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 | Flight number | Route | Status | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10.07.202516:30 | British Airways 49 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:30 | Aer Lingus 8749 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:30 | Iberia 3507 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:30 | Finnair 5449 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202516:30 | AlphaSky 5267 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202509:20 | Iberia 3620 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202509:20 | Jet Linx Aviation 7082 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
10.07.202509:20 | British Airways 7 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202519:20 | LATAM Airlines 7492 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202519:20 | British Airways 4600 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202519:20 | Iberia 7190 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | Finnair 5449 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | AlphaSky 5267 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | American Airlines 6908 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | Aer Lingus 8749 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | Iberia 3507 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:30 | British Airways 49 | Heathrow (LON) Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:10 | American Airlines 7045 | Heathrow (LON) John Paul II Balice International (KRK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 7755 | Heathrow (LON) John Paul II Balice International (KRK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202516:10 | British Airways 872 | Heathrow (LON) John Paul II Balice International (KRK) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202513:10 | Jet Linx Aviation 7120 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202513:10 | Iberia 3762 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202508:40 | British Airways 848 | Heathrow (LON) Franjo Tudman International Airport (ZAG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202508:40 | Jet Linx Aviation 7861 | Heathrow (LON) Franjo Tudman International Airport (ZAG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202508:40 | American Airlines 6774 | Heathrow (LON) Franjo Tudman International Airport (ZAG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202508:40 | Qantas 3513 | Heathrow (LON) Franjo Tudman International Airport (ZAG) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202507:45 | Air Canada 6343 | Heathrow (LON) Brussels Airport (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202507:45 | Hainan Airlines 8540 | Heathrow (LON) Brussels Airport (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
09.07.202507:45 | United Airlines 9900 | Heathrow (LON) Brussels Airport (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202522:15 | British Airways 247 | Heathrow (LON) Aeroporto Internacional Guarulhos (SAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202522:15 | Finnair 5889 | Heathrow (LON) Aeroporto Internacional Guarulhos (SAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202522:15 | Iberia 3606 | Heathrow (LON) Aeroporto Internacional Guarulhos (SAO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202521:45 | American Airlines 7016 | Heathrow (LON) Liszt Ferenc International (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202521:45 | Iberia 3694 | Heathrow (LON) Liszt Ferenc International (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202521:45 | British Airways 870 | Heathrow (LON) Liszt Ferenc International (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202521:45 | Jet Linx Aviation 7125 | Heathrow (LON) Liszt Ferenc International (BUD) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:40 | Garuda Indonesia 8864 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:40 | Emirates 4 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:40 | Qantas 8004 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | British Airways 766 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | Finnair 5914 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | Jet Linx Aviation 7853 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | American Airlines 6629 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | Iberia 3671 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | Qatar Airways 8328 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:20 | JetBlue Airways 6306 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:15 | Jet Linx Aviation 7709 | Heathrow (LON) Euroairport France (EAP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:15 | American Airlines 6711 | Heathrow (LON) Euroairport France (EAP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:15 | Qatar Airways 5937 | Heathrow (LON) Euroairport France (EAP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:15 | British Airways 756 | Heathrow (LON) Euroairport France (EAP) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Cathay Pacific 7155 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Malaysia Airlines 9866 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | American Airlines 6704 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Jet Linx Aviation 7727 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | British Airways 972 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Qatar Airways 5878 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202520:00 | Royal Air Maroc 5204 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:50 | SA AVIANCA 6250 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:50 | Qantas 8032 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:50 | Emirates 32 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:50 | Garuda Indonesia 8866 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:50 | Icelandair 6040 | Heathrow (LON) Chelsea Twr EY Bus Station (DXB) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:25 | Lufthansa 5341 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:25 | Eurowings 7465 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:25 | ANA 5119 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:25 | United Airlines 9637 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:20 | Japan Airlines 44 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:20 | Iberia 7190 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:20 | LATAM Airlines 7492 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:20 | British Airways 4600 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202519:00 | ANA 212 | Heathrow (LON) Haneda Airport (TYO) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202518:40 | SWISS 327 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202518:40 | ANA 6754 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:50 | Tunisair 791 | Heathrow (LON) Carthage (TUN) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:50 | Brussels Airlines 2096 | Heathrow (LON) Brussels Airport (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:50 | Singapore Airlines 2826 | Heathrow (LON) Brussels Airport (BRU) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:15 | Jet Linx Aviation 7737 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:15 | LATAM Airlines 5552 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:15 | British Airways 718 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:15 | American Airlines 7226 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:15 | Qatar Airways 9747 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:10 | SWISS 325 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:10 | LATAM Airlines 8786 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202517:10 | Air Canada 6777 | Heathrow (LON) Zurich (ZRH) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202516:10 | Cathay Pacific 1427 | Heathrow (LON) Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202516:10 | Qantas 3811 | Heathrow (LON) Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202516:10 | Finnair 1336 | Heathrow (LON) Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202516:10 | British Airways 6080 | Heathrow (LON) Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202516:10 | American Airlines 9004 | Heathrow (LON) Helsinki-vantaa (HEL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:45 | British Airways 966 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:45 | Qatar Airways 5954 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:45 | American Airlines 6688 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:45 | Jet Linx Aviation 7791 | Heathrow (LON) Hamburg Airport (HAM) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | Finnair 5902 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | British Airways 762 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | Jet Linx Aviation 7711 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | American Airlines 6827 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | Qatar Airways 8362 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
08.07.202515:30 | JetBlue Airways 6274 | Heathrow (LON) Gardermoen (OSL) | Delayed | Claim Refund |
