balice International (EPKK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:05 | British Airways 872 | Heathrow (EGLL) John Paul II Balice International (EPKK) | delayed | Refunds |
06.05.202509:05 | American Airlines 7045 | Heathrow (EGLL) John Paul II Balice International (EPKK) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:10 | American Airlines 7117 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:10 | British Airways 396 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:10 | Malaysia Airlines 9722 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 7769 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202518:10 | Qatar Airways 9732 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:50 | Brussels Airlines 2096 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:50 | Singapore Airlines 2826 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | Jet Linx Aviation 6549 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | Cathay Pacific 7185 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | Qatar Airways 9703 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | American Airlines 7125 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | British Airways 996 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202517:35 | Malaysia Airlines 9912 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:50 | Aer Lingus 169 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:50 | British Airways 5969 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:10 | Qatar Airways 6008 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:10 | American Airlines 6888 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:10 | Cathay Pacific 7189 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202516:10 | British Airways 994 | Heathrow (EGLL) Berlin Brandenburg Airport (EDDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:50 | Aer Lingus 167 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:50 | American Airlines 8047 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:50 | British Airways 5967 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:10 | Aer Lingus 161 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:10 | American Airlines 8063 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:10 | British Airways 5931 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202515:10 | Air Canada 6899 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:25 | Emirates 2 | Heathrow (EGLL) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (OMDB) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:20 | Aer Lingus 165 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:20 | British Airways 5965 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202514:20 | American Airlines 8043 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:25 | British Airways 5963 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:25 | American Airlines 8041 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:25 | Aer Lingus 163 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:25 | Air Canada 6921 | Heathrow (EGLL) Dublin International (EIDW) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | British Airways 874 | Heathrow (EGLL) Liszt Ferenc International (LHBP) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | American Airlines 7102 | Heathrow (EGLL) Liszt Ferenc International (LHBP) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202513:20 | JetBlue Airways 6314 | Heathrow (EGLL) Liszt Ferenc International (LHBP) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:10 | Eurowings 9465 | Heathrow (EGLL) Düsseldorf International Airport (EDDL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:10 | Lufthansa 5331 | Heathrow (EGLL) Düsseldorf International Airport (EDDL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:10 | United Airlines 9631 | Heathrow (EGLL) Düsseldorf International Airport (EDDL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:10 | Air Canada 6964 | Heathrow (EGLL) Düsseldorf International Airport (EDDL) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | Qatar Airways 8293 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9720 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | JetBlue Airways 6286 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | Jet Linx Aviation 7705 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | British Airways 394 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202512:00 | American Airlines 7088 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202511:05 | Singapore Airlines 2824 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
05.05.202511:05 | Brussels Airlines 2094 | Heathrow (EGLL) Brussels Airport (EBBR) | delayed | Refunds |
