London Heathrow flight delays and cancellations
Heathrow is the second busiest airport worldwide (after Dubai international) and connects to 185 other airports in 84 countries. When you consider its size it fares acceptably compared to other UK airports in terms of flight disruption. Nevertheless passengers are still sometimes beset by delays and cancellations.
If you suffer disruption we will help you to claim your compensation with whichever airline you were flying with. Make use of our free online calculator and check if you’re eligible for compensation.
Your rights when delayed at London Heathrow
- According to EU law up to €600 compensation
- Flights as old as 6 years
- Regardless of the price of the ticket
- When the flight was delayed more than 3 hours, overbooked or cancelled
Tips and Tricks when delayed at London heathrow
- Establish the reason for the delay with the airline
- Collect proof: photos, receipts of expenses, vouchers etc
- Exchange contact information with fellow passengers
- Insist on your basic benefits and services at the airport
More detailed information regarding your passenger rights and the EU-regulation.
In which cases are flight delays eligible for compensation?
The amount you paid for your ticket has no bearing on the amount of compensation you can receive – this is determined by the distance of your flight. Fundamentally your flight has to arrive at its destination with a delay of at least 3 hours and fall under the current EU regulation. Your claims are valid retrospectively for up to 6 years. Here is some information about which compensation you’ll be eligible for:
Delay, cancellation, overbooking or missed connection flight? You are entitled to:
| Short distance up to 1500 km | Medium distance up to 3500 km | Long distance from 3500 km |
| e.g. London – Edinburgh | e.g. London – Athens | e.g. London – Tokyo |
| 250€ | 400€ | 600€ |
Additional services at London Heathrow
If your departure is heavily delayed you’ll be eligible for some benefits. These depend on how long you’re delayed for and the distance of the flight. Below is an overview of what you’re eligible for:
- Short distance, below 1500 km: waiting 2 hours or more – complimentary food and drinks, as well as 2 phone calls, emails or faxes
- Medium distance, between 1500-3500 km: waiting 3 hours or more – complimentary food and drinks, as well as 2 phone calls, emails or faxes
- Long-haul, from 3500 km: waiting 4 hours or more – complimentary food and drinks, as well as 2 phone calls, emails or faxes
If the delay time extends past 5 hours you’ve got the right to cancel your flight. The airline is obliged to either reimburse you in full or offer you alternative transportation.
Departure postponed until the next dayWhen the flight is delayed till the next day the airline must see that you are accommodated in a hotel and cover your costs of transport to and from the hotel and airport. Get in touch with the airline directly and ask for a written commitment on your hotel and transfers.
The Flightright promise
Thanks to our expertise we enforce compensation with a very high success rate. This is what allows us to offer a free service if your case is unsuccessful!
- up to €600 compensation per person
- over 11,000,000 happy customers
- 99% success rate in court
Useful advice & information about London Heathrow
In 2016 a record number of passengers used Heathrow airport – a staggering 75.7 million across 84 countries. The most flown to airport from Heathrow is New York JFK and Heathrow is easily reachable on the London tube (Piccadilly line).
Punctuality could do with some improvement
Over 800,000 minutes were spent by customers experiencing delays in 2016 at Heathrow airport. They also cancelled nearly 1,000 flights. Based on the size of their operation this actually leaves Heathrow somewhere in the middle for punctuality when compared to other UK airports.
Wifi at London Heathrow Airport
Wifi is available for all passengers in all terminals at Heathrow Airport. You’ll need to register with their wifi for standard access. Alternatively, if you’re a Heathrow member you can enjoy much faster speeds, or you can pay extra for this privilege.
Strike action at London Heathrow
If strikes are carried out at London Heathrow Airport, you’ll most likely be unable to claim compensation for delays or cancellations, as the airlines consider this an ‘exceptional circumstance’. You will still be able to receive additional services and benefits, including the option for alternative transportation.
More information about London Heathrow can be found here.
Your problem flight at…
Your flight from London Heathrow did not go as planned?
Passengers may be entitled to compensation for flight delays, cancellations and overbooking under EU law. Flightright enforces your rights.
We will be happy to help you in case of flight problems with the airline for:
We have already been able to help with problems at the following airports, among others
We have already taken successful action against these and more airlines
Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.