UK261 vs EU261 — Which Applies to Your Flight?

Since Brexit, UK air passengers sit under two near-identical regimes: UK261, the version retained in UK law, and EU261, the original EU regulation that still applies on certain routes. For most passengers the rights are the same — up to £520 or €600 — but which one applies decides who you claim against and in which currency.

This guide explains which regime covers your flight and when both could. To check your amount under either, use the compensation calculator.

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Which Regime Applies

UK261 Covers

The UK regulation applies if:

Your flight departed any UK airport — regardless of airline
Your flight arrived in the UK on a UK or EU airline
Compensation is set in pounds: £220 / £350 / £520

EU261 Covers

The EU regulation applies if:

Your flight departed any EU airport — regardless of airline
Your flight arrived in the EU on an EU airline
Compensation is set in euros: €250 / €400 / €600

The Practical Differences

What Actually Changes

For passengers, the regimes are nearly identical, but note:

Currency — pounds under UK261, euros under EU261
The 3-hour arrival threshold and distance bands are the same
The extraordinary-circumstances defence works the same way
Post-Brexit UK rulings (like Lipton) bind UK261; EU court rulings bind EU261

When Both Could Apply

Some UK–EU flights are covered by both:

An EU–UK flight on an EU airline can fall under both regimes
You generally claim under one — usually whichever is simpler or pays more after exchange
You cannot claim twice for the same disruption

Common Questions About UK261 and EU261

I flew London to Spain on a Spanish airline. Which applies?

Departing the UK, UK261 applies regardless of the airline — so you can claim under UK261 in pounds. On the return leg from Spain on that same EU airline, EU261 applies. The outbound and return legs can therefore fall under different regimes.

Is one regime better than the other?

Not materially — the rights, thresholds and defences are essentially the same. The only real differences are currency and which courts’ rulings apply. Where both could apply, people often pick whichever pays slightly more once exchange rates are factored in, or whichever airline is easier to claim against.

Can I claim under both for one delayed flight?

No. Even where both regimes technically cover a flight, you claim once for the disruption — you can’t recover the compensation twice. Choose the regime that suits you and claim under that.

Did Brexit reduce my rights?

No. The UK copied EU261 into domestic law as UK261 before the end of the transition period, so the protections carried over almost unchanged. The main effect of Brexit was creating two parallel regimes rather than weakening either.

How Far Back Can I Claim?

Flight Delay Compensation Calculator

Am I Eligible for Flight Delay Compensation?

Extraordinary Circumstances Explained

Airline Rejected My Claim

How to Claim Flight Delay Compensation

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