Flight delayed? Your rights to care, refunds and compensation (EU, UK and Thailand)

A delay can earn you more than an apology. Depending on where your flight departs, which airline operates it and how late it is, the airline may owe you meals, a hotel, a refund or a fixed cash compensation. This guide sets out the three sets of rules travellers to and from Thailand meet most: the EU rules (EU261), the UK rules (UK261) and Thailand's own rules from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). Each rule links to its official source below.

Which rules apply to your flight

• Thailand (CAAT Regulation No. 101): domestic flights and international flights departing Thailand on Thai airlines, and international flights departing Thailand on foreign airlines. In force since 20 May 2025.
• EU (EU261): every flight departing an EU airport, on any airline, and flights from outside the EU into the EU on an EU airline.
• UK (UK261): every flight departing a UK airport, on any airline, and flights from outside the UK into the UK on a UK or EU airline.

So a flight from Bangkok to London is covered by Thailand's rules, and also by UK261 if a UK or EU airline operates it. The way back from London is always covered by UK261. The EU and UK rules don't apply to an inbound flight if you already received benefits or compensation for it under another country's rules.

Flight cancelled, or bumped from an overbooked flight? Different rules apply: see your rights when your flight is cancelled.

Flights from Thailand: CAAT rules

Domestic flights, delayed by more than:

• 2 hours: food and drink, and a way to communicate (calls or internet). If you no longer want to travel, a refund.
• 3 hours: the same, plus the choice of a refund, another flight, or other transport to your destination.
• 5 hours: the same, plus compensation of THB 1,200.

International flights departing Thailand, delayed by more than:

• 2 hours: food and drink, and a way to communicate.
• 5 hours: the same, plus a hotel with transport to and from the airport if you have to stay overnight, a refund if you no longer want to travel, and compensation of THB 1,500.
• 10 hours: food, drink, communication and a hotel if needed, a refund or another flight or other transport, and compensation of THB 2,000 for flights up to 1,500 km, THB 3,500 for 1,500–3,500 km and THB 4,500 for flights over 3,500 km.

The CAAT notes that airlines may pay refunds and compensation as a credit shell, travel voucher, frequent-flyer miles or another alternative, and that compensation is not owed when the delay comes from extraordinary circumstances the airline could not avoid even with all reasonable measures.

Stuck on the plane on the ground? The airline must keep the cabin ventilated at a suitable temperature with working toilets, and arrange medical help if someone needs it. After 3 hours without a definite take-off time, it must let you get off, unless safety, security or air traffic control prevents it.

Flights from the EU: EU261

Care while you wait. Meals and refreshments in proportion to the wait, two phone calls or emails, and a hotel with transport if the new departure is the next day or later. You get this when the expected delay at departure reaches:

• 2 hours for flights of 1,500 km or less,
• 3 hours for flights within the EU over 1,500 km and other flights of 1,500–3,500 km,
• 4 hours for all other flights.

Refund. If the delay is at least 5 hours, you can give up the trip and get your ticket refunded, plus a flight back to your first departure airport if you were connecting.

Compensation. Since the Court of Justice's Sturgeon ruling (2009), you are owed compensation if 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 1,500–3,500 km,
• €300 for flights over 3,500 km arriving 3 to 4 hours late,
• €600 for flights over 3,500 km arriving 4 hours or more late.

Not owed for extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather, air traffic management decisions, political instability or security risks. According to the EU, most technical problems and strikes by the airline's own staff do not count as extraordinary.

Flights from the UK: UK261

The UK kept the same rules after Brexit, with amounts in pounds. Care (food, drink, two calls or emails, a hotel if the delay runs overnight) starts at 2 hours for flights under 1,500 km, 3 hours for 1,500–3,500 km and 4 hours for flights over 3,500 km. From a delay of 5 hours you can refuse to travel and get a refund. Compensation for reaching your destination 3 hours or more late:

• £220 for flights under 1,500 km,
• £350 for 1,500–3,500 km,
• £260 for flights over 3,500 km arriving 3 to 4 hours late,
• £520 for flights over 3,500 km arriving more than 4 hours late.

Compensation is not paid automatically, and not for extraordinary circumstances.

How to claim

1. At the airport: ask the airline's staff for meal vouchers or a hotel. If they give you nothing, keep the receipts for reasonable costs.
2. Afterwards: claim from the airline in writing, with your booking reference and boarding pass. Claim compensation and expenses separately if the airline asks you to.
3. If the airline refuses or doesn't answer:
   • Thailand: file a complaint with the CAAT at complaint.caat.or.th.
   • EU: after 2 months without a reply, or if you're not satisfied, complain to the national authority in the country where it happened.
   • UK: after 8 weeks, or after the airline's final answer, go to the airline's alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme, or to the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team if it has none.

Before you go to the airport

See whether a strike or closure already affects your trip on the disruptions page, or check your flight for its safety, baggage and the rules that cover it.

This guide explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Your airline's conditions of carriage and the authority's decision on your case have the final say. The sources are listed below.