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Compared to the original scheduled arrival time

This decides whether the airline can refuse to pay

Why does the reason matter?
Airlines don't owe compensation for a delay or cancellation caused by an "extraordinary circumstance" — genuinely external events like bad weather, security threats, or a third-party strike. A technical fault is usually NOT extraordinary, even though airlines often say otherwise: case law treats routine mechanical problems as an ordinary cost of running an airline. The airline has to prove the exemption applies, not the other way round.

Only matters if you departed from outside the EU/UK — skip the guesswork otherwise

Compensation

Select two airports

Estimate for reference only, not verified proof — check the sources below, and their access date, before relying on this for a claim or filing.

    Flight delay compensation from London Heathrow (LHR)

    What a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight from London Heathrow is worth under UK261, for the destinations people fly most.

    Every flight departing London Heathrow (LHR) is covered by UK261, whatever the airline: arriving 3 or more hours late earns £220 up to 1,500 km, £350 up to 3,500 km and £520 beyond — £520 for London Heathrow to New York. Flights arriving at LHR from an EU airport are covered by EU261 on any airline; from elsewhere, only on a UK airline. On flights over 3,500 km, a delay of 3 to 4 hours earns half.

    Reviewed by RuleCost Editorial Team. Rules for 2026, updated 18 Sept 2026.

    How to use it

    1. 1Enter the departure and arrival airports.
    2. 2Choose what happened and how late you arrived.
    3. 3Pick the reason the airline gave and read the amount — the calculator can also draft the claim letter.

    What a delay from London Heathrow is worth

    ToDistanceCompensation
    Paris (CDG)348 km€250 (EU261)
    Amsterdam (AMS)370 km€250 (EU261)
    Frankfurt (FRA)654 km€250 (EU261)
    Barcelona (BCN)1,148 km€250 (EU261)
    Palma de Mallorca (PMI)1,348 km€250 (EU261)
    Rome (FCO)1,444 km€250 (EU261)
    Athens (ATH)2,427 km€400 (EU261)
    Istanbul (IST)2,487 km£350 (UK261)
    Tenerife South (TFS)2,932 km€400 (EU261)
    Hurghada (HRG)3,934 km£520 (UK261)
    Dubai (DXB)5,498 km£520 (UK261)
    New York JFK (JFK)5,540 km£520 (UK261)
    Bangkok (BKK)9,578 km£520 (UK261)

    For a delay of 3 hours or more at the final destination (more than 4 hours on flights over 3,500 km, or the amount is halved), not caused by extraordinary circumstances. Distances are great-circle, as the regulation measures them. Open the full calculator · All airports and airlines

    Questions

    Which rule covers flights from London Heathrow?
    UK261, the UK's version of EU261, on every airline. A flight from London Heathrow to an EU airport can also be covered by EU261 when it is operated by an EU airline.
    How much is a delay from London Heathrow to New York?
    £520. It is 5,540 km by the great-circle method, in the top distance band.
    Does it matter which airline I flew?
    Not for flights departing London Heathrow. It matters for flights arriving there from outside the UK and the EU, which are covered only when the airline is licensed in the UK.
    When does a delay count?
    When you reach your final destination 3 or more hours late — measured when the doors open at arrival, not at departure. A connection booked on one ticket counts as one journey.