Whether an airline owes you money for a delay depends on two things: where the flight departs from and which airline operates it. The EU and UK pay fixed compensation of up to €600 or £520. Canada pays up to $1,000 for delays the airline caused. The US only guarantees a refund, not compensation.
The rules side by side
| Rules | Covers you when | Compensation | Refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU (Regulation 261/2004) | Departing the EU on any airline, or arriving in the EU on an EU airline | €250, €400 or €600 when you arrive 3+ hours late | Yes, if delayed 5+ hours or cancelled |
| UK (UK261) | Departing the UK on any airline, or arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline | £220, £350 or £520 when you arrive more than 3 hours late | Yes, if delayed more than 5 hours or cancelled |
| United States | Flights to, from or within the US | None required by federal law | Yes, automatic, if cancelled or significantly changed |
| Canada (APPR) | Flights to, from or within Canada | Up to $1,000 for delays within the airline's control | Yes, in set situations |
EU: Regulation 261/2004
Who is covered. Every flight within the EU, every flight departing the EU on any airline, and flights arriving in the EU from outside only if an EU airline operates them. A Johannesburg to Frankfurt flight on Lufthansa is covered. The same route on a non-EU airline is not, but its return leg from Frankfurt is.
How much. Compensation depends on distance, and applies when you reach your final destination 3 hours or more late:
- €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less
- €400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 km, and other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km
- €600 for flights over 3,500 km. On those flights to or from outside the EU, a delay of 3 to 4 hours pays €300, and the full €600 needs 4 hours or more
If the airline reroutes you and you arrive within 2, 3 or 4 hours of schedule (depending on distance), compensation is cut by half.
When the airline doesn't pay. Extraordinary circumstances are excluded: air traffic management decisions, political instability, bad weather and security risks. Most technical problems and strikes by the airline's own staff usually do count against the airline, and the airline has to prove the cause.
While you wait. Once a delay passes 2, 3 or 4 hours (depending on distance), the airline must give you meals and refreshments. If the new departure is the next day, it must also provide a hotel and transport to it. If the departure is delayed 5 hours or more, you can choose a refund instead of flying.
UK: UK261
The UK kept the EU system after Brexit, with amounts in pounds. It covers flights departing the UK on any airline, flights arriving in the UK on a UK or EU airline, and flights arriving in the EU on a UK airline.
- £220 for flights under 1,500 km
- £350 for 1,500 to 3,500 km
- £520 over 3,500 km, or £260 if you arrive 3 to 4 hours late
For cancellations, compensation may be due if the airline told you less than 14 days before departure, and you can choose a refund or an alternative flight. With a delay of more than 5 hours you can take a refund instead of flying. The CAA is clear that compensation isn't automatic: you have to claim it.
United States: refunds, not compensation
US law requires a refund, not extra compensation. You are entitled to an automatic refund if your flight is cancelled or significantly changed. That means it departs early or arrives late by 3 hours or more on a domestic flight, or 6 hours or more on an international one, and you choose not to travel. Refunds are due within 7 business days for card payments and 20 days for other methods.
There is no federal compensation for delays. In November 2025 the Department of Transportation withdrew its plan to require cash compensation, meals and hotels, saying the law doesn't give it that power. What you can get is whatever the airline itself promises for delays it caused. DOT publishes those promises on its cancellation and delay dashboard (opens in a new tab) and says it will hold airlines to them.
From 19 October 2026, fewer US disruptions count as the airline's fault. Read our update on the 10 reclassified delay causes.
Canada: APPR
Canada pays compensation for delays that are within the airline's control and not required for safety. For large airlines:
- $400 for a 3 to 6 hour delay
- $700 for 6 to 9 hours
- $1,000 for 9 hours or more
Small airlines pay $125, $250 or $500. Proposed changes published in December 2024 would simplify these categories, but as of October 2026 the Canadian Transportation Agency describes them as still being worked on.
South Africa: refunds for overbooking, no delay payout
We found no South African law that pays fixed compensation for flight delays. The Consumer Protection Act does ban overbooking: if you're not carried because a flight was oversold, you're entitled to a refund with interest and can claim damages. For delays, your rights come from the airline's own terms and from EU, UK or other rules if your route falls under them.
How to claim
- Write it all down at the airport. Note the scheduled and actual arrival time at your final destination, and the reason the airline gives. Photograph departure boards and keep boarding passes.
- Keep receipts for meals, transport and hotels if the airline didn't provide them.
- Claim directly with the airline using its online form. Quote the rule (for example "EU Regulation 261/2004"), the flight number, date and the delay.
- If the airline refuses or ignores you, escalate to the national enforcement body or regulator for that country: the CAA in the UK, the Canadian Transportation Agency, or the DOT for US complaints.
You don't need a claims company. They take a share of your payout for filling in the same form.
Before your next flight
The best protection is a route that falls under the strongest rules. When two itineraries cost about the same, an EU or UK airline on a long-haul route into Europe gives you EU261 or UK261 cover in both directions.
Search and compare routes in our flight search.
